The PGA TOUR, in partnership with Coliseum Sports Media (CSM), announced today that a direct-to-customer service will be launching in New Zealand in 2015. Subscribers to the newly established service, which will be under the brand of PGA TOUR LIVE, will be able to watch more golf content than ever before across multiple devices including Smart TVs, Apple TV, iOS and Android phones and tablets, game consoles and your PC or MAC (through PGATOURLIVE.COM).
Starting 02 January 2015, PGA TOUR LIVE will deliver to golf fans every minute of every round, live and on-demand, for all PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Web.com Tour events, as well as a significant amount of live digital content such as Featured Groups and Holes. This will be supported by archived and on-demand highlights packages to suit the desires of New Zealand golf fans.
PGA TOUR tournaments currently can be viewed by approximately 30 percent of television households on pay-television in New Zealand. With the launch of PGA TOUR LIVE, PGA TOUR events will now be able to be seen in 90 percent of the country; a percentage that will increase alongside the availability and accessibility of fast broadband services in New Zealand. The PGA TOUR also expects to announce a deal that will see a return of a selection of live and highlights coverage of PGA TOUR on a major free-to-air network, allowing 100 percent of New Zealand sports fans the opportunity to see the best golfers in the world for the first time.
CSM, which gained exclusive rights to the English Premier League (EPL) in 2013, will be using enhanced and leading technology to deliver the highest quality high definition streaming ever produced in New Zealand. Its delivery partner is NeuLion, a worldwide leader in digital video broadcasting that handles CSM’s global streaming products for the EPL. NeuLion is also the global partner of a number of other major U.S. sports leagues.
"The PGA TOUR continues to look at ways of using the latest technology to connect directly to our golf fans and this is an unprecedented step we are taking with Coliseum Sports Media in New Zealand," said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Global Media. "In addition to gaining access to more PGA TOUR content than ever before, fans will be able to watch us wherever they are - at home or at the office - and at a time of their choosing. We are very excited about what we will be able to offer golf fans through our new partnership with CSM."
"Since signing the English Premier League last summer, we've been looking to add the PGA TOUR to bring more golf to more people in more ways than ever before in New Zealand," said Tim Martin, Chief Executive Officer of CSM. "We’re thrilled to partner wi th the PGA TOUR and look forward to providing golf fans with an unsurpassed level of engagement, event coverage, interactivity, convenience and value."
CSM will also shortly be announcing other golf rights to sit alongside PGA TOUR LIVE. Pricing for PGA TOUR LIVE will be announced nearer to launch date. Just as the focus on the technology is to deliver increased accessibility for New Zealand golf fans, the pricing structure will also focus on this increased accessibility by delivering value; and with it drive even further interest and growth in the game of golf.