Discovery & European Tour Strike New GOLFTV Agreement

A new partnership between Discovery and the European Tour will expand GOLFTV’s portfolio, continuing its efforts to become the “digital home of golf” for international fans.

Launching in 2019, GOLFTV is Discovery’s global live and on-demand video streaming service dedicated to the sport. The aforementioned deal includes international multiplatform live rights in select territories to all European Tour events in addition to the next two Ryder Cups in select European markets.

Discovery will hold exclusive live linear and digital European Tour rights in the following markets: Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain (sublicense agreed with Movistar+) and Turkey. Discovery’s GOLFTV will hold digital streaming rights in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, the Balkan countries, Eurasia, India, Latin America, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and a number of other territories in Asia. Through the deal, Discovery will have the ability to sublicense television and digital coverage in the markets that it holds exclusive rights. These markets, pending activation date of the full live rights, include Albania, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain (sublicense agreed with Movistar+), Turkey and Ukraine.

Discovery is also collaborating to grow the European Tour’s digital platforms. The partners will work together to grow the European Tour’s digital assets, including the global website, apps, and explore new local websites and local European Tour social media accounts.

Alex Kaplan, president and general manager at Discovery Golf, said: “Welcoming the European Tour and Ryder Cup into the GOLFTV world is a significant step in our journey to becoming a premier global destination for golf entertainment. To offer fans the chance to watch some of the biggest tournaments of the year week in and week out, featuring the world’s greatest players and their national heroes, is the perfect foundation of must-have content that fans can’t live without.”

“To become the true ‘digital home of golf,’ we know we must think differently and go further than anything that has been done before,” Kaplan continued. “Forging a deeper relationship with the European Tour to help develop and grow its digital assets is a perfect example of that, and it highlights our long-term aim to build a true ecosystem around golf, leveraging Discovery’s global presence and expertise to achieve this at scale.”

Keith Pelley, chief executive for the European Tour, added: “Discovery has a very a strong vision for GOLFTV as a multiplatform destination for golf and we are delighted to be combining our global reach in 2019. Our partnership with Discovery, combined with our other broadcast deals, means that every fan in every territory will now be able to watch the European Tour. This new partnership is therefore an exciting move for us, allowing us to showcase the stars of the European Tour and our innovative content to a new audience.”