Turner Sports, PGA Extend Media Partnerships

ATLANTA: The PGA of America and Turner Sports have extended their broadcasting and interactive media agreements, which cover the PGA Championship, PGA Grand Slam of Golf and PGA.com, through 2019.

The new agreement will see Turner’s Cartoon Network Enterprises serving as the PGA’s licensing agent in the youth marketplace. In addition, Turner and the PGA will collaborate on a number of new initiatives to increase awareness and brand recognition of the PGA of America among key audiences, as well as introduce younger audiences to learning, playing and following the game of golf. Cartoon Network Enterprises will create an extensive consumer product and retail program within the youth market through a range of licensing agreements and co-branding partnerships across all product categories.

For each PGA Championship, TNT will continue to provide coverage for the Thursday and Friday rounds, as well as early coverage for the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Turner will also provide complete coverage of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Turner continues its management of PGA.com, the official website of the PGA of America.

"The PGA of America, Turner Sports and Time Warner have been long-time partners in presenting state-of-the-art digital media coverage of the best in championship golf to millions of fans, elevating the stature of our more than 28,000 men and women PGA professionals," said PGA of America’s CEO, Joe Steranka. "While Turner will continue to showcase the PGA’s tradition of dramatic championships, we‚re especially excited about new initiatives in the company’s licensing division and the creation of social media platforms that will help us make the game relevant and interesting to the next generation of golfers."

"Turner’s partnership with the PGA of America reflects our continuing strategy to provide the most compelling television sports content, as well as managing the best digital content," commented David Levy, the president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System. "Our expanded relationship will create opportunities to better serve golf fans around the world. This expanded partnership takes advantage of Turner’s expertise in licensing, digital media and event marketing. Our broader relationship should provide growth and create new opportunities to enhance the PGA brand."