Ten Golf acquires European Tour, Asian Tour rights; signs pact with NBC Universal

Besides 200 days of live golf every year from 2013 to 2018 from the European and Asian Tours, it will telecast 400 hours of US golf programming

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | March 5, 2012

Taj TV, which is launching Ten Golf, India's only 24-hour golf channel, has acquired broadcasting rights for the European Tour and the Asian Tour from 2013 till 2018. In addition, Ten Golf has also entered into a licensing agreement with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for exclusive basic cable rights in India to a slate of original programming from the US golf channel. Under the terms of the agreement, Ten Golf will be showcasing 400 hours of golf programming, including series and news, showcased as a golf channel branded block.

As part of the first deal, the broadcaster will have rights to air live and exclusive coverage of European Tour and Asian Tour events. Ten Golf will be telecasting around 20 live events of the Asian Tour and 30 live events of the European Tour in 2013, which will add up to 200 days of live golf between these two tours.

Ten Golf will also air a compelling collection of popular golf events, including PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, European Tour and WGC HSBC Champions Tournament.

Atul Pande, CEO, Ten Sports, said, “As we continue to expand our content, we're delighted to add two of the most prestigious tours – European and Asian – to our impressive line-up of golf properties. Our acquisition of the long-term rights is an indication of our interest and commitment in bringing high quality golf to Indian audiences.”

Commenting on the deal with NBC Universal, Pande said, "We are proud to announce this landmark content deal with NBC Universal. It will offer unmatched and pioneering golf entertainment to audiences in India and across the Indian subcontinent. Ten Golf is working with all the major stakeholders in golf, including events partners, sponsors and golf courses and golf clubs across the subcontinent to create a formidable golf platform.”

From the Asian Tour, all tournaments from the Asian Tour including the tournaments which are co-sanctioned between the Asian Tour and the European Tour, the WGC-HSBC Championship, the Asian Tour Golf Show and event highlights will be televised.

From the European Tour, all tournaments in addition to 'European Tour Weekly', a magazine show and a highlights programme of each event will be televised. In addition, highlight programmes of the European Seniors Tour, European Challenge Tour events and 'The Challenge' magazine show will be televised.

Eric Lynge, the Asian Tour Senior Director of Commercial and TV, said, “The Asian Tour is thrilled with this new partnership with Ten Sports. The appeal of the Asian Tour has grown tremendously in India, especially with the success of Order of Merit winners Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa over the years and many other young and exciting Indian golfers such as Gaganjeet Bhullar, Himmat Rai and Anirban Lahiri who have also won on the Asian Tour in recent times. With India's depth in the game and the tour's cosmopolitan appeal where our membership ranges from over 30 countries, we are confident viewers of Ten Golf  will be treated to the very best of Asian golf over the coming  years.”

Mark Lichtenhein, Director of Broadcasting and New Media at the European Tour, commented, “We're delighted to extend our relationship with Ten Sports for a further six years, and we are excited to be central to the development of Ten Golf, We believe that there is enormous potential for golf in India particularly following its reintroduction as an Olympic sport in 2016.”

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