2018 PGA Championship to be Exclusively Broadcast Across Online Platforms

Following an enthralling Open at Carnoustie, attention now turns to the year's final men's major, the PGA Championship, but for golf fans across the UK & Ireland, they will have to rely on following online coverage of the 100th edition from Bellerive, as ELEVEN SPORTS have secured live and exclusive rights to the event. 

Viewers will recall how Sky Sports lost the PGA from their schedules last year, with the Championship being hastily broadcast on thee BBC, to somewhat mixed reviews. Continuing that drive for accessibility, the PGA of America has confirmed this new partnership, debuting across ELEVEN SPORTS' soon to be launched online platform and mobile and tablet apps. 

The upside is that fans will be able to follow this major for free, but not on their conventional television sets. 

Statement from ELEVEN SPORTS notes: 

"There will be three ways to watch the action on ELEVEN SPORTS. All four rounds will be shown LIVE and free of charge through a 7-day trial on the ELEVEN SPORTS’ online platform via www.elevensports.uk, and on iOS and Android mobile and tablet apps. The first two rounds will also be streamed for free on Facebook LIVE through the ELEVEN SPORTS UK page.

"The ELEVEN SPORTS online platform and the mobile and tablet apps will be launched ahead of the event starting in early August, when details of how to subscribe, plus an affordable and flexible pricing plan for the premium action on ELEVEN SPORTS beyond the PGA Championship will also be announced.

"During the first two days of the Championship, ELEVEN SPORTS will show LIVE coverage of two selected groups on www.elevensports.uk, on the mobile and tablet apps, and on Facebook from approximately 4pm BST until 7pm BST. Then, from approximately 7pm BST, full uninterrupted coverage will run through to the close of play on the same platforms, meaning at least 8.5 hours of continuous LIVE golf on each day.

"The final two rounds will be shown on www.elevensports.uk and on the mobile and tablet apps, with full uninterrupted coverage running from approximately 5pm BST through to the close of play on each day."

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— Eleven Sports (@ElevenSportsHQ) July 23, 2018

“Launching ELEVEN SPORTS in the UK and Ireland with such a prestigious event as the 100th PGA Championship, confirms our position as a major player in the market,” said Danny Menken, Group Managing Director, ELEVEN SPORTS. “We are looking forward to maximising this fantastic opportunity to appeal to existing golf fans through comprehensive free-to-air live coverage and analysis, while also growing new audiences with our fresh and innovative ways of delivering leading sports action.”

“It is a tremendous way to celebrate the 100^th PGA Championship by becoming the inaugural free-to-air program on ELEVEN SPORTS in the United Kingdom and Ireland,” said PGA of America Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Price. “We are excited that ELEVEN SPORTS will deliver major championship golf to diverse audiences through multiple, leading-edge digital platforms that are uniquely designed to connect to both the modern day and the next generation of fans.”

Coverage will be fronted by Dominik Holyer and Anna Whiteley, with Seb Carmichael-Brown - host of YouTube's 'Seb on Golf' - providing his own insights. 

It's a striking move, exclusively showcasing a major championship via online platforms, but one that points the way to a potential future of sports broadcasting. The climate is changing, but for golf's more traditional demographic, not having the PGA on TV will be a loss, though others will welcome the access to what promises to be a compelling major.