Eleven Sports set to broadcast PGA Championship for free in the UK and Ireland
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Eleven Sports is set to broadcast the 2018 PGA Championship for free across multiple online platforms, taking the major away from TV and replacing regular commentators with a host of different faces.
Eleven Sports is set to show all four rounds of the PGA Championship via an online platform, using the final major of the year as their official launch event on the channel.
It was recently confirmed that both Sky Sports and the BBC had pulled out of the running for broadcast rights to the PGA Championship, and there was much speculation that it could move to an online-only broadcast.
And now, it has been announced that Eleven Sports has secured the live and exclusive rights to the fourth major of the year in the UK and Ireland, which runs from 9-12 August at the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis Missouri,.
How to watch the PGA Championship on Eleven Sports
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 the platform 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 onwww.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 – although times may change depending on amendments to the Championship schedule and the tee times of the selected groups.
Comprehensive highlights will also be available on demand on www.elevensports.uk and on the mobile and tablet apps on all four days of the tournament.
Replacing the regular Sky and BBC commentators for Eleven Sports are Dominik Holyer and Anna Whiteley, while online personality and host of ‘Seb on Golf’ Seb Carmichael-Brown will also join as a part of the team.
Their team will be on the ground at the Championship to capture all the action inside and outside the ropes,interviewing players and gauging the reaction from fans at the Bellerive Country Club. More pundits, including professional golfers, will be announced soon.
The move to stream live sports action on Facebook is part of Eleven Sports’ innovative way of delivering more contemporary sports coverage that appeals to existing audiences and extends access to new fans.
“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 100th 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.”
