The PGA Tour has launched a live and video-on-demand OTT service through a partnership with Xumo.
The PGA Tour says that this is its first ad-supported OTT channel available on smart TVs and will provide both live and VOD programming. Content will include highlights, recaps, player interviews, tournament previews and live featured hole coverage from PGA Tour Live.
Xumo takes live and library content and turns into linear, 24-hour video feeds. The company now has more than 150 channels featuring entertainment, news and sports content.
The channel is now available on LG’s Channel Plus service, powered by Xumo, and across the Xumo distribution network, which includes smart TVs from Hisense, Sharp, Vizio and Panasonic.
The deal marks another significant step by a major US sport to move into OTT. With Major League Baseball signing a deal with Facebook for 25 games, and with the NFL and Major League Soccer eyeing new digital streaming deals, it looks like these sports franchises are increasingly reaching consumers directly, following the example set bij broadcasters including HBO and CBS.
In a related development, the PGA Tour has introduced PGA Tour AR, a brand new augmented reality (AR) app bringing live AR tournament coverage to life for fans around the world on their iPhone and iPad. Live AR coverage on PGA Tour AR has begun in conjunction with the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard on Thursday, March 15. The PGA Tour AR app is available for free in the App Store. Mastercard is the official launch partner of the AR app.
