The winning entry saw Sky Sports Golf integrate a custom version of PLATFORM Golf’s TrueSlope technology into the Open Zone, transforming shot analysis of key moments with unprecedented realism. By replicating genuine slopes, lies and putting contours from Royal Portrush and combining them with advanced visualisation tools, the broadcast team delivered a first-of-its-kind immersive viewer experience powered by real performance data and insight.

As shots were struck, viewers at home were able to see a simulated version of the course on their screens, with graphics and ball tracking provided by TruGolf and Science & Motion, to help visualise how a shot might play out in competition.

The Broadcast Sport Awards ceremony was hosted on November 13 at the London Hilton on Park Lane, attended by nearly 700 guests representing the sports broadcasting industry. Judges praised the Open Zone production as: “Very impressive and a good blend of technology and storytelling.”

Thomas Hackett, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at PLATFORM Golf, said: “We are delighted that Sky’s golf coverage of The 2025 Open has been recognised with this industry award. Thank you to Jason Landau, Jason Wessely and the entire Sky Sports Golf team for their trust in PLATFORM Golf. We could not be prouder of our partnership and shared ambition to push golf technology further.”

“We look forward to building on this success next year at Royal Birkdale.”

Jason Landau, Creative Director of Innovation at Sky, added: “It’s an honour for us to win this award, especially when up against such innovative and insightful entries. Working closely with the Sky Sports Golf team and our partners at PLATFORM Golf, TruGolf, Sportsbox AI, and European Tour Productions we wanted to elevate the Open Zone this year with big ideas, and we are lucky to have such talented teams around us to help us deliver these projects.

“Our thanks to all our partners who shared our vision and went above and beyond as we pushed technology harder, shaping it to offer the insight we wanted to bring to the viewer. Together we delivered what truly was our most innovative championship yet.”

PLATFORM Golf continues to lead in immersive, performance-driven golf training and broadcast technology through its patented TrueSlope, TruePR and TrueBreak products, seamlessly integrating with leading simulator technologies and precisely replicating the authentic conditions golfers encounter on course. With recent installations at Precision Golf outside London and the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the company remains focused on elevating player development, coaching and spectator engagement around the world.

Additionally, its roster of ambassadors includes a star-studded lineup of world-class instructors including Claude Harmon III, Stephen Sweeney,  Brad Faxon, Erika Larkin, Darren May and more.

Learn more at: www.platformgolf.com

Press release written and distributed for PLATFORM Golf by Azalea.

For media inquiries, please contact Roddy Williams at roddy@theazaleagroup.com or phone +44 (0)1730 711920

About PLATFORM Golf

PLATFORM Golf is transforming the future of golf through immersive, performance-driven technology that brings real-world slope, lie, and putting conditions into the simulator golf experience. Its patented solutions—TrueSlope, TruePR, and the market-defining TrueBreak—are trusted by top coaches, elite programs, private clubs, and performance centers worldwide. As both a category leader and technology enabler, PLATFORM Golf partners with the best instructors and most innovative brands in golf to elevate training, coaching, and competitive play across every level of the game.

The post COLLABORATION CHOSEN AS “BEST VISUAL STORYTELLING USING DATA & INSIGHT” FOR COVERAGE OF THE OPEN appeared first on The Golf Wire.

LPGA Announces Partnership with FM, Golf Channel, and Trackman to Enhance Production and Broadcast Elements

STAMFORD, Conn. – Golf Channel will televise every LPGA Tour event in 2026, and for the first time in the network’s 30-plus year history, every round of its coverage will be presented live across the country.

The 30-plus event schedule will have live coverage across Golf Channel and select rounds on CNBC to provide live national TV coverage for the LPGA Tour next season.

Earlier today, the LPGA announced a new partnership with FM, Golf Channel and Trackman to enhance production and technology for LPGA Tour coverage in 2026, including slow motion cameras, drone cameras, and additional microphones.

“2026 will be a great year for LPGA Tour viewers as we will televise every single LPGA Tour event and coverage of every round will be live across the country, which is a direct result of Golf Channel and CNBC both being a part of the VERSANT portfolio,” said Tom Knapp, EVP and general manager, Golf Channel. “Additionally, we’ve worked together with the LPGA Tour and our partners at FM and Trackman to enhance our production, adding more technology to our telecasts as we continue to be the proud home of the LPGA Tour and showcase the best women’s golfers on the planet every single week.”

“This commitment from FM, Trackman and Golf Channel is a game-changer for our athletes, our fans, our partners and our Tour,” said LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler. “It accelerates everything we’ve been working toward — elevating how everyone will experience the LPGA every single week and expanding the ways we showcase the world-class talent inside the ropes. Starting in 2026, fans will immediately see and feel the difference: more cameras, better technology, richer storytelling and more ways to appreciate the unbelievable skill of our players, fully live. We’re grateful for the shared vision and investment from FM, Trackman and Golf Channel. This is a major step forward for the women’s game, and it’s only the beginning. The next chapter for the LPGA is going to be something special.”

Full programming details about Golf Channel’s coverage of the 2026 LPGA Tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Golf Channel surrounds this week’s LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship with comprehensive studio and tournament coverage, beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET with Golf Central live on-site at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., hosted by Anna Jackson alongside analysts Brandel Chamblee and Mel Reid and reporter Amy Rogers.

About Golf Channel

Golf Channel – the first-ever single-sport cable network which was founded in 1995 – delivers comprehensive live golf tournament, studio and shoulder programming. Golf Channel features more live coverage of the sport than all other U.S. television networks combined, including events across the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, USGA, R&A, DP World Tour, NCAA, and the Olympics, as well as news coverage via live morning programming and tentpole studio shows including Golf Today, Golf Central and the network’s critically-acclaimed Live From on-site pre- and post-round show at high-profile golf events.

About VERSANT

VERSANT, Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) planned spin-off, will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of most of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed in early 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

About the LPGA

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose Members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.

Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.

About the LPGA Tour

The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 32 annual events across 12 countries for over 200 athletes, awarding total prize funds exceeding $131 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.

About FM
Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world’s largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

###

USA Sports
Jamie Palatini
VP, Communications
Jamie.palatini@versantmedia.com
(908) 347-1472   

The post GOLF CHANNEL TO PRESENT ENHANCED LPGA TOUR COVERAGE IN 2026 WITH EVERY ROUND LIVE FOR FIRST TIME IN NETWORK’S HISTORY appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Inspired by the familiar physics of Angry Birds, players progress through increasingly challenging golf holes with unique par counts, toppling structures for bonus points and earning “birdies” for shots left over. Each hole features Palmer-themed backdrops, including the Bay Hill clock, one of Palmer’s jets, and his beloved dog Mulligan, turning Palmer touchstones into tokenized IP fans can actively engage with to earn rewards onchain play with real-world partners.

With Arnie’s Birdies, Sweet extends its track record of bringing major sports IP on-chain through accessible experiences. As with all SCOR platforms built by Sweet, every in-game action records engagement onchain and delivers tangible rewards to fans, forming the building blocks for IP monetization and fan intelligence on blockchain.

“Arnold Palmer built his career embracing the right innovations at the right time, and always in service of the fan,” said Brodie Waters of Arnold Palmer Enterprises. “With Arnie’s Birdies, Sweet has captured his fun and innovative spirit, turning his IP into a living, interactive experience that connects the past and the future of sports.”

“Arnie’s Birdies is a major milestone for the SCOR ecosystem we’ve built at Sweet,” said Tom Mizzone, CEO at Sweet. “It advances our mission to strengthen direct connections between IP holders and fans, using Web3 infrastructure to power automated royalty telemetry and build a portable SCOR-ID for every user – exactly the kind of forward step Mr. Palmer championed throughout his life.”

Join the whitelist now to get first access to Arnie’s Birdies in SCOR ecosystem across web, mobile, and messaging apps, including fun.scor.io and Telegram. Take your swing, earn your birdies, and join the next evolution of sports engagement.

About Arnold Palmer Enterprises

Arnold Palmer, Arnold Palmer Enterprises (APE) oversees a family of licensees in lifestyle apparel, accessories, home furnishings, media and more, including branded collections in territories around the globe. Guided by its founder’s solid work ethic and principled character, APE is committed to celebrating the Palmer brand, which transcended golf to become one of the world’s most beloved.

APE Press Contact: Liz McCollum, elizabethm@bzapr.com

Dana Gordon (BZA PR), danag@bzapr.com

About the SCOR Ecosystem

SCOR is the Web3 infrastructure for the fan economy that transforms sports and entertainment into programmable IP and empowers fans. SCOR provides the technological rails for tokenizing licensed sports IP and fan engagement, converting them into new on-chain asset classes and bridging fans and sports organizations directly.

SCOR Press Contact: Daniella Assaf (MarketAcross)

About Sweet

Sweet, the developer behind the SCOR ecosystem, is a global sports and entertainment company that powers fan engagement across its Fan Engagement Platform of mini-games, collectible experiences, and more. With official partnerships spanning the NHL, MLS, and over 2,000 athletes worldwide, Sweet is building the future of interactive sports IP and tokenized fan experiences.

Sweet Press Contact: Daniella Assaf (MarketAcross)

The post “ARNIE’S BIRDIES” CELEBRATES ARNOLD PALMER’S LEGACY OF INNOVATION WITH FIRST-EVER SIGNATURE WEB3 GOLF MINI-GAME, ADVANCING SCOR’S MISSION TO BRING SPORTS IP ONCHAIN appeared first on The Golf Wire.

“My first semester was in May of this year. So, I’m in my second semester now, and it’s like night and day for me, because I’m learning the history of golf. I’m learning about ball flight and everything else that I didn’t even think about, you know, club head speed, club face angles, all these things, you know, angle of attack. I’m in residency week this week, and I’m happy I signed up and wish I could do it every year.”

Download your complimentary Golf Career Guide and discovers dozens of jobs available to you in the golf industry.

CAREER GUIDE

Keiser University College of Golf
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West Palm Beach FL 33409
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First and foremost we want to wish everyone a (n early) Happy Thanksgiving as that holiday approaches and the golf industry, at least in the north, takes a welcome break between now and the ’26 PGA Show.  Hey, did anyone else notice that they removed Merchandise from the name?  Was this the first year? (if not, I must’ve been napping) Since our last issue, the golf media folks and the PGA TOUR have invented another off-season, made-for-TV “competition” in the form of The Optum Golf Channel Games. In the words of Monty Python, “And now, for something completely different.”

Contributing Editor Stuart Lindsay leads for the 3^rd month in a row (Jim needs to up his game) by taking us back to 1998 and a Forbes magazine cover article headlined by “Artificial Intelligence Gets Real.”  While not pooh-poohing the potential and range of applications for AI to rock our world, he reminds us that the intellectuals in the US have been at this a while and, based on Forbes’ assessment, it took 27 years to actually “get real.”  Things like AI-based search for tee times would seem to hold great promise for golfers (and facilities if harnessed properly and guardrails established) while other applications like AI handling all your inbound phone reservations is a little bit murkier around the questions of “Do you want to cut off your customer from any personal interaction?” and “Will they pay $2.50 for any reservation at your golf course?” (not just the AI ones) etc.  Inquiring minds want to know and, while we don’t have the answers yet, we’re predicting it’s not going to be a smooth and immediate path to “bright”.

Publisher Jim K. takes aim at a growing industry narrative that the Private golf sector is significantly outperforming the Public sector and, thus, powering the industry to new heights.  He points out that while the number of Private club members has increased at a healthy pace post-COVID, the rounds and holes of supply haven’t increased significantly so we’re basically putting more bodies into the same space and having them compete for only slightly higher rounds (which means…their average frequency is going down).  Final point is that Private historically only accounts for ~20% of US rounds so how much does the minority contributor to rounds have to grow to influence the majority Public figures? (answer: a lot)   

See below for the headlines to each of our recurring sections from the regional October weather impact (big downer, ouch) to By-the-Numbers which provides the September and Year-to-Date results for Rounds (both modestly up) and Utilization (down month, up YtD).  We’ve already compiled the October golf operations performance scorecard “preview”, courtesy of our Golf Market Research Center (GMRC) early-responders, and the sneak peek suggests that Rounds didn’t crash as hard as the weather which should produce another month of (slight) Utilization gain.  If you want to know those numbers on a regular basis, you can either participate in GMRC (course operators) or sign up for a Publications Membership (everyone else). 

If you know of associates who would benefit from the topics and insights covered in this issue, feel free to forward this email and encourage them to register on the Pellucid website (http://www.pellucidcorp.com/news/elist) to join the discussion and healthy debate.

We also continue to spread the word on Pellucid’s next-generation golf course database. The Internet Golf Database (IGDB), provided by Apparation LLC, is the industry’s most complete, accurate, accessible and useful golf industry directory. IGDB, along with Pellucid’s proprietary extensions, powers Pellucid’s Golf Local Market Analyzer, the Top 25 US Golf Markets Scorecard and the GMRC. For more information on high-value IGDB subscriptions options, contact Apparation at mike.dickoff@apparationllc.com.

© Copyright 2025 Pellucid Corp. All rights reserved. Quotations permitted with prior approval. Material may not be reproduced, in whole or part in any form whatsoever, without prior written consent of Pellucid Corp.

The post NOVEMBER PELLUCID PERSPECTIVE: ELEVATED COSTS IN “CENTER RING” FOR GOLF OPERATORS IN ‘24 appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Golf Channel’s Returning Morning Shows Feature ‘5 Clubs with Gary Williams’ and the ‘Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav’

STAMFORD, Conn. – Golf Channel today announced its 2026 morning programming schedule, featuring a mix of new shows and returning fan-favorites which explore and analyze the golf world from all angles and perspectives.

New morning programming on Golf Channel is highlighted by on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman bringing his popular show and podcast, The Smylie Show, to Golf Channel on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. ET.

Full Swing executive producer and Pro Shop President Chad Mumm, alongside Bachelor Nation favorite Wells Adams, explore the intersection of golf and entertainment with Vanity Index Podcast on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. Additionally, 16-time Emmy Award winner Jimmy Roberts’ new program, The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, which takes viewers inside the new golf economy, debuts Tuesdays at 7 a.m. ET.

Golf Channel’s morning slate will be anchored by the return of 5 Clubs with Gary Williams Monday-Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET, as well as the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav on Mondays at 9 a.m. ET.

“It’s important that the voices and personalities, along with the issues we cover, on Golf Channel continue to evolve,” said Tom Knapp, EVP and General Manager, Golf Channel. “Smylie, Jimmy, and Chad, along with co-host Wells Adams, each bring their own unique style and personal connection to the game. Individually, they’ll offer thoughtful and sometimes provocative takes on the golf business and golf lifestyle through their own experiences. Alongside the return of 5 Clubs with Gary Williams and the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex & Lav, there will be something new for golfers to think about — and talk about — every day.”

The full morning programming lineup will begin the week of Jan. 12, 2026.

Weekly morning programming on Golf Channel from Monday through Wednesday is as follows (all times ET, schedule subject to change):

Below is a look at the shows comprising Golf Channel’s 2026 morning lineup:

5 Clubs with Gary Williams

Hosted by long-time Golf Channel personality Gary Williams, 5 Clubs with Gary Williams returns to air on Golf Channel Monday-Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET after debuting on the network in January 2025.

5 Clubs with Gary Williams features Williams being joined by contributors of the 5 Clubs team, including former PGA TOUR players and analysts Johnson Wagner and Brendan De Jonge, Emmy-nominated broadcaster and golf enthusiast Jay Bilas, renowned golf architect Gil Hanse, broadcaster and former collegiate golfer Emma Carpenter, and SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio’s Taylor Zarzour, to talk about the topics that matter most to golf fans.

Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav

The popular Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav – hosted by GolfChannel.com senior writers Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner – will return to air on Golf Channel on Mondays at 9 a.m. ET.

The Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav sees the two longtime scribes discuss and debate the latest news and biggest storylines in an informative, entertaining, and nuanced way.

The Smylie Show

The Smylie Show will make its Golf Channel debut in 2026 on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. ET.

Hosted by PGA TOUR winner and on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman alongside co-host Charlie Hulme, the show delivers an in-depth understanding of how the game is played at its highest levels via smart analysis, on-course storytelling, and conversations with Tour pros. Smylie’s high-level insights pair with Charlie’s enthusiasm and fan perspective exploring the moments, decisions, and personalities shaping the sport – all via a relaxed, fun and accessible conversation.

Vanity Index Podcast

Vanity Index Podcast, premiering on Golf Channel on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. ET, is hosted by Pro Shop’s Chad Mumm, creator of Full Swing, and Wells Adams, a Bachelor Nation favorite.

Vanity Index Podcast (VIP) takes listeners inside the corners of the golf world where the game and Hollywood collide, straight from the celebrities, athletes, and musicians who live it. Hosted by Chad Mumm and Wells Adams, the series delivers entertaining and relatable stories from inside the game, blending behind-the-scenes insights, hilarious anecdotes, and candid conversations about making golf more fun, inclusive, and accessible for everyone — fans and non-fans alike.

The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts

The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts: Conversations with People Making News in the Business of Golf, which launched in September, makes its Golf Channel debut in 2026 and will air on Tuesdays at 7 a.m. ET with an encore presentation at 9 a.m. ET later that day.

Sixteen-time Emmy Award Winner and sports broadcasting legend, Jimmy Roberts, takes viewers inside the new golf economy through intimate, one-on-one conversations with some of the most significant, A-list executives, entertainers and athletes shaping the future of the golf business — as well as unprecedented, unparalleled access and insights around the trends, deals and investments that define the sport.

About Golf Channel

Golf Channel – the first-ever single-sport cable network which was founded in 1995 – delivers comprehensive live golf tournament, studio and shoulder programming. Golf Channel features more live coverage of the sport than all other U.S. television networks combined, including events across the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, USGA, R&A, DP World Tour, NCAA, and the Olympics, as well as news coverage via live morning programming and tentpole studio shows including Golf Today, Golf Central and the network’s critically-acclaimed Live From on-site pre- and post-round show at high-profile golf events.

– GOLF CHANNEL –  

USA Sports
Jamie Palatini
VP, Communications
Jamie.palatini@versantmedia.com
(908) 347-1472 

The post GOLF CHANNEL ANNOUNCES NEW MORNING PROGRAMMING BEGINNING JANUARY 2026 appeared first on The Golf Wire.

The Holiday Gift Guide will be sent to 500,000 golfers on the following dates: November 24th,  December 1st (Cyber Monday), December 9th, and December 16th. This guide is strategically timed to reach golfers during peak holiday spending. Featured products will receive high visibility and influence gift-buying decisions during these crucial shopping days. Additionally, your product will be highlighted on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The cost for inclusion in the Holiday Gift Guide is only $500, with materials due by November 18, 2025. Distribution will occur four times, reaching over 500,000 subscribers each time, effectively bringing your products in front of 2 million plus, potential customers.

Other Holiday Marketing Campaign Options: Dedicated Email Blasts:
Your targeted message:  Reach your ideal customer base with a dedicated email blast to 500,000+ golfers.

For more information, please contact:  Tom Landers, President, Golfing Magazine 

Email: TLanders@GolfingMagazine.net  or Phone: 860-563-1633

About Golfing Magazine

Established in 1992, Golfing Magazine has been serving Golfers and the Golf Communities in the Northeast USA for over 30 years.  Through extensive promotional campaigns over the years Golfing has amassed a digital subscriber base in excess of 500,000 golfers.

Golfing Magazine publishes 5 Issues per year.  Fall and Winter Spring Issues are dedicated Golf Travel Issues.  

Golfing Magazine supports programs, The 1st Tee, Golf 2.0, Family Friendly Golf and Tee It Forward, to name a few.  www.golfingmagazine.net

The post REACH 500,000 GOLFERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH GOLFING MAGAZINE’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE appeared first on The Golf Wire.

USA Sports Will Present Nearly 1,000 Hours of Women’s Sports Programming in 2026 Across Its Platforms Including WNBA, LPGA Tour, and League One Volleyball (LOVB)

Golf Channel Maintains Own Strong Brand Identity as the TV Home of Golf in the United States; New Network Logo to Come in 2026

STAMFORD, Conn.   – VERSANT has announced USA Sports as the new brand and division name for the company’s robust sports portfolio across USA Network and Golf Channel.

USA Sports encompasses all sports properties and programming on VERSANT platforms including NASCAR, PGA TOUR, Premier League, WWE, WNBA, USGA, R&A, LPGA Tour, PGA of America, Atlantic 10 Basketball, DP World Tour, Augusta National Golf Club, College Golf, and League One Volleyball (LOVB).

In total, USA Sports will present more than 10,000 hours of event, studio, and original sports programming across USA Network, Golf Channel, and CNBC in 2026. Click here to watch the USA Sports sizzle reel. 

“Our new USA Sports brand and division name leans into USA Network’s decades-long reputation as a top national sports and entertainment network,” said Matt Hong, President of USA Sports. “Our diverse portfolio of sports properties and programming across our platforms highlights top-tier global leagues and amplifies major events throughout the sports landscape. USA Sports has something for all sports fans across the country.”

Women’s sports are showcased prominently throughout USA Sports’ programming. Including coverage of the WNBA, LPGA Tour, college and amateur sports, and LOVB, USA Sports platforms will present roughly 1,000 hours of women’s sports programming in 2026.

The new USA Sports brand honors the rich history of sports programming on USA Network which dates back to 1979. Since its inception, USA Network has also presented coverage of the NBA, MLB, the Masters, the NHL, U.S. Open tennis, the Big East, and the ACC.

Golf Channel – the first-ever single-sport cable channel founded in 1995 – maintains its own strong brand identity as the TV home of golf in the United States and will have a refreshed network logo heading into 2026. Additionally, CNBC will continue to air some USA Sports weekend programming.

Following is a property-by-property breakdown of USA Sports’ portfolio: 

NASCAR 

• USA Network is the home of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and airs 10 Cup Series races annually – the most points-earning Cup Series races of any network. USA Sports also produces the final four races of the Playoffs on NBC/Peacock, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

PGA TOUR 

• Golf Channel is the home of the PGA TOUR with year-round tournament coverage, news, and analysis – including every Signature event and tentpole events such as the PLAYERS Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs, and the biennial Presidents Cup – surrounded by critically-acclaimed news and analysis on studio shows such as Golf Today, Golf Central, and Live From. All-in, Golf Channel will present coverage of 45 PGA TOUR events in 2026 – more than double any other linear TV network – as well as exclusive linear coverage of the PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour.

 PREMIER LEAGUE 

• For more than a decade, Premier League fans in the United States have watched their favorite clubs on USA Network, and more than 175 Premier League matches will air on USA Network over the course of the 2025-26 campaign. 

WWE 

• USA Network is the weekly TV home of WWE with live primetime coverage of WWE Smackdown airing Friday nights regularly throughout the year. 

WNBA 

• USA Network will be a destination for WNBA fans in 2026 with more than 50 games next season – including 2026 WNBA Finals games. The 2026 WNBA on USA schedule will be highlighted by Wednesday night doubleheaders, showcasing matchups across the Eastern and Western conferences.

USGA 

• USA Sports recently announced a six-year agreement with the USGA to present coverage of our national championships – the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open – on USA Network through 2032, as well as live coverage of the USGA’s prestigious amateur championships on Golf Channel. Live From, Golf Channel’s critically acclaimed studio show, provides comprehensive coverage on-site at the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.

R&A 

• USA Network boasts coverage of both The Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open, two of the most coveted titles internationally in the sport of golf. Golf Channel provides annual coverage of the Senior Open Championship. Live From the Open surrounds The Open Championship with comprehensive news and analysis on Golf Channel.

LPGA TOUR 

• Golf Channel is the home of the LPGA Tour, delivering comprehensive live coverage of the premier women’s professional tour beginning with the Tournament of Champions in January through the CME Group Tour Championship in November. Golf Channel also features exclusive coverage of the Ladies’ European Tour. 

PGA OF AMERICA 

• USA Sports provides biennial coverage the Ryder Cup – one of the biggest events in all of golf – as well as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, and the PGA Professional Championship. Golf Channel surrounds the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup with its Live From week-long on-site studio show.

ATLANTIC 10 

• USA Sports will present more than 40 regular season A-10 men’s and women’s college basketball games on USA Network during the 2025-2026 season – highlighted by Saturday and Sunday double- and triple-headers – as well as men’s and women’s conference tournament games. 

DP WORLD TOUR

• Golf Channel will present comprehensive coverage of the DP World Tour in 2026, presenting all 35-plus events of the preeminent men’s professional tour of the European Tour group spanning 26 different countries.

AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

• Golf Channel will be on-site at Augusta National Golf Club all week long with Live From The Masters, providing the most compelling pre- and post-round analysis for The Masters Tournament. Golf Channel also presents annual coverage of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur held at Champions Retreat and Augusta National Golf Club, as well as the annual Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals which showcases junior golfers from ages 7-15 competing at Augusta National on the Sunday prior to the Masters. 

 COLLEGE GOLF

• Golf Channel is the home of men’s and women’s college golf in the United States with live coverage of more than 10 events in the spring and fall of 2026, including the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships, the St Andrews Links Collegiate at St Andrews in Scotland, and the East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga.

LEAGUE ONE VOLLEYBALL (LOVB) 

• Earlier this year, USA Sports announced a multi-year deal with League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “LOVE”), the premier women’s professional volleyball league in the U.S. Beginning in January 2026, USA Network will present a primetime Match of the Week on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET, culminating with the LOVB Championship Match on USA Network in April. 

Additionally, USA Sports’ portfolio is complemented by VERSANT’s established digital and streaming sports businesses including GolfNow, the industry leader in golf course management technology and the world’s largest tee-time reservations platform; GolfPass, its golf membership program co-founded by Rory McIlroy; and youth sports technology and video platform SportsEngine. 

About USA Sports 

USA Sports is home to premier sporting events airing on USA Network, Golf Channel, and CNBC across the calendar year, including NASCAR, PGA TOUR, Premier League, WWE, WNBA, USGA, R&A, LPGA Tour, PGA of America, Atlantic 10 Basketball. DP World Tour, Augusta National Golf Channel, League One Volleyball (LOVB), and more. Golf Channel – the first-ever single-sport cable network which was founded in 1995 – delivers comprehensive live golf tournament, studio and shoulder programming and is the television home of the sport and industry in the United States. USA Sports is a division of VERSANT, Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) planned spin-off, which will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of most of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine.

About VERSANT 

VERSANT, Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) planned spin-off, will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of most of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed in early 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions. 

USA Sports
Jamie Palatini
VP, Communications
Jamie.palatini@versantmedia.com
(908) 347-1472 

 
Jake Gellerman
Sr. Manager, Communications
Jake.Gellerman@versantmedia.com

Emily Carman
Publicist
Emily.Carman@versantmedia.com

The post “USA SPORTS” ANNOUNCED AS NEW BRAND AND DIVISION NAME FOR VERSANT’S SPORTS PORTFOLIO appeared first on The Golf Wire.

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