SPO TV Parent Company Aclla Signs Broadcast Rights Contract
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‘SBS Golf → JTBC Golf → SPOTV’.
This is the history of the domestic broadcasting rights holders for the PGA Tour in South Korea. Aclami Media Group, the parent company of SPOTV, has secured the broadcasting rights for the PGA Tour, the world's most prestigious golf tournament. Starting from the 2025 season opener, The Sentry, which kicked off on the 2nd (local time) at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Hawaii, USA, the tournament began airing through SPOTV. Aclami Media Group announced, "We have secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the PGA Tour" and "We will be broadcasting the PGA Tour live in South Korea for multiple years." Both parties agreed not to disclose detailed terms such as the contract duration.
The PGA Tour is a popular content in South Korea. It is a stage where superstars such as 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, and No.3 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) compete. Korean players are also achieving good results. Players like Kim Joo-hyung (3 wins), Im Sung-jae (2 wins), Kim Si-woo (4 wins), and An Byeong-hun are active on the tour. Golf legends Choi Kyung-ju and 'Man of the Wind' Yang Yong-eun are also competing in the PGA Tour Champions (Senior Tour).
The PGA Tour has been broadcast live in South Korea since 2007. At that time, SBS Golf Channel, which was broadcasting the LPGA Tour, secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the PGA Tour for six years until 2012. In addition to the PGA Tour, SBS Golf also contracted exclusive terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasting rights for the Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour (second-tier), World Golf Championships (WGC), and Presidents Cup.
A new competitor appeared for SBS Golf: JTBC Golf. JTBC Golf, a latecomer that launched in 2005, secured the LPGA Tour broadcasting rights in 2009 and acquired the PGA Tour broadcasting rights in 2020. However, COVID-19 became a variable. As the games stagnated, financial pressure increased and advertising revenue decreased. Eventually, JTBC Golf ended its relationship with the PGA Tour at the end of 2024.
SPOTV is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in golf broadcasting. Following its existing coverage of European men's and women's golf tournaments such as the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) and the Ladies European Tour (LET), SPOTV has now acquired the PGA Tour broadcasting rights. SPOTV broadcasts the world's top competitions including the Premier League (EPL), where Son Heung-min plays, the UEFA Champions League, Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the addition of the PGA Tour broadcasting rights, SPOTV has solidified its position as a premium sports channel.
The PGA Tour, SPOTV’s new partner, is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA. It jointly organizes the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Americas, PGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School, and PGA Tour University. It has members who are world-class players from 28 countries. The PGA Tour is broadcast in over 200 countries through more than 44 broadcasting and digital partners in 30 languages.
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