From the moment Comcast announced its intentions to split off NBCUniversal’s cable networks into its own company, the industry took the move as a first step toward merger and acquisition activity. Now, the first major rumors around the spinoff have the PGA Tour potentially buying Golf Channel from the NBCU “SpinCo.”
Austin Karp and Mollie Cahillane of Sports Business Journal reported on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast that they believe the golf governing body itself will pursue a purchase of the all-golf cable network.
“It makes sense with the NBCU spinout,” Karp said. “They were basically putting a for-sale sign out there anyways, so if you can get Golf Channel, get a buyer for that, PGA Tour makes all the sense in the world. They already have all that involvement.”
Cahillane agreed, noting that Golf Channel was unique among the networks within the new “SpinCo” since it airs live sports.
“The Golf Channel is one of the only properties that has sports that is going with the cable networks,” Cahillane said. “Spinning out Golf Channel from the other cable networks as its own property makes a lot of sense, and it makes a lot of sense why the PGA would want it.”
While Comcast was an initial investor in the cable network when it launched in the early 1990s, NBCUniversal has owned Golf Channel since 2011. In 2020 and 2021, NBC Sports absorbed production for the network amid a reshuffle of its programming. In 2022, NBCUniversal moved a good portion of Golf Channel live tournament broadcasts to USA Network, which also is part of the new “SpinCo.”
Today, Golf Channel airs live early rounds and early-window weekend rounds of PGA Tour tournaments. It also airs Olympic golf and competitions like the Ryder Cup, as well as the daily studio show Golf Today.
With limited inventory but a loyal core audience of passionate fans, it makes sense for the PGA Tour — which could soon receive an influx of cash from the Saudi PIF — to take over the golf network. However, Karp noted it would create a unique situation when the LPGA’s ESPN+ deal comes up in 2025 and it bargains with a potentially PGA-owned Golf Channel as a bidder.
[Sports Media with Richard Deitsch]