ESPN+ to land exclusive rights to stream PGA Tour events online: Report

ESPN slowly but surely returning to golf.

I don't see this as a good thing.

I'm a little confused. I already pay for ESPN+. Would I continue to pay for PGA Tour Live separately as I do now, or would it become part of the ESPN+ subscription? It would seem better for the consumer if it was included with ESPN+.

I have the same question, but I have not been able to find an answer in the handful of articles I've read. One can hope that it's not an additional subscription on top of ESPN+, but who knows. Maybe the subscription-based model that PGA Tour Live has been using hasn't been as profitable as they had hoped, so maybe including it with an existing popular streaming package might be more profitable. Disney has been pushing streaming really hard this past year with Disney+ and it's been pretty well documented that ESPN (the cable channel) has been having issues, so maybe they are hoping including more professional sports on ESPN+ (the streaming service) will help the bottom line.

The only stuff thus far has been speculation that it will be included without the need for a separate subscription because:

1) Right now, the only premium upcharges that ESPN+ has is for individual PPV events (like a UFC fight), so there isn't (yet) a precedent of ESPN+ charging extra for a separate subscription.

2) Some articles cite the reason for the PGA Tour going to ESPN+ is that it's going to get PGA Tour Live in front of more people. Maybe that means it'll be included, or maybe that just means that "free samples" will get watched more.

Bottom line is that right now, we just know that it'll be on ESPN+.

I just can’t wait to pay for pbs too. Antiques roadshow+ will be where it’s at. Speed rounds where they skip the fluff, need to see the piece then price. Piece then price, don’t have time for chit chat.

?

When it exits Amazon Prime, if it does, I'll be done with it so will be saving some money - great!

I dont watching streaming of the PGA Tour, so Im good with that. If the only place you could watch the PGA Tour was on ESPN+, Id be annoyed. I was already annoyed that the Bundesliga is going to ESPN+, I would not be happy if the PGA Tour would no longer be on network TV or Golf Channel.

No way it's going to be an additional subscription on top of espn+

Hmm i'm curious about this as well

Might not be.

Disney is pushing streaming service hard right now.

Now only if ESPN customer service can actually serve...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5PMAFQGuKcChuck on ESPN.

People will be falling down watching that...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Y4bmbh1KY&t=317s

Subscription based models and TV online is the wave of the future. The traditional cable is gonna go away eventually.

A lot of these channels are offering exclusive content now that you have to buy into the subscription to watch. Golf os going that way. You'll be able to follow a player you want eventually instead of watching the regular broadcast. It's going on with Tennis now. If you have Tennis plus you can watch any player you want or match you want. You have to subscribe to there model though.

Most all sports are starting to do this.

Completely agree. Content can be distributed directly from the channels now through their apps on Smart TVs, Rokus, Fire TV, etc. As these are more widely accepted there's zero reason to cut in cable/satellite companies. Most cable/satellite companies are adapting by emphasizing internet services; they really don't care if you but TV service or not as TV is a loser for them due to the contracts with the content providers.

I haven't had cable in four years. I'm already on board with this. I watch everything online.

Interesting. Well, we will see if it is good or not.

Holy crap! That’s THE DUDE!

Dude! He can finally get his rug back

Thinking about pulling the trigger on espn + to watch pga featured groups today? Has it replaced pgatour live, or is it included in subscription? Try as I might, couldn’t find a definitive answer anywhere.

PGA Championship and PGA Tour are different entities. I'm not sure what ESPN+ will be doing exactly for the 2020-21 season, I don't think it's been decided yet.

PGA TOUR LIVE Coming Exclusively to ESPN+ - ESPN Press Room U.S.

looks like it’s coming in 2022. Is there anything golf related on espn+ currently that would be worth it. Worst case ill just pay 5 bucks for the month and then unsubscribe. Appreciate anyone’s thoughts.

sorry all. I now see this is already being discussed in the tournament thread.

Just spent the $5 for the month and I’ll cancel before I get charged again. I was hoping that paying for coverage would save me from the “This watch tells time” commercial, but I guess not.

I bit the bullet too. Obviously not a huge amount of money, but would be great to be commercial free for a premium service.

Yet another pay wall, when ESPN already accounts for around $10 of your monthly cable bill. On top of that, you still have to endure commercials for a stream you're paying extra for. Thank god for the internet and free streaming sites...

The issue I have with it is that I already have 5 espns bought and paid for through satellite . So espn now gets to double dip and not show me the tournament , unless I pay again . It should be offered for $5 for streaming customers and those of use who have espn already should get it on one of the 5 channels we already buy. And the PGA of american should have forced this They chose the perfect year to finish killing their brand The 4th major is now the 4 3/4 major . If you don’t show coverage on the east coast until 4 and tiger tees off at 11 ish , there’s an issue that’s counter productive to the brand ...No ?

i pay for pga tour live , I can’t very well justify adding a 3rd monthly TV bill to my list during a downturn economic year like this . Thanks pga of america for looking out for all of us ?‍♂️ So glad I looked forward to this .

Nope not doing it!!!!! Watching the LPGA!

Not to take up for the large media company but part of the reason that ESPN purchased the early round streaming rights was likely to get people to subscribe to ESPN+. You're right that the PGA could have given them the rights contingent upon them putting the coverage on their cable networks but it probably would have been worth less to ESPN. As cable/satellite subscribers continue to dwindle I think they view ESPN+ as a large part of their future and this is an investment in that future. I honestly would like to see this model succeed as I'd prefer to purchase the network channels I use directly from the companies vs. having to purchase them as part of a inflated cable bundle.

I thought it was a bit of a pain to have to add ESPN+ to my Disney+ subscription (got Hulu in the bundle) but I have to say the coverage is very well done. I have been streaming to three different screens since 10am and when a covmmerical comes on I switch the volume to the other stream. They laid out some major production money to pull this off and so far I am impressed.

I would much rather subscribe to ESPN+ than PGA Tour Live, for what that's worth. The coverage has been fine and there's lots of it. I don't have PGA Tour Live this year, so maybe it's changed, but it struck me as a very ancient-feeling streaming service with kinda weird coverage. Lots of dead air and looping commercials, not many options, etc.

Yes. I get that. I do. But..... i don’t think they should be able to double dip during this transition period.

I too would prefer ala Carte Chanel purchasing. But. One thing stops me from cutting satellite and going to all streaming plus air for locals. And that’s the incredibly terrible internet service I have available. I’m not at all in a remote area either. The only option on my road is windstream. And it’s widely known as crap. It will work , but during peak hours it’s terrible. And I have a 12 year old playing online games with friends due to the pandemic and is having no neighbors . He’s isolated without it. I can’t get charter cable , at & t Or any of the fiber optic versions. It’s a pretty common issue in the south outside of cities. If I ditch satellite I stand to be without Tv for 50 or more nights a year whne it just refuses to load. You can count on it slowing to a crawl starting at 5pm every day when folks come home from work.

but that’s really beside the point. I paid for espn already 5 times , and the picture is 10x better Through satellite than WiFi. I shouldn’t have to pay more for less.

I do see your point. I just don’t think it’s ok they get tO do that. They got to stick it to us for years as the only option. Then streaming becomes a thing and it saves some folks money , and now they’ve figured out how to stick it to some of us twice. I suppose my opinion of streaming would be different if my service actually worked. Usually it’s similar to “ watching it on the radio “ for picture quality. You get sound and some movement ....lol. Then the little twirling circle ⭕️ for fun here and there.

I agree. The coverage has been excellent, not a lot of the “hey, it’s Justin’s birthday today” type garbage that you usually get with CBS and not a lot of mindless chatter. Picture’s better, too, which is a nice surprise, but does show me how lousy my cable company really is.