Discovery acquires Golf Channel Latin America
December 17, 2019
Discovery has acquired Latin American Golf, which operates Golf Channel Latin America, a 24-hour pay-TV channel and the region’s digital destination for golf, from Simple Networks and Fornaluz Productions, an affiliate of Inversiones Bahia.
The addition of Golf Channel Latin America will expand Discovery’s global golf media business in the Latin American market, adding a growing multi-platform golf destination reaching more than 10 million pay-TV subscribers across 17 regional markets that offers extensive coverage of the game, as well as instructional and entertainment programming.
Discovery says the acquisition will boost its global golf ecosystem, adding Golf Channel Latin America to a global portfolio that includes GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, the digital home of golf, Golf Digest, the world’s No. 1 golf media brand, and an exclusive global content partnership with Tiger Woods.
Originally launched in 2006, Golf Channel Latin America offers fans a wide range of premium golf content and coverage of PGA TOUR tournaments, including more than 36 exclusive live events. On television, the network is currently available through the premier pay-tv operators in 17 countries, and provides extensive reporting, analysis and coverage of the game across its digital platforms.
“As Discovery continues to grow its offering and engagement with golf fans around the world, we are excited to be expanding our offering in Latin America to supercharge our golf ambitions across the region,” said Alex Kaplan, President and General Manager, Discovery Golf.
“Combining the forces of leading golf destinations such as Golf Channel Latin America, GOLFTV and Golf Digest, in addition to Discovery’s extensive brand portfolio and reach, will create an engine for golf content that offers significant opportunities to build scale across every platform,” Kaplan added.
“The incorporation of Golf Channel Latin America into Discovery’s portfolio will solidify our brand offering by adding golf to the already wide range of content we offer our viewers,” commented Fernando Medin, President Discovery Latin America/US Hispanic.
Discovery first unveiled the GOLFTV brand in October last year with the live and on-demand international video-streaming service launched globally (outside of the US) in January 2019. During 2019, GOLFTV’s offerings in the region already include full live streaming of the European Tour and select PGA TOUR coverage and programming – such as live Feature Group and Feature Hole – each week, as well as premium on-demand content such as the exclusive original series My Game: Tiger Woods shot with the 15-time major champion.