NBC Sports Group has signed a multi-year agreement with Topgolf Entertainment to integrate Toptracer ball-tracking technology in all 18 holes of its PGA Tour telecasts.
The exclusive deal, which will cover all NBC networks including The Golf Channel, will begin with the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the end of the month.
Toptracer tracks the golf ball’s flight and can provide information such as ball speed, apex, curve and carry. It will be mainly used for tee shots but will also be utilised to track fairway shots.
CBS used it for 10 holes in every event last year but one, the PGA Championship, which was the first time a network was able to use the technology on all 18 holes.
“Viewers want more information because they say it helps improve the telecast,” said NBC golf producer Tommy Roy. “To be able to have Toptracer on all 18 holes is going to be able to tell the story from tournaments better.”
NBC will also test “Walk and Talk” interviews on the course during PGA Tour telecasts and getting players players to wear microphones during the first two Web.com Tour events later this month.
Meanwhile, over-the-top subscription video service PGA Tour Live has been made available as a subscription on Amazon Prime Video channels for customers in the US.