Sky NZ extends LPGA rights to 2024

Pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand has continued its recent rights drive by securing an extended deal for coverage of LPGA golf events.

The new deal runs from 2020 to 2024 and covers up to 32 LPGA tournaments each year.

Sky said it would broadcast and stream all LPGA Tour events where possible. The broadcaster will also produce a highlights programme for each event, which will be made available on Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now and free-to-air channel Prime.

Sky chief executive Martin Stewart said: “Sky has made a strong commitment to upweight women’s involvement at every level, from the sports we cover through to the production teams delivering inspirational content. Golf has one of the highest participation rates of any sport in New Zealand, and it is an important part of the Sky Sports offer.”

Sky acquired rights for the LPGA Tour in June 2016, when it also secured a deal for the men’s PGA Tour.

Earlier this week, Sky made its Prime channel available in high definition for the first time through Freeview. The announcement came after Sky sublicensed free-to-air rights for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to public-service broadcaster TVNZ.

Sky has recently secured rights agreements with the domestic National Basketball League, Commonwealth Games, Netball New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby and the International Cricket Council.