ESPN STAR Sports Secures Multi-year Rights for US Open
15 June 2004, Singapore: Golf fans across Asia will continue to enjoy comprehensive coverage of yet another prestigious golf tournament on ESPN STAR Sports, following its successful renewal of exclusive multi-year cable and satellite rights for the US Open Golf Championships.
One of four majors, the US Open Championships is the latest acquisition completing a stellar list of the world's top golf events already airing on the ESPN STAR Sports network including the Masters in Augusta, the Open Championships, the World Golf Championships (WGC) as well as the Grand Slam of Golf. This announcement further consolidates the network's position as Asia's number one and most complete sports broadcaster.
The new five-year United States Golf Association (USGA) broadcast package also includes LIVE coverage of the US Senior Open Championships, the US Women's Open Championship and the US Amateur Championships.
Rik Dovey, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports said: 'This is part of the network's ongoing effort to deliver top-flight must-see programming to viewers across Asia. Golf's popularity is on the rise and golf enthusiasts in Asia want their fill of the best the sport has to offer. Asia's growing interest in the sport can also be attributed to the star power of the players - viewers are more knowledgeable about the game, the players as well as all the off-the-fairway news and happenings surrounding the sport.'
He continued, 'It's been refreshing to see Asian golfers such as Shigeki Maruyama (Japan), KJ Choi (Korea), Arjun Atwal (India) and Chang Lian-wei (China) showing themselves to be strong contenders on the international golfing stage. The presence and the success of these Asian sporting talents have a direct correlation to the viewership of the sport on our network, helped by the fact that our LIVE golf programming is without a doubt the most expansive in the region'
Advertising interest on ESPN STAR Sports is also showing signs of continued upward growth, with sponsorship and spot rate packages for all its major golf programming completely selling out. Broadcast partners include Rolex and Mission Hills Golf Course who will enjoy regional association and on-air entitlements around live rounds and repeats of various golf properties on the network.
ESPN STAR Sports golf programming reaches over 54 million cable viewers in Asia, consistently attracting a prominent upscale, well-educated male audience. Peoplementer research in Hong Kong and Singapore show that 57% and 50% respectively of cable viewers watch golf on ESPN STAR Sports, most of whom are PMEBs (professionals, managers, executives and businessmen). Elsewhere in Asia, 63% of upscale male audiences in Taiwan watch golf on ESPN STAR Sports while in India the figure is over 32% (Sources: AC Nielsen Taiwan, TN Sofres Infosys Singapore and TAM India).
Said Dovey: 'All our golf programming including the US Open Championships is undoubtedly of tremendous value to our affiliates, advertisers, and viewers. It's performing well and it's evident our sponsors and partners see the benefit of associating with the sport and especially reaching the sizeable upscale PMEB audience our broadcasts continually attract.'
All four rounds of the 104th US Open Championships will be seen in over 128 million homes on ESPN, starting June 17th, 2004
For further information, please contact:
Stephenie Vasko, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6126 or email: vaskos@espnstar.com
Cheryl Sim, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6134 or email: simc@espnstar.com
One of four majors, the US Open Championships is the latest acquisition completing a stellar list of the world's top golf events already airing on the ESPN STAR Sports network including the Masters in Augusta, the Open Championships, the World Golf Championships (WGC) as well as the Grand Slam of Golf. This announcement further consolidates the network's position as Asia's number one and most complete sports broadcaster.
The new five-year United States Golf Association (USGA) broadcast package also includes LIVE coverage of the US Senior Open Championships, the US Women's Open Championship and the US Amateur Championships.
Rik Dovey, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports said: 'This is part of the network's ongoing effort to deliver top-flight must-see programming to viewers across Asia. Golf's popularity is on the rise and golf enthusiasts in Asia want their fill of the best the sport has to offer. Asia's growing interest in the sport can also be attributed to the star power of the players - viewers are more knowledgeable about the game, the players as well as all the off-the-fairway news and happenings surrounding the sport.'
He continued, 'It's been refreshing to see Asian golfers such as Shigeki Maruyama (Japan), KJ Choi (Korea), Arjun Atwal (India) and Chang Lian-wei (China) showing themselves to be strong contenders on the international golfing stage. The presence and the success of these Asian sporting talents have a direct correlation to the viewership of the sport on our network, helped by the fact that our LIVE golf programming is without a doubt the most expansive in the region'
Advertising interest on ESPN STAR Sports is also showing signs of continued upward growth, with sponsorship and spot rate packages for all its major golf programming completely selling out. Broadcast partners include Rolex and Mission Hills Golf Course who will enjoy regional association and on-air entitlements around live rounds and repeats of various golf properties on the network.
ESPN STAR Sports golf programming reaches over 54 million cable viewers in Asia, consistently attracting a prominent upscale, well-educated male audience. Peoplementer research in Hong Kong and Singapore show that 57% and 50% respectively of cable viewers watch golf on ESPN STAR Sports, most of whom are PMEBs (professionals, managers, executives and businessmen). Elsewhere in Asia, 63% of upscale male audiences in Taiwan watch golf on ESPN STAR Sports while in India the figure is over 32% (Sources: AC Nielsen Taiwan, TN Sofres Infosys Singapore and TAM India).
Said Dovey: 'All our golf programming including the US Open Championships is undoubtedly of tremendous value to our affiliates, advertisers, and viewers. It's performing well and it's evident our sponsors and partners see the benefit of associating with the sport and especially reaching the sizeable upscale PMEB audience our broadcasts continually attract.'
All four rounds of the 104th US Open Championships will be seen in over 128 million homes on ESPN, starting June 17th, 2004
For further information, please contact:
Stephenie Vasko, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6126 or email: vaskos@espnstar.com
Cheryl Sim, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6134 or email: simc@espnstar.com