Golf courses remain under management following the separation between Versant and NBCUniversal
The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) has announced an extended media rights partnership with NBCUniversal and its new spin-off company, Versant. This agreement will see NBC continue as the exclusive broadcaster for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open, while Versant takes charge of 11 USGA championships.
The partnership, effective from 2027 through 2032, marks the continuation of nearly 30 years of collaboration between the USGA and NBCUniversal. This new deal also represents Versant's first media rights agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, NBC and its streaming platform, Peacock, will broadcast the U.S. Open, Women’s Open, and Senior Open with the highest number of hours among all major championships. USA Network will air the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open for approximately 35 hours annually, providing extensive coverage. Meanwhile, Golf Channel will handle the Senior Opens, as well as multiple amateur and specialty USGA championships.
The USGA championships will receive expanded live coverage on Golf Channel under the new deal. This includes the U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Adaptive Open, Walker Cup, and Curtis Cup.
Mike Whan, USGA CEO, expressed his pride in the partnership with NBCU and Versant, stating, "We are excited about the future of our partnership and the opportunities it presents to further advance our mission to positively impact the game."
This deal is significant for Versant, as it cements the company's position as the leading media company managing USGA broadcasts on cable platforms USA Network and Golf Channel. The USGA championships will remain part of Versant's new portfolio after the spin-off from NBCUniversal, which is expected to take place between late 2025 and early 2026.
The new deal comes after NBCU won the USGA rights in 2020, following the golf group's breakup with Fox Sports. The announcement of this new deal was made simultaneously with the USGA's renewal with NBCU.
In conclusion, this extended partnership ensures comprehensive coverage of USGA’s premier golf events across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and Golf Channel through 2032. The USGA, NBCUniversal, and Versant look forward to continuing their successful partnership and bringing the excitement of USGA championships to golf fans worldwide.
[1] Golf Channel first presented live coverage of the USGA championships in 1995, the year it launched as the first single-sport cable network in television history. [2] NBC will continue to serve as the exclusive broadcast home of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open. [3] The new media company, Versant, is being spun off from NBCUniversal and will continue to focus on sports. [4] The new elements of the agreement will begin in 2027, following the conclusion of the current agreement in 2026. [5] The USGA has also renewed its deal with NBCU under the same terms.
- Golf will remain a key part of NBCUniversal's sports coverage, with the network continuing to serve as the exclusive broadcaster for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open.
- Versant, the new spin-off company focused on sports, will take charge of 11 USGA championships, marking its first media rights agreement.
