After more than 10 years of broadcasting LPGA circuit tournaments on its channels, the Mediawan group will not renew its broadcasting rights for the American channel Golf Channel for France. In fact, the first tournaments of the year are not announced on the January grid. The Canal+ group via its 100% Golf channel, Journal du Golf TV and the French Golf Federation (ffgolf.tv) would be in the running.

The current situation

Mediawan, the group holding the license of Golf Channel in France, has not announced whether the channel will continue its broadcast of the new season of LPGA, including this season's inaugural tournament, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions which will bring together last year's winners on January 18 at Lake Nona Golf Course en Florida. Discussions are reportedly underway between parties interested in broadcasting 35 tournaments from the prestigious LPGA women's golf circuit.

The pretenders

The Canal+ Group via its 100% golf channel is already in the running, but it seems that Golf TV Journal and French Golf Federation (ffgolf.tv) are ready to scrap for the acquisition of the precious rights. These two players have already broadcast tournaments on the European circuit and the Asian circuit, and could take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen their offer in women's golf.

The challenge

Women's golf is booming, notably thanks to the performances of the Frenchwoman Céline Boutier, winner of 4 LPGA tournaments in 2023 including'Amundi Evian Championship, and recently elected Champion of Champions by the newspaper The Team. The LPGA brings together the best players in the world, offers the best courses in the world as a setting for its tournaments and prize pools that grow significantly each year. Broadcasting women's golf therefore means promoting women's sport in general, and offering viewers a great spectacle and emotion.

Waiting

While waiting for an agreement to be reached between the LPGA and potential broadcasters, no worries for fans of Céline Boutier and women's golf in general, let's have no doubt, they will certainly have the opportunity to attend the start of their Champion Lake Nona Golf Course en Florida by January 18.

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