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Discovery acquires Golf Channel LatAm

December 17, 2019

Maribel Ramos-Weiner

Fernando Medin Discovery Latin America

Discovery, Inc. announced it has acquired Latin American Golf, S.L., which operates Golf Channel Latin America, a 24-hour pay-tv channel and the region’s digital destination for golf, from Simple Networks LLC and Fornaluz Productions, S.A., an affiliate of Inversiones Bahia.

The addition of Golf Channel Latin America will expand Discovery’s global golf media business in the Latin American market, adding a growing multi-platform golf destination reaching more than 10 million pay-tv subscribers across 17 regional markets that offers extensive coverage of the game, as well as instructional and entertainment programming.

The acquisition will boost Discovery’s global golf ecosystem, adding Golf Channel Latin America to a global portfolio that includes GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, the digital home of golf, Golf Digest, the world’s No. 1 golf media brand, and an exclusive global content partnership with Tiger Woods.

Discovery struck a ground-breaking strategic alliance with the PGA TOUR, announced in June 2018, that included the management of the PGA TOUR’s international multi-platform rights. This relationship, combined with the Golf Channel Latin America acquisition, will enable Discovery to optimize and maximize live coverage and programming across all Golf Channel Latin America and GOLFTV screens from January 2020.

“The incorporation of Golf Channel Latin America into Discovery’s portfolio will solidify our brand offering by adding golf to the already wide range of content we offer our viewers. By adding Golf Channel Latin America, we are joining our efforts to the global strategy of making Discovery the true all-screen home of golf,” commented Fernando Medin, president Discovery Latin America/US Hispanic.

“As Discovery continues to grow its offering and engagement with golf fans around the world, we are excited to be expanding our offering in Latin America to supercharge our golf ambitions across the region,” said Alex Kaplan, president, and general manager, Discovery Golf.

“Combining the forces of leading golf destinations such as Golf Channel Latin America, GOLFTV and Golf Digest, in addition to Discovery’s extensive brand portfolio and reach, will create an engine for golf content that offers significant opportunities to build scale across every platform,” Kaplan added.

“Under the ownership and management of Simple Networks and Inversiones Bahia, Golf Channel Latin America grew its distribution by over one million households, increased value through key partnerships with broadcast sponsors and revamped production and operations,” said Jason Markham, co-founder of Simple Networks.