TV's evolution, golf, and deregulation: exploring the dynamic intersection shaping the industry's future.
MEET THE FUTURE: Charlotte, NC - A hotbed of innovation is brewing at the 2025 Golfweek Tech Lab, with a flurry of startups, venture capitalists, and the PGA Tour themselves diving headfirst into fan engagement technology.
You've probably heard of Bleachr, Cue, Mobii, and PlayANYWHERE - these trailblazing companies are reinventing the way fans interact with their favorite sports, especially golf, through their smartphones and connected devices.
But the PGA Tour isn't taking a backseat. As Scott Gutterman, Senior Vice President, Digital & Broadcast of the PGA Tour, puts it, "Meeting fans where they are" has become a cultural shift in the last five to six years, with the tour inching ever closer to the personalized experiences fans crave.
A New Era of Storytelling
During a memorable fireside chat, Gutterman discussed using advanced AI platforms to narrate the tale of every single shot - a daunting task considering there are 30,000 to 32,000 shots during a typical tournament. These mini-stories will serve as the foundation of a service tailored for fans, delivering highlights to their smartphones while they're juggling their busy lives, whether it's shuttling kids to soccer games or keeping up with the PGA Tour.
The Tour already boasts a robust digital presence, streaming via ESPN+ and distributing highlights on social media platforms like TikTok. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Gutterman explains, "When I first arrived at the Tour [20 years ago], the rule was to get people to watch three hours of golf every single day. Now our stance has changed. How do we bring fans to the PGA Tour in any way? How do we meet fans where they are?"
The Freedom to Innovate
This surge in innovation driving deeper fan engagement is fueled by that quintessential American spirit - freedom and the desire for profit. But what about traditional television broadcasters? Can they unlock the same potential by capitalizing on the latest technologies to deliver more personalized experiences and boost viewer engagement?
Enter Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr's "Delete, Delete, Delete deregulation initiative." The Public Notice announces the FCC's commitment to dumping unnecessary rules, considering that these impediments might block new advances in communication and promote deployment, expansion, competition, and technological innovation.
While the implications for sports broadcasting are still unfolding, it's clear that the FCC's deregulation efforts could pave the way for more flexible investments in forward-thinking technologies, empowering broadcasters to redefine the viewing experience and unlock fresh revenue streams.
But, beware of the double-edged sword - deregulation could also lead to consolidation and less competition, potentially affecting content diversity and accessibility. As the sports broadcasting industry dives headfirst into the future, it's crucial to strike the right balance between innovation and preserving diverse content offerings.
- The Bleachr, Cue, Mobii, and PlayANYWHERE companies are revolutionizing how fans interact with sports, especially golf, through their mobile devices and connected devices.
- Scott Gutterman, Senior Vice President, Digital & Broadcast of the PGA Tour, emphasizes that meeting fans where they are has become a significant cultural shift, focusing on personalized experiences that fans desire.
- The PGA Tour is developing advanced AI platforms to tale every shot at a tournament, transforming them into mini-stories for smartphone delivery.
- The PGA Tour already has a strong digital presence, streaming via ESPN+ and distributing highlights on social media platforms like TikTok, but Gutterman envisions bringing fans to the PGA Tour in various innovative ways.
- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr's "Delete, Delete, Delete deregulation initiative" aims to eliminate unnecessary rules, potentially enabling broadcasters to invest in cutting-edge technologies for more personalized experiences and increased revenue streams.
- Deregulation, however, might lead to consolidation and less competition, possibly affecting content diversity and accessibility in the sports broadcasting industry.
- The thriving innovation in fan engagement technology at the 2025 Golfweek Tech Lab centers around the convergence of sports, finance, business, technology, and the digital television revolution, such as Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming and ATSC digital television.
- Sports broadcasters can also tap into the potential of leveraging the latest technologies to deliver more personalized experiences and boost viewer engagement, aligning with the transformative trends within the broader technology and finance business landscapes.
