Via RealNetworks’ RealOne Player, fans and viewers across America can go to either www.realone.com/sports or www.LPGA.com and see the tournament live.
“We are tremendously excited to bring the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open to our fans in such an innovative format,” said Ty M. Votaw, LPGA commissioner.
“Our strategic plan has been built upon the platform of ‘Fans First,’ and this agreement with RealNetworks is certainly a first for our fans, enabling us to bring the stars of the LPGA Tour and the excitement of a first-class LPGA event to viewers’ homes and offices across the country. LPGA.com has enjoyed tremendous success in recent months, and I believe the video broadcast of this week’s tournament will continue to enhance our fans’ Internet experience.
Stated Erik Flannigan, vice president of programming, RealNetworks: "As sports such as ladies professional golf become more mainstream, RealNetworks is proud to work with the LPGA to deliver live coverage of the best women golfers in the world direct to the desktop.
“With the live webcast of the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open, the LPGA is proving to be very innovative and forward-thinking in reaching out to its fans worldwide."
This agreement continues RealNetworks’ foray into the provision of live video broadcasts of women’s professional sports on the Internet. Recently, RealNetworks reached an agreement with the WNBA to broadcast live video of select WNBA games for the 2003 season.
With the agreement, the LPGA joins Major League Baseball, the NBA, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, the WNBA and other professional sports leagues and associations that have reached agreements with RealNetworks to provide video and audio content to fans and consumers around the globe.
The LPGA has signed its first live internet broadcast deal after agreeing a contract with RealNetworks to deliver broadband coverage of the 2003 BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open.
