Coupang Play To Exclusively Broadcast LIV Golf Korea Tournament

Coupang Play is set to take a significant step forward in the competitive world of sports streaming, announcing today that it will exclusively broadcast the LIV Golf Korea tournament from May 2 to May 4, 2025. This event, taking place at the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon Songdo, marks a notable expansion for Coupang Play as it continues to strengthen its position as a leading sports over-the-top (OTT) service in South Korea.

By broadcasting the first LIV Golf tournament in Korea, Coupang Play aims to tap into a solid viewer base in the golf community, creating a unique niche that has been largely unexplored by other domestic OTT services. The event will feature some of the world's top golfers, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka, drawing considerable attention from golf enthusiasts nationwide.

Coupang Play has already proven its capabilities in broadcasting significant sports events, having previously streamed the Masters Tournament in 2024, making it the first domestic OTT service to do so. This particular tournament is famed among golfers and considered a ‘dream event’ on the global golfing calendar. An industry representative noted, “Impressive to see them continue to expand golf-related content,” highlighting Coupang Play's commitment to diversifying its sports offerings beyond soccer.

In addition to broadcasting live, Coupang Play will also provide comprehensive highlight videos after each competition, allowing fans to stay engaged with the tournament action even if they miss the live broadcasts. The commentary team for this event will include esteemed figures such as Kang Han-seo, Na Sang-hyun, who is the brother of professional golfer Kevin Na, and pro golfer Ahn Shin-ae, all of whom bring a wealth of experience and insight to the broadcast.

Since launching in 2020, Coupang Play has carved out a unique path for itself within the OTT landscape, strategically focusing on sports broadcasting while others major in dramas and variety programs. This strategy appears to be paying off, as the service has steadily attracted more viewers, especially with its soccer-related content being the most extensive among competitors like Netflix and Tving. Describing its future ambitions, a spokesperson for Coupang Play said, “We will provide highlight videos of the entire game after the live broadcast,” emphasizing an ongoing focus on viewer experience and content accessibility.

As competition grows in the domestic OTT market, where Tving recently secured exclusive KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) broadcasting rights for three years and expanded its features with real-time content searches and short-form videos, Coupang Play’s ability to innovate within sports broadcasting will be critical. By deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technology in its K League broadcasts, Coupang Play has set a precedent in the industry, utilizing real-time match analysis and player tracking to enhance the spectator experience.

The upcoming LIV Golf Korea tournament represents more than just a single event for Coupang Play; it embodies a strategic vision to solidify its market position and attract a dedicated sports-loving audience. As the OTT landscape continues to evolve, uniquely branded services like Coupang Play could play a pivotal role in shaping how sports are consumed in South Korea.

Overall, with its focus on exclusive contracts for major events like LIV Golf and its forward-thinking technology applications, Coupang Play is poised to make significant strides in the world of sports OTT services. Given the increasing subscriber competition in the digital space, its commitment to cultivating a strong sports presence will likely yield fruitful returns for the platform as it seeks to captivate viewers and elevate the sports streaming experience in Korea.