Editing Masters Tournament (section)

===United States television===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Network !! Years of broadcast
|-
| [[PGA Tour on CBS|CBS]] ([[Paramount+]]) || [[1956 Masters Tournament|1956]]–present
|-
| [[PGA Tour on USA|USA Network]] || [[1982 Masters Tournament|1982]]–[[2007 Masters Tournament|2007]]
|-
| [[Golf on ESPN|ESPN]] ([[ESPN+]]) || [[2008 Masters Tournament|2008]]–present
|}

[[CBS Sports|CBS]] has televised the Masters in the United States every year since 1956,<ref name="nyt-keepthingssimple">{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |title=CBS and the Masters Keep Business Simple |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/07/sports/tv-sports-cbs-and-the-masters-keep-business-simple.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 7, 1998 |access-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409200147/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/07/sports/tv-sports-cbs-and-the-masters-keep-business-simple.html |url-status=live}}</ref> when it used six cameras and covered only the final four holes. Tournament coverage of the first eight holes did not begin until 1993 because of resistance from the tournament organizers, but by 2006, more than 50 cameras were used. Chairman Jack Stephens felt that the back nine was always more "compelling", increased coverage would increase the need for sponsorship spending, and that broadcasting the front nine of the course on television would cut down on attendance and television viewership for the tournament.<ref name="nyt-keepthingssimple"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Augusta's front nine cloaked in secrecy |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |agency=Associated Press |date=April 10, 1997 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19970410&id=k-c0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wg4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4285,4797787 |access-date=April 6, 2013 |first=Denne H. |last=Freeman |archive-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226135152/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19970410&id=k-c0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wg4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4285,4797787 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/04/masters-tv-what-time-coverage-espn-cbs/ |title=Why isn't the Masters on TV all day? |first=Chris |last=Chase |newspaper=USA Today |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413055523/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/04/masters-tv-what-time-coverage-espn-cbs/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[USA Network]] added first- and second-round coverage in 1982.<ref name="nyt-espnreplacesusa">{{cite news |title=ESPN Replaces USA as Early-Round Home of the Masters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/sports/golf/11sandomir.html |newspaper=The New York Times |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409112448/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/sports/golf/11sandomir.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, [[ESPN]] replaced USA as broadcaster of early-round coverage. These broadcasts use the CBS Sports production staff and commentators, but with ESPN personality [[Scott Van Pelt]] (succeeding [[Mike Tirico]], who replaced [[Bill Macatee]]'s similar role under USA Network) as studio host, as well as [[Curtis Strange]] as studio analyst.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite news |title=ESPN will show first two rounds of 2008 Masters tournament |work=ESPN |date=October 10, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=3056747 |access-date=March 23, 2008 |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118235658/http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3056747 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-espnreplacesusa"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/2018-04-04/2018-masters-broadcast-will-use-shot-tracer-technology |title=2018 Masters broadcast will use shot tracer technology |work=Augusta Chronicle |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407182650/http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/2018-04-04/2018-masters-broadcast-will-use-shot-tracer-technology |url-status=live}}</ref> CBS carries two 15-minute highlight programs in [[Late night television|late night]] covering the first and second rounds, which airs after their affiliates' late night [[local news]]casts.

In 2005, CBS broadcast the tournament with high-definition fixed and handheld wired cameras, as well as standard-definition wireless handheld cameras. In 2006, a webstream called "Amen Corner Live" began providing coverage of all players passing through holes 11, 12, and 13 through all four rounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/story/9347190/ |title=Get ready for Amen Corner live |access-date=December 23, 2008 |date=March 30, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013005444/http://www.pgatour.com/story/9347190/ |archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref> This was the first full tournament multi-hole webcast from a major championship. In 2007, CBS added "Masters Extra," an extra hour of full-field bonus coverage daily on the internet, preceding the television broadcasts. In 2008, CBS added full coverage of holes 15 and 16 live on the web. In 2011, "Masters Extra" was dropped after officials gave ESPN an extra hour each day on Thursday and Friday. In 2016, the Amen Corner feed was broadcast in [[4K resolution|4K]] [[ultra high definition]] exclusively on [[DirecTV]]—as one of the first live U.S. sports telecasts in the format.<ref name="engadget-directv4k">{{cite web |title=DirecTV's first live 4K show is the Masters golf tournament |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/09/directv-first-live-4k-show/ |website=Engadget |access-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312041537/http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/09/directv-first-live-4k-show/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="svg-masters4k">{{cite web |title=The Masters in 4K: DirecTV, CBS Sports Tee Up First Live 4K UHD Broadcast in U.S. |url=http://www.sportsvideo.org/2016/03/09/directv-tees-up-first-live-4k-production-at-the-masters/ |website=Sports Video Group |access-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312021034/http://www.sportsvideo.org/2016/03/09/directv-tees-up-first-live-4k-production-at-the-masters/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A second channel of 4K coverage covering holes 15 and 16 was added in 2017,<ref name="engadget-second4k">{{cite web |title=DirecTV doubles its live 4K broadcasts for this year's Masters |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/05/directv-pga-masters-4k-uhd/ |website=Engadget |access-date=April 15, 2017 |archive-date=April 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416125523/https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/05/directv-pga-masters-4k-uhd/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and this coverage was produced with [[high-dynamic-range video|high-dynamic-range (HDR) color]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2018/03/23/att-directv-will-deliver-the-masters-in-4k-hdr-for-the-first-time/ |title=AT&T/DirecTV Will Deliver The Masters in 4K HDR for the First Time |last=Dachman |first=Jason Dachman |work=Sports Video Group |access-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330211415/https://www.sportsvideo.org/2018/03/23/att-directv-will-deliver-the-masters-in-4k-hdr-for-the-first-time/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

While Augusta National Golf Club has consistently chosen CBS as its U.S. broadcast partner, it has done so in successive one-year contracts.<ref name="new-yorker-june-19">{{cite magazine |last=Paumgarten |first=Nick |title=Inside the Cultish Dreamworld of Augusta National |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/06/24/inside-the-cultish-dreamworld-of-augusta-national |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=June 16, 2019 |date=June 14, 2019 |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615234010/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/06/24/inside-the-cultish-dreamworld-of-augusta-national |url-status=live}}</ref> Former CBS Sports president [[Neal Pilson]] stated that their relationship had gotten to the point where the contracts could be negotiated in just hours.<ref name="nyt-keepthingssimple"/> Due to the lack of long-term contractual security, as well as the club's limited dependence on broadcast rights fees (owing to its affluent membership), it is widely held that CBS allows Augusta National greater control over the content of the broadcast, or at least performs some form of [[self-censorship]], in order to maintain future rights. The club, however, has insisted it does not make any demands with respect to the content of the broadcast.<ref name="polite">"{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/why-coverage-of-us-masters-is-so-polite/2007/04/04/1175366249870.html |title=Why coverage of US Masters is so polite |last=Hinds |first=Richard |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=April 5, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2008 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=November 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103113919/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/why-coverage-of-us-masters-is-so-polite/2007/04/04/1175366249870.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="burk">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/martzke/2003-04-13-martzke_x.htm |title=CBS managed to get Masters right despite silence on protests |last=Martzke |first=Rudy |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=April 13, 2003 |access-date=January 21, 2008 |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208105424/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/martzke/2003-04-13-martzke_x.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, announcers who have been deemed not to have acted with the decorum expected by the club have been removed, notably [[Jack Whitaker]] and [[Gary McCord]],<ref name="polite"/> and there also tends to be a lack of discussion of any controversy involving Augusta National, such as the 2003 Martha Burk protests.<ref name="burk"/>

The coverage itself carries a more formal style than other golf telecasts; announcers refer to the gallery as ''patrons'' rather than as ''spectators'' or ''fans''. ''Gallery'' itself is also used.<ref name="prest">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldgolf.com/column/masters-most-prestigious-sporting-event-in-america-6559.htm |title=Is the Masters really the most prestigious sporting event in America? |last=McDonald |first=Tim |work=WorldGolf |publisher=[[Golf Channel]] |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526192829/http://www.worldgolf.com/column/masters-most-prestigious-sporting-event-in-america-6559.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The club also disallows promotions for other network programs, or other forms of sponsored features.<ref name="prest"/> Significant restrictions have been placed on the tournament's broadcast hours compared to other major championships. Only in the 21st century did the tournament allow CBS to air 18-hole coverage of the leaders, a standard at the other three majors.<ref name="polite"/> Since 1981, CBS has used "Augusta" by [[Dave Loggins]] as the event telecast's distinctive theme music. Loggins originally came up with the song during his first trip to the Augusta course in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://deadspin.com/5899882/how-the-masters-theme-song-came-to-be-an-interview-with-the-third-cousin-of-kenny-loggins |title=How The Masters Theme Song Came To Be |publisher=Deadspin |date=April 7, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407080856/http://deadspin.com/5899882/how-the-masters-theme-song-came-to-be-an-interview-with-the-third-cousin-of-kenny-loggins |url-status=live}}</ref>

The club mandates minimal commercial interruption, currently limited to four minutes per hour (as opposed to the usual 12 or more); this is subsidized by selling exclusive sponsorship packages to three or four companies – as of 2025, these "Champion Partners" are [[AT&T]], [[Bank of America]], [[IBM]], and [[Mercedes-Benz]].<ref name="prest"/> AT&T (then SBC) and IBM have sponsored the tournament since 2005, joined at first by [[ExxonMobil]], which in 2014 was replaced as a global sponsor by Mercedes-Benz,<ref name="2014 sponsors">{{cite press release |url=http://www.masters.com/mobile/hi/news/articles/2013-04-29/201304291367269793460.html |title=Mercedes, UPS Form New Partnerships with Masters Tournament |publisher=Augusta National Golf Club |date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213403/http://www.masters.com/mobile/hi/news/articles/2013-04-29/201304291367269793460.html |archive-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> and joined by Bank of America in 2025.<ref name="2025 sponsors">{{cite press release |url=https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2024/09/the-masters-tournament-welcomes-bank-of-america-as-champion-part.html |title=The Masters Tournament Welcomes Bank of America as Champion Partner |publisher=Bank of America |date=September 17, 2024 |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> In 2002, in the wake of calls to boycott tournament sponsors over the Martha Burk controversy, club chairman [[Hootie Johnson]] suspended all television sponsorship of the 2003 tournament. He argued that it was "unfair" to have the Masters' sponsors become involved with the controversy [[Association fallacy|by means of association with the tournament]], as their sponsorship is of the Masters and not Augusta National itself. CBS agreed to split production costs for the tournament with the club to make up for the lack of sponsorship. After the arrangement continued into 2004, the tournament reinstated sponsorships for 2005, with the new partners of ExxonMobil, IBM, and SBC.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-28-sp-masters28-story.html |title=Masters Is Back to Commercials |last=Stewart |first=Larry |date=August 28, 2004 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 8, 2018 |issn=0458-3035 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413115252/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug/28/sports/sp-masters28 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2003/04/08/8104128/the-battle-of-augusta-hootie-vs-martha-a-chronology-of-developments-in-golfs-most-famous-feud-between-martha-burk-the-chairwoman-of-the-national-council-of-womens-organizations-ncwo-and-hootie-johnson-the-chairman-of-augusta-na |title=The Battle of Augusta Hootie vs. Martha: A Chronology of Developments in Golf's Most Famous Feud, Between Martha Burk, the Chairwoman of the National Council Of Women's Organizations (NCWO), and Hootie Johnson, the Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club |last=Yen |first=Yi-Wyn |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 8, 2003 |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409043254/https://www.si.com/vault/2003/04/08/8104128/the-battle-of-augusta-hootie-vs-martha-a-chronology-of-developments-in-golfs-most-famous-feud-between-martha-burk-the-chairwoman-of-the-national-council-of-womens-organizations-ncwo-and-hootie-johnson-the-chairman-of-augusta-na |url-status=live}}</ref>

The club also sells separate sponsorship packages, which do not provide rights to air commercials on the U.S. telecasts, to two "Tournament Partners"; as of 2025, those companies are [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Rolex]], and [[United Parcel Service|UPS]] (the last of which replaced Mercedes-Benz upon that company's elevation to "Champion Partner" status).<ref name="2014 sponsors"/><ref name="2025 sponsors"/>