The Masters Tournament was first televised in 1956, when CBS broadcast the event in the United States.
The early coverage was far more limited than today’s wall-to-wall production. CBS used only six cameras and concentrated on the final four holes, reflecting both the technical limits of television and Augusta National’s cautious approach to broadcasting. Even so, the inaugural televised tournament reportedly reached about 10 million viewers.
CBS has remained the primary American television home of the Masters ever since. Early-round coverage expanded much later: USA Network began showing the first and second rounds in 1982, and ESPN took over that early-round role in 2008.
A common mix-up is confusing the first televised Masters with the start of full-course or multi-round coverage. The tournament appeared on television in 1956, but viewers initially saw only a small portion of the course. Coverage gradually expanded as broadcasting technology improved and Augusta National loosened its restrictions.