CBS has televised the Masters in the United States every year since 1956.
The network’s first Masters broadcast came at the 1956 tournament, when CBS used six cameras and showed only the final four holes during the televised rounds. That limited beginning grew into one of sport’s longest-running broadcast partnerships, with CBS becoming closely associated with Augusta National’s restrained, highly controlled presentation.
CBS is the primary network partner for the weekend rounds, while other broadcasters have carried early-round coverage at various times. USA Network handled those rounds beginning in 1982, and ESPN replaced it in 2008. That division can cause a common mix-up: ESPN’s involvement does not replace CBS as the Masters’ longstanding U.S. broadcast partner.
The coverage is known for minimal commercial interruption, formal commentary, and the familiar theme “Augusta” by Dave Loggins. Augusta National has generally negotiated successive one-year agreements with CBS, giving the club significant control over how the tournament is presented.