Golf Channel is Expanding Coverage of Golf
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 13, 2008 12:08 PM EDT
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PrintIt appears that Comcast and CBS have worked out a quid pro quo kind of deal that will aid both of their cable network properties. Basically, CBS is going to farm out additional hours of PGA Tour coverage for the Golf Channel's air and Comcast is going to put CBS' struggling CBS College Sports into more homes.
Jon Show and John Ourand explain at SBJ:
Golf Channel will get an influx of additional PGA Tour programming as it will telecast early-hour weekend coverage of 12 Tour events that air on CBS next season thanks to a multifaceted arrangement between the networks. As part of the deal, Golf Channel parent Comcast will launch CBS College Sports in an extra 2 million homes, bringing the cable channel’s total to 25 million.
More from the piece:
Golf Channel’s 2 1/2-hour windows start at 12:30 p.m. and will feature live action, interviews and analysis. Golf Channel had requested to staff the telecasts with CBS talent Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo. Faldo already works for both networks, but it’s unclear whether either announcer will be available for Golf Channel’s coverage.
The 2009 television schedule has not been released, but CBS, which aired 22 PGA Tour events this year, usually comes on the air for three hours beginning at 3 p.m. The 12 tournaments have not been selected, but will likely include the six CBS events in which Tiger Woods has played in the past and the first of the four FedEx Cup playoffs.
Bad news bears for fans of any of golf tour, and I'm sure that the European Tour will not be very happy with this. In fact, I would start to think that the European Tour might want to seek out some additional options for broadcasts. Same for the LPGA Tour. Show has been reporting for some time that the Golf Channel is clubhouse leader for the LPGA cable deal starting in 2010. But, this would lead me to the conclusion that TGC is most interested in the PGA Tour - for obvious reasons, primarily the ease of selling out ad time.
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what ???
This isn’t a reality show ? What is xxx Golf Channel thinking ? Will they be putting up panes of glass in front of the tee at a par 5 ? 10’ wall on a chipping area ? :-)
I’m glad they at least requested Nance and Faldo – maybe this means that Tilghman is out of the host chair.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Speaking of...
…The Golf Channel, I just saw that they started airing a “funniest golf videos” show. What happened to the network that I love so dearly?
At this point, I’ll take the extended golf coverage before it’s all gone.
How many times am I going to have to see an exploding golf ball or a hapless schmoe getting drilled in his balatas?
Hole In One month
That’s all I’ve gotta say about that. PLEASE start Golf Channel 2. They did it for MTV and it worked…for a little while at least.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 14, 2008 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions
this can't be good...
for infomercials. Oh, the agony of those marketing gurus who pitch really worthless sh… er… um… golf junk during half-hour segments. If the Tour gets their time slot where will they go?
I don't know...
…Diane. I think I can take the infomercials a little better than yet another guy trying to film his swing and shanking the camera to death.
by Double Eagle on Oct 14, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
It's true !!
What happens if one of those infomercial products actually works ??!!! (well – except for Sky Caddie – checking out Natalie Gulbis in that red outfit is always worth a few minutes) SOMEone out there MIGHT get their slice cured…oh god…now I’m sounding like those “the cure for every known diseas is in the rain forest” wackos!! :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Interesting aside
I recently read Barney Adams’ book “The WOW Factor”. Apparently, Adams Golf was saved by infomercials. They tried hard to break through using traditional methods, but the golf equipment industry is a tough nut to crack. The company was teetering on the cliff until they started down the infomercial path on The Golf Channel. It became the most successful golf infomercial ever and saved the company.
by Double Eagle on Oct 14, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Guilty as charged
I used to think I was the only one that watched those things, but apparently I’m not. They can be very lucrative, so there must be people watching AND buying. I’ve never bought anything, but I’ve been known to watch them.
Come on, who can’t think back and still hear Peter Kessler saying, “I promise, it’s perfect”?
by Double Eagle on Oct 14, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
AND !!!!
…don’t forget…Natalie Gulbis in that tight red outfit pushing the Sky Caddie !! :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Well...
I can neither confirm nor deny watching that particular infomercial. Several times. And I do own a SkyCaddie SG4. Hmmmmm…..
by Double Eagle on Oct 14, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I still pace off my shots
Haha, I feel way behind the times.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 15, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I got to play with a Sky Caddie the other day
One of the guys won one – have to admit, it was pretty handy. We were able to get yardages on our shots, hit, then get to the other guys and give them yardage before they could step theirs off most of the time. (yes – wiseass – that means we were the short hitters) :-P
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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