Reflections On The 2008 U.S. Open: The AmEx TV's

As a devoted supporter of the USGA's corporate partner program (what would I make fun of without it?), you already knew my first stop of the week was at the American Express Experience. Okay, so it was. But when I heard they were loaning out free mini televisions to the first few thousand cardholders, I made my way to the tent Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. to find a 700-yard long line (the first group would not tee off for another hour).

"Championship Vision" is a wonderfully simple little device that the USGA signed off on as an experiment that became one of the real hits of the Open. Sunday I arrived at 7:15 and the line stretched to the merchandise tent a hundred yards away.
The Sunday line to get a TV (click to enlarge)

The screen is approximately 4x6, provides an amazing photo and has a strong signal that carried the NBC telecast. There were also options of viewing the 1st tee and 18th green action. Ear plugs are provided to listen to a commercial free feed of the telecast and if you fail to return it after play, AmEx will donate $350 of your money to the coffers.

The picture is even better in person, and a nice shade cover helps when the sun comes out (Click to enlarge)The only negative was the decision to mute out the announcer chatter between the breaks, otherwise the device worked wonderfully and added tremendously to the fan experience.

On Saturday USGA President Jim Vernon asked me how I liked and I gave it a big thumb's up. Behind us was Dick Ebersol, so I asked the NBC Executive Producer why he didn't have one. He pointed to his audio device that let him listen to the announce feed.  I said that's nice, but I like seeing the telecast too and offered him a look at "Championship Vision."

He had never seen one and seemed to know nothing about it. (Why do I think Mark Carlson is going to hear from Dick?)
The lightweight devise hangs around your neck (Click to Enlarge)

Based on the experience, I would gladly have paid to rent one. So Ebersol might want to look into it, because these little TV's may just become a key part of the golf tournament spectating experience.

Comments

[Brad Ford]

As someone who attended an Open (Winged Foot), I would have killed for an audio feed from the networks and/or XM. While being at events is great, it is hard to tell what is going on around the course and "move" accordingly.

[dbh]

Amen Corner Live had me completely hypnotized during this year's Masters. Even when the broadcast was on, I'd track when interesting groups were coming through the corner, mute the TV and watch the stream.
If ever a sport was made for the multiple POVs this sort of technology provides, it's golf.

[cardinal]

We used the AmEx TV on Thursday, well before most of the spectators knew about them. Because of the godawful security delays at Qualcomm, we did not get to the course until after 9:00 (after arriving at Qualcomm at 7:10), but we were able to get the TV immediately without waiting in line. (I guess the secret was out by Sat). We absolutely loved it, and would pay to rent it in the future.

[Bob G]

nice to see geoff admitting that the corp partner program has added value to the average spectator

[Martin Del Vecchio]

I guess this is one of the actual benefits of the "partner program." The USGA would have been irresponsible to foot the bill for this on its own, but AmEx could do it with no problem.

But NBC broadcast its audio on an FM radio frequency during the 1999 Ryder cup; you could bring your own radio, or get one at the gate.

Why hasn't the radio technology been available since then? Or has it?

[Jeremy Rudock]

Please let the PGA of America have something similar for the Ryder Cup.

[Michael C.]

While the portable devices may be a boon to tournament spectators, I did notice during the NBC telecast a few ocassions of "Look - I'm on TV!" waving from spectators. I've become accustomed to the bavavior during baseball telecasts, but I'd hate to see it permeate golf as well.

[Lynn S.]

On the dials it appears to have replay and slow.
Can you operate it like a Tivo and replay shots?

[Iggy]

All it tells me is that the couch is the best place to be these days.

[JohnV]

The one concern I would have is what happened on the other holes on the course when Tiger dropped his bomb on 13? Did other players get distracted by the fans making noise?

But it does look cool.

[Geoff]

JohnV
A legit concern which I shared with the USGA brass. Another was my fear that with two earbuds, it makes you lose touch with the silence of a tournament. With one earbud you know what is going on around you and are less prone to cheer or talk too loudly.