2012 Is Golf Channel's "Most-Watched Year Ever"
For Immediate Release...
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan 3, 2012) – In 2012, Golf Channel scored its most-watched year ever in the near 18-year history of the network. This marked the second consecutive most-watched year after a record-breaking 2011. This continued surge in viewership since joining the NBC Sports Group early in 2011 has retained Golf Channel’s status as the fastest-growing network on U.S. television (among networks serving 80 million or more homes throughout that span), according to data released today by The Nielsen Company.
“We share in celebrating this milestone with our partners and most importantly, with our increasingly loyal family of viewers who have watched in record numbers to help us achieve these consecutive record-breaking years,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. “While we’re grateful for this recent success, we continue to set our goals high and are committed to serving our passionate fans with more and more high-quality golf content in the New Year and years to come.”
Does that mean they'll finally cancel the Big Break? As long the Montel Williams infomercials don't get moved, we're good.
Golf Channel averaged 95,000 viewers in 24-hour Total Day (6AM-6AM) during 2012, an increase of six percent more than a record-breaking 2011 (90,000) and 36 percent more than 2010 (70,000). Contributing to a banner 2012 were seven PGA TOUR events on Golf Channel reaching audiences in excess of 7 million unique viewers, led by the BMW Championship with 8.4 million unique viewers. Additionally, an unprecedented 14 million Golf Channel viewers watched some or all of the PGA TOUR Playoffs, which was the most-watched ever in the PGA TOUR Playoffs’ six-year history.
GOLF CHANNEL’S MOST-WATCHED YEAR EVER
2012 now represents Golf Channel’s most-watched year ever in its near 18-year history. Contributing to this milestone were the following achievements:
· Three quarters in 2012 were most-watched quarters ever
· Seven months in 2012 were most-watched months ever
· 100 days in 2012 were most-watched days ever
· 33 rounds or telecasts exceeded one million average viewers
· 115 additional rounds or telecasts exceeded a half million average viewers including coverage of PGA TOUR, European Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA Tour as well as several airings of Golf Channel’s signature news programming Golf Central and Live From.
FASTEST-GROWING NETWORK ON TELEVISION
Golf Channel continues to be the ‘fastest-growing network’ on television among all widely distributed networks (available in more than 80 million U.S. homes during that span) since joining the NBC Sports Group. Golf Channel in 2012 is up 36% vs. 2010 for average audience delivery.
GOLF CHANNEL DIGITAL SCORES BEST YEAR EVER
Mirroring Golf Channel’s success on-air, GolfChannel.com saw tremendous growth in 2012, setting best year ever marks for unique visitors (20.5 million, +60% vs. 2011), visits (41 million, +47% vs. 2011), and video starts (11 million, +45% vs. 2011). Golf Channel’s Apps garnered a 113% increase vs. 2011 with 145 million page views.
GOLF CHANNEL’S MOMENTUM SINCE JANUARY 2011
The momentum for Golf Channel has been building since becoming part of the NBC Sports Group in January 2011. A wide spectrum of tournament coverage, news and original programming has contributed to this success including:
Most-Watched Ever on Golf Channel: vs. 2011 vs. 2010
Masters Week +40% +22%
PLAYERS Week +42% +13%
U.S. Open Week +31% +40%
PGA TOUR Playoffs +84% +63%
Ryder Cup Week +33%
High-Quality News and Original Programming: vs. 2011 vs. 2010
Monday Primetime +23% +26%
(includes Feherty, Haney Project and Big Break)
Golf Central +17% +69%
Morning Drive +12% +77%
That needs work.
On The Range +45% + 7%
War By The Shore Most-watched documentary in network history (241,000 average viewers)
Wasn't it the first documentary?
Friday, January 4, 2013 at 10:23 AM
Reader Comments (15)
Step 1 -- get rid of "I'd do it for free" Kelly whatshername.
Step 2 -- cut loose that blowhard call Alex "I Am The Story" Miceli.
This would improve the channel immediately.
But really, congrats to the golf channel on increasing ratings. I wish they catered less to the who can argue loudest and have the most extreme position analyst, but that seems to be true of nearly every cable network. Nuanced debate and moderate opinions isn't nearly as much fun nor does it drive as many eyeballs as sensationalist screaming.
OB makes a great call on all te aeas they could go, and still have room for the goofy glass braking(sic) etc--- and even the last one of these with women could not save it for me. I believe a show with a double elimination format, and playing real golf,instead of one and done skills would be a hell of a lot better. I used to like The Big Break, in spite of hating the glass thing and other gimmicks, but it is more soap opera time and less golf the last few go rounds--and it left me----gone.
Also if they shipped that school of golf guy off in a crate, it would not be too soon.
Anyway-congratulations to TGC.
Where is the taste in the viewership?
"The sun is up, cool breezes are blowing, and I'm going to BRUSH my TEETH with my Butler gum. Butler--the number 1 toothbrush in golf. I understand Tiger uses Butler, he's used it since winning the US Amateur three times as a kid, I wonder if Tiger is up and brushing as I speak. We'll have to ask if he still has the Butler in the bag. Butler -- the number 1 toothbrush in golf. Let's get in that shower now, folks, OOH, cannot WAIT to feel the STING! Let's turn on the Kohler. Kohler--the number 1 shower in golf. They use 'em all through the facility at Whistling Straits where you'll recall Tiger didn't play that year that Dustin Johnson didn't realize he was in a trap and grounded his club causing a penalty that would ultimately cost him that still out of reach first Major. Kohler--the number 1 shower in golf. Wonder if Tiger has Kohlers in the new spread. I know he had them in the practice area locker room, not sure if they're in the rest of the grounds complex. Wonder if Tiger is taking a shower right now as I speak. Tiger -- the number 1 player in golf. Is he back? Was he back? Will he be back? And if so, when? Tiger has his own 3-hole practice area where he's brought in every type of sand he'll ever face on the PGA tour so he can get the feel ahead of Augusta and every other venue. Augusta--the number 1 major and the number 1 player -- does it get any better than that? Where's my towel? Only use Golf Channel PGA sanctioned Ralph Lauren's. Ralph Lauren--the number 1 designer for the PGA, Golf Channel, the Ryder Cup, and of course the upcoming Olympics in 2016. Wonder if Tiger will be there and if he might switch to RLX now that Rory's come over to Nike and since Ralph Lauren, the number 1 designer in golf will be doing the Olympic uniforms again, hopefully this time without the French berets. Will the world's number 1 switch to Ralph, we'll be there with the answers to this and all the vital questions golf lovers could possibly have. Speaking of which, WHO do WE think will get to the year long FedEx Cup final point standings with a terrycloth RL in tow this year? Tiger? Rory? Phil? You can bet we'll be there to bring it to you live here on Golf Channel -- they dropped the "THE" from the listings last year and found it boosted ratings immediately as people could find it under "G" for the first time when they'd run their DVR searches. Golf Channel -- the number 1 channel in golf bringing you the year-long FedEx cup whether it's a playoff or not. Who do you think will be there at the end, Brendal? Will it be The Man? Tiger? Or will Rory step in again, the brash young Irishman taking on one of the GREATS of all time? Tiger--the number 1 player in golf. Brendal...?"
OK, that was long enough. Carry on!
Great stuff. Now back to you Brend,,,err, Brandall!