Last Week In U.S. Open Ratings, Roundup; Van Pelt On Fox Deal

There has been a lot of focus on the 3.3 overnight for the U.S. Open final round and the huge drop from Merion last year. ESPN's Thursday-Friday numbers (since added to my original post) were down as Sunday, though not quite at the same level, suggesting a part-Tiger effect, part-blowout impact on the number.

Son of the Bronx has resurfaced at Awful Announcing to analyze the top 5 of the various sports nets and includes Golf Channel's best from the week, with analysis suggesting their numbers were flat or barely down from last year in total viewership (3% and 1%). The strength of preview programming continues to show, as viewers perhaps don't tune in as much for wrap-up shows because the telecasts are already so long. But without the full listing of numbers to see what replays and such rate, it's hard to say.

Golf Channel Top 5 Programs

1 MORNING DRIVE AT MAJORS  Sat 11:00AM-12:00PM  0.2  311,000
2 MORNING DRIVE AT MAJORS  Sun 11:00AM-12:00PM 0.2  292,000
3 LIVE FROM  Sat  8:00AM-11:00AM 0.2  258,000
4 PAYNE  Mon  10:00PM-11:00PM  0.2  250,000
5 LIVE FROM  Sun  8:00AM-11:00AM 180 0.2 218,000

Meanwhile, Bob Gillespie talked to Scott Van Pelt about ESPN's final USGA telecasts and he had some choice words for the soon-to-be-former partners.

What riles ESPN’s Van Pelt, though – who, unlike Berman’s mixed reviews, has a reputation as one of the best young golf announcers around – is the backhanded slap administered by the USGA on its way into Fox’s arms. In a statement, the association said that “the game is evolving and requires bold and unique approaches on many levels, and Fox shares our vision to seek fresh thinking and innovative ideas to deliver championship golf.”

“That was incredibly offensive,” Van Pelt said. “We’ve done plenty to innovate and change how golf is covered, and (ESPN producer) Mike McQuade should be praised for that.

“What they should just say is that (Fox) wrote us the biggest check, and that’s fine.”