"This entire exercise exists to bring you the 20 least interesting things they pick up."

Intrepid L.A. Times NBA columnist Mark Heisler pens a fun look at the league's mike-the-participants idea and I couldn't help but think that golf is the one sport that would stand to benefit from such an idea, assuming that the sanitizing wasn't excessive. Because as Heisler notes, we never hear the good stuff and therefore, these exercises are not translating into increased viewership numbers.

With all this interactivity, everyone's ratings continue to decline, even the NFL, which this season had the five lowest-rated Monday night games ever.

Despite the new insights from its managers, Major League Baseball just saw the World Series post its three lowest ratings ever in consecutive seasons.

Now for the exciting debut of babbling coaches with the Denver Nuggets in Dallas!

Denver Coach George Karl:

"OK, Marcus Camby, get in the game, babe!"

Johnson:

"Way to go, Stack!"

That would be Jerry Stackhouse. Talk about participating in the experience! Then there was Karl's memorable interview on the bench, in which he concluded: "I really think the key to our team is passing the ball."

It may be the key to his team, which doesn't pass the ball much after it's inbounded. Everyone else already knew it was good to move the ball.

Not that it was a total waste of time. In that night's second game, Portland's Brandon Roy told the sidelined Greg Oden that Miami's Shaquille O'Neal said to tell him, "You're lucky you're sitting out tonight."

In the high point, Utah Coach Jerry Sloan was caught telling his team there were "four @#$%^&! minutes" left during Wednesday's loss in Phoenix.

Unfortunately, this was a mistake on the part of someone at ESPN, who may not be at ESPN anymore.

If ESPN and TNT actually showed the interesting stuff, it would be great. But as NBA partners, their first obligation is to see that nothing too interesting goes out over the air.

In other words, this entire exercise exists to bring you the 20 least interesting things they pick up.

The Wit And Wisdom Of Bobby Clampett, Vol. 497

It warms my heart to learn that our friends Down Under are getting to experience the profound announcing insights of Bobby Clampett on the Sun City coverage. From reader Mike, two Clampett gems:

"I love the strategy on this hole. The fairway is only 17 yards wide."

Either hit the fairway, or do not the fairway. Such strategy! That's really something to be tout.

But my favorite:

"Designing courses is like duck's soup.It's a piece of cake if you've got a great piece of property."

Yes, that's so...not true. But don't let that discourage you Bobby from continuing to say what's on your mind.

"The diamond in our jewelry was the PGA Tour"

Tim Rosaforte catches up with Don McGuire, ousted as head of Golf Channel programming and development. 

Industry sources have indicated that Thompson hopes to create new programming and may be looking to hire an executive with experience in that area. In other words, developing more shows like The Big Break that can draw ratings during the hours when The Golf Channel is not broadcasting its 15-year investment potentially worth several billion dollars. "The diamond in our jewelry was the PGA Tour," McGuire said. "That was 100 percent of our focus in 2007. That was the mandate from the top down."

Judging by this, things are looking good for the reality show I've been hoping to pitch TGC: a group of hot models and even hotter Big Break rejects are asked to run a Nationwide Tour day care center to find out who will be the last to break into tears. The winner gets to babysit the Mickelson children during next spring's educational trip to Dubai. Thoughts?

Gaffe Channel At Disney

Steve Elling notes a most unusual (well, silly) decision by the Golf Channel Saturday.

But The Demos Are Strong!

Jon Show and John Ourand pen a Sports Business Journal story on the Golf Channel's ratings for season one of 15.

Though numerous sources acknowledge that the network did not meet its ratings guarantees to advertisers this season, Golf Channel executives said a majority of its current advertisers already have renewed for next year, with several cutting multiyear deals. In the first of a 15-year deal with the PGA Tour, Golf Channel has aired full coverage of 13 official money events, and early-round coverage of 30 official money events.

“We will deliver on all, or the majority, of our deals by the end of this year,” said Tom Knapp, Golf Channel’s vice president of strategic partnerships. “The PGA Tour and the Golf Channel is no different than any program on CBS, on NBC; it’s a wide array of deals on different demographics and different terms and conditions.”

For the most part, ad buyers contacted by SportsBusiness Journal said they are not concerned about the network’s ratings shortfall, calling it a common situation among networks, and said they are happy with Golf Channel’s upscale demographics.

But Larry Novenstern, executive vice president for media buying agency Optimedia, cautioned that the ratings shortfall could hurt Golf Channel more than it would bigger, over-the-air broadcasters.

“When you get a contract as big as the PGA [Tour], you have to be careful what you wish for,” he said. “When you’re dealing with [ratings of 0.3 and 0.4], it’s different.”

Though they would not get into specifics, network executives said advertisers are renewing at a brisk pace and paying more than they paid last year.

“Last year (buyers) speculated what they would get,” Knapp said. “This year they know what they’re going to get.” Knapp added that some companies that took a wait-and-see approach this year are signing on for 2008, and the network has had “a lot of success” among nonendemic categories such as financial services, luxury cars, pharmaceuticals, technology and consulting.

And they're happy in Ponte Vedra. For the most part.

“We have some ideas on how the Golf Channel and the networks can probably explain (the FedEx Cup) better next year,” he said. “A little more emphasis on our players and profiling them, I think, is the only thing we would look for them to do in addition next year.”

And...

Data provided by Golf Channel shows coverage of events from the season-opener in early January through the Tour Championship in mid-September, which signaled the end of the inaugural FedEx Cup season, delivered 29 percent more 25- to 54-year-old male viewers with income of more than $75,000 than the comparable coverage on USA and ESPN last year, and 21 percent more adult 25-54 viewers in the same income bracket. Comparisons are made on an event-to-event basis.

In each demo, half of the viewers watched the live coverage and half watched the prime-time re-air.
The PGA Tour coverage helped increase year-to-date total viewership on the network by 49 percent over 2006. That includes increases of 44 percent and 42 percent in males 25-54 and adults 25-54, respectively.

In Case You Missed It...TNT Notes From Grand Slam Day 1

Shocking as it may seem, but I elected to have baseball on instead of the Grand Slam of Golf. But thanks to TNT, we can still relive Bobby Clampett's most profound day one insights:

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the 25th Annual PGA Grand Slam of Golf from the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda

First Round – Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Clampett on Zach Johnson’s early-round struggles:  “(Zach Johnson) has been like a deer in headlights on these greens.  (The greens) have really spooked him.”

Like a deer in headlights? Never heard that one before.

Clampett on the different style of play at the Grand Slam: “Players are not used to playing in foursomes, so it’s a different pace of play.  That’s why I like a guy like (Angel) Cabrera who plays so quickly in this format.  The slower player feels like he is in everybody’s way if he takes extra time.”

Or the fast player gets itchy and cranky thinking that he picked the wrong month to quit smoking.

Clampett on Angel Cabrera’s physical fitness: “(Angel Cabrera is) a modern-day John Daly.”

I'm sorry, did I miss something? John Daly is still alive and playing isn't he?

Clampett on player’s hitting off the scenic 18th tee along the shoreline: “It’s a challenge to get set up on a hole like this with all this beauty around.”

Kratzert: “(Players) find (themselves) staring and kind of dreaming.”

Clampett: “Zach Johnson and (Angel) Cabrera (are) looking out in the ocean more than they are looking at (Jim) Furyk (hitting his tee shot).”

Boy am I sorry I missed that exchange when it happened. 

Where's Marty Hackel When You Need Him? Vol. 397

Accidentally clicking on a link in an attempt to get another broken link to work, I stumbled upon one of those CBS-Golf Digest Rules of the Game deals and was thoroughly impressed with the look cultivated for Bobby Clampett, though I'm guess it wasn't the handiwork of Golf Digest's intrepid style guru Marty Hackel.

The sagging green shirt he picked up at a Las Vegas Golf factory store, complete with a circa 1997 below the elbow cut. Then there's the fully branded, certificate of authenticity verified Dale Earnhardt Commemorative Edition shades straight from Walmart (to cut down on glare), and of course, the sweat stains for a touch of Central Florida post-Villages golf outing gritty.

Please, I know Marty's on the road too much as it is, but can we get him to do one of those fashion rehab things with Clampett (minus the $520 belt).

 

Tour Championship Ratings Skyrocket Thanks To Tiger and Phil...

...not up showing last year!

From Sports Business Daily:

NBC earned a 3.3/7 overnight Nielsen rating for the final round the the Tour Championship, the final leg of the inaugural Playoffs for the FedEx Cup,  from 1:30-6:00pm yesterday, up 200.0% from a 1.1/2 overnight rating for the Tour Championship in '06, which aired in early November on ABC from 1:00-5:00pm.  Tiger Woods won yesterday's event to clinch the FedEx Cup title.  Woods did not play in last year's Tour Championship.  Saturday's third-round coverage earned a 2.8/7 overnight from 2:00-6:00pm, up 86.7% from a 1.5/3 overnight on ABC last year from 3:30-7:00pm.  During the same weekend last year, ESPN aired coverage of the 84 Lumber Classic, and overnights were not available.

And who said there were no benefits to them skipping the 2006 finale?

"Perhaps the most important round of golf on The Golf Channel all year — this was a major blunder."

The New York Times' Richard Sandomir was not too wild about the logistics of Golf Channel's Friday Super Bowl Tour Championship coverage.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Eastern yesterday, with the second round of the Tour Championship under way, The Golf Channel came on the air with taped coverage of the morning’s rain-delayed resumption of Round 1.

Tiger Woods was midway through shooting a seven-under-par 63 in Round 2 — live, I say, live! — to propel his surge to a three-shot lead.

But The Golf Channel was mired in its Round 1 videotape, although NBC Sports, which will carry Rounds 3 and 4 today and tomorrow, was feeding it live coverage. To anyone expecting live coverage of Round 2 of the final tournament in the FedEx Cup — perhaps the most important round of golf on The Golf Channel all year — this was a major blunder.

And...

The errors continued. While a network spokesman said that the channel had announced it was carrying taped coverage when it came on the air, I saw nothing until 2:11 p.m., when a small-type “Recorded Earlier” graphic appeared for three minutes on the screen. The spokesman insisted that the network had done nothing to mislead viewers because the action was being shown as it had happened. (But, unfortunately, not as it was happening.)

From about 1:13, when I began watching, until 2:11, no one from the The Golf Channel studio told viewers they were watching a Round 1 tape. Similarly, the crawl on the bottom of the screen offered no help.

The Golf Channel compounded its taped-is-better-than-live philosophy when, at 2:28, it decided that it was time to travel into the second round.

But it wasn’t live. No, sir. The Golf Channel cut from its tape of Round 1 (where Woods had just birdied No. 15 and Vijay Singh had teed off on No. 18) to its tape of Round 2, showing Woods on the fourth hole and Phil Mickelson on the fifth. And, yes, a few times, the channel broke out its “Recorded Earlier” graphic, which would have been unnecessary if the coverage were live, which it should have been.

But Sandomir gets to the heart of the matter...

If a logical reason exists for The Golf Channel spending the day in taped coverage when live action was available, it is this: for five hours, it had Woods full-time. It’s not a good reason to look foolish and shameless, but it’s a reason.

"These wedges he's designed have really paid off for him this week."

Did you catch when Johnny Miller said that during the final round telecast of the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship after yet another of Phil Mickelson's miracle up and downs?

I couldn't help but think of our beloved old pal Stu Schneider, who not only would have been all over Example 492 of Johnny's blatant Callaway conflict of interest (I know, I know, he mentioned the Sasquatch after a Tiger drive...yada, yada).

But it should also be said that Stu might have noted the telecast as perhaps NBC's best of the year and a classic example of how good NBC's golf coverage can be when given a compelling finish and course. 

TNT Confirms Our Worst Fears: Clampett Is Back As Lead Analyst

Scroll down a bit for details of the pga.com online coverage, the alternative to TNT's "extensive linear coverage":

TNT to Present More Than 50 Hours of Combined Televised and Online Coverage of the 136^th British Open Championship from Legendary Carnoustie Golf Links

Network’s digital plans to include live coverage of Tiger Woods’ first round on PGA.com

Turner Network Television (TNT) heads overseas this July to present more than 50 hours of combined televised and online coverage of the 136^th British Open Championship from Carnoustie in Angus, Scotland . Taking place July 19-22, the historic major tournament will showcase some of the biggest names in professional golf, including back-to-back defending champion Tiger Woods , 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson, 2007 US Open Champion Angel Cabrera and FedEx Cup contenders Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson .

TNT’s televised coverage begins on Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 a.m. ET/PT with a preview show, followed by exclusive coverage of the first round. The network’s fantastic four days of coverage will also include exciting new technical features enhancing the telecast and stories celebrating the course and tournament, such as:

• Total Vision : Super-slow-motion gives our expert analysts the opportunity to break down every detail of the PGA’s top players’ swings.
• Golf Trak : Cutting edge virtual technology allows viewers to follow the flight of the ball.
• Carnoustie: Then and Now : A look at the challenging golf course and how the conditions have changed from 1999, best remembered for Jean Van de Velde’s infamous mishandling of the 18^th hole.
• Only at the Open : Weather reports from Carnoustie’s weather reporter, Patrick Healy ; and fascinating stories and folklore about the remarkable Scottish course.

“We’re extremely proud to continue TNT’s coverage of the British Open Championship as we provide our viewers with innovative features such as Total Vision and Golf Trak while paying tribute to the grandeur of Carnoustie,” said Jeff Behnke , Turner Sports executive producer. “The drama of Tiger Woods’ potential three-peat, combined with the challenging Carnoustie course, will certainly make this year’s British Open a thrilling event.”

2007 British Open Championship on TNT Programming Schedule

DAY/DATE TIME EVENT

Thurs., July 19 6:30 a.m. ET/PT Preview Show

7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET/PT First Round Coverage

Fri., July 20 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET/PT Second Round Coverage

Sat., July 21 7 – 9 a.m. ET / 4 – 6 p.m. PT Third Round Coverage

Sun., July 22 6 – 8 a.m. ET / 3 – 5 a.m. PT Final Round Coverage

This year's announcers includes Ernie Johnson who returns to TNT’s golf coverage this season, Bobby Clampett (analyst), Billy Kratzert (reporter) and Jim Huber (reporter/essayist). ABC’s Terry Gannon (play-by-play), Peter Alliss (analyst), Paul Azinger (analyst) and Judy Rankin (reporter) will contribute to TNT's four days of coverage as well.

TNT will once again partner with ABC to share coverage of the tournament. TNT will televise daylong exclusive coverage of the first and second rounds and early coverage of the third and final rounds during the weekend. ABC will air the duration of the third and final rounds.

TNT holds the top spot in airing more hours of major championship golf than any other television network. In addition to the British Open Championship, TNT’s stable of 2007 golf programming also includes the Senior British Open (July 26-27), RICOH Women’s British Open (Aug. 2-3), 89^th PGA Championship (Aug. 9 – 12), President’s Cup (Sept. 27 – 30) and the PGA Grand Slam Golf (Oct. 16 – 17).

TNT earned an Emmy® in the Outstanding Live Sports Special category for its coverage of the 2005 British Open. 2007 marks the fifth consecutive year TNT will televise the tournament, and the first time since 1999 that the event will return to Carnoustie.

Turner Sports New Media PGA.com Coverage

In addition to extensive linear coverage, Turner Sports will also provide innovative digital coverage, as it launches Open Championship Live which utilizes CNN’s patented Pipeline technology to simulcast multiple video streams and bring golf fans inside the ropes and closer to the action online. The online streaming of live and taped action from the legendary major will be available on PGA.com, which is operated by Turner Sports . Open Championship Live will feature three pipes that will stream content from Carnoustie, with Pipe #3 featuring Tiger Woods’ first round and other select groups of golfers from 4 a.m. – 7 a.m. ET on Thurs., July 19 . Pipe #1 will stream live action from holes 16, 17 and 18 from 4 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET on Thurs., July 19 and Fri., July 20. Pipe #2 will offer video content including highlights, flyovers, features, behind the scenes coverage, footage from press conferences, an Open Championship spotlight of past winners and events, as well as PGA Golf Instruction from PGA of America professionals. In addition, midday and end of day reports on the status of the players in the field.

Open Championship Live builds on the success of PGA.com's online four-camera feed of last year's PGA Championship which registered nearly one million video streams and was a key driver to setting a single-day traffic record on the site with over 16 million page views and a significant 18% boost in total page views.

“We're excited to complement our television coverage of the British Open on TNT with innovative online coverage to give fans an exciting multi-platform experience to enjoy one of golf's most popular and revered tournaments,” said Lenny Daniels, senior vice president of production and new media, Turner Sports. “ Open Championship Live will help take fans inside the ropes and closer to the action, providing them both a unique showcase of the competitive play of the tournament, as well as up-to-the-minute reports and highlights that they can't find anywhere else."

Golf Channel Demo's Skewing Just A Tad High

From Thomas Bonk's LA Times golf column:

Further proof that you can't stop getting older: According to the latest statistics, the average age of a daytime Golf Channel viewer is 62. That's up from 58 in the last sampled period, according to Magna Global's "Median Age Report."

"Inside The Truck" Aims To Establish New Lowpoint In History of Televised

Ah, the media covering itself. And sending out a press release to tell us all about. Precious isn't it?

It's official. Non-Tiger events have become so boring that they have to resort to this...

CBS SPORTS GIVES RARE LOOK “INSIDE THE TRUCK” DURING LIVE COVERAGE OF JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

Network’s Golf Coverage To Give Viewers Simultaneous Coverage of John Deere Classic with Live Behind the Scenes View of Production while Broadcasting Action on Course Saturday, July 14

Have you ever wondered just what it is like to try and cover over 100 golfers as they line up tee shots, chip shots and putts all at once while a director screams obscenity laced tirades into the announcer's headsets?

Oops, how did that last part get in there?!

In a rare look at how golf is produced, CBS Sports will give viewers a different perspective to its golf coverage by taking viewers behind the scenes at the JOHN DEERE CLASSIC with simultaneous coverage of the action occurring on the course, as well as “Inside the Truck.”

CBS Sports’ golf team led by Coordinating Producer Lance Barrow and Director Steve Milton will show the frenetic pace of broadcasting a PGA TOUR event by giving viewers a seat right next to them, their assorted caffeine-laced snacks and their team inside the broadcast truck at the JOHN DEERE CLASSIC at the TPC Deer Run in Silvis, Ill. during the Network’s third-round coverage on Saturday, July 14 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET). Viewers will be taken “Inside the Truck” between 4:00-5:00 PM, ET of CBS Sports’ third-round coverage. Because Barrow might actually eat four entire fried chickens as the round progresses, viewer discretion is advised.

Oops, I did it again! 

Live audio and camera coverage from the truck will air simultaneously in a box on the television screen, along with the coverage of the golfers on the course. Viewers will experience what CBS Sports’ announce team of Bill Macatee and Peter Oosterhuis in the 18^th tower, Ian Baker-Finch on the 17^th, Gary McCord on the 16^th and Bobby Clampett on the course reporting, hear in their headsets as Barrow and his team produce and direct the Network’s coverage. Announcer Peter Kostis was given the week off to spare the viewing audience of Barrow's constant hand-holding and ego stroking.

Dangit, I just can't resist. I'll stop now. 

Women Beat The Men!

Sal Johnson, noting the unfortunate airing of the U.S. Women's Open and Buick Open at the same time last weekend passed this note along.

This year the U.S. Women's Open won the slot with a 1.7 (1.47 million) rating compared to the Buick Open's 1.7 (1.3 million) rating. Now both shows were drastically down over last year, the Women's Open was 39% down but that had to be expected. The reason, Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie were in contention last year and the Sunday show went to 7:30 because they played 36 holes on Sunday.

And...

As for the Buick Open they had a bigger drop, 60%. That was because last year the event was played in August and there was no competing golf show against it but the main reason for the drop was Tiger Woods won last year.

"The USGA is looking to expand its number of corporate partners to four"

Jon Show in the Sports Business Journal writes about Johnny Miller joining Lexus for several synergistic cross platforming upward product valuation and branding opportunities.

NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller will spend this week as a spokesman for Lexus, part of the company's activation of its new sponsorship with the U.S. Golf Association that includes rights to the U.S. Open.

There's that activation word again! 

Miller is scheduled to make appearances on behalf of Lexus through Sunday, including appearing via satellite on morning shows to promote a Lexus-sponsored survey asking golfers how they improve their game.

Good to know he's got his priorities straight. 

He also will appear in ads running in major golf publications and will be featured in TV spots running on NBC, which is televising the majority of the event.

Oh, but will he plug the product on the air as he did with Ford? Will he go easier on the USGA now that he's working with one of their sponsors?

This year also marks the first U.S. Open to have large-scale corporate backing. Lexus and American Express signed separate deals this winter with the USGA, which conducts the U.S. Open. Each is activating heavily in its first event.

Activating heavily! As opposed to merely activating.

And the story drops this little surprise.

The USGA is looking to expand its number of corporate partners to four, hoping to announce one in January 2008 and one for 2009. USGA CMO Barry Hyde said he expects efforts in that arena to ramp up this fall, after the organization¹s 13 national championships conclude.