"Golf Channel Posts Most Watched Second Quarter Ever"

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Interesting bumps from NCAA golf and the KPMG, now the most watched women's major outside of the U.S. Women's Open.

For Immediate Release:

For 24-hour Total Day (6AM-6AM), 125,000 average viewers per minute were tuned in to Golf Channel during second quarter, a +1% increase vs. 2Q 2015. This growth was driven by the most-watched April and June ever, along with these year-over-year gains:

·       PGA TOUR: +5%
·       PGA TOUR Champions: +20%
·       European Tour: +8%
·       LPGA Tour: +6%
·       Millennials (P25-34): +29%
·       Prime viewership (8P-11P): +7%
·       Retained No. 1 ranking for quarter, delivering most-affluent audience in television in Total Day and Primetime

And...

NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships:
·       Live Coverage of the Men’s Championship (218,000 average viewers) is +70% vs. 2015.
·   Live coverage of the Men’s Wednesday night final match delivered 325,000 viewers per minute (+139% year over year).
·       Live Coverage of the Women’s Championship (152,000 average viewers) is +12% compared to 2015.
·     Live coverage of the Women’s Wednesday night final match delivered 249,000 viewers per minute (+25% from last year).

And...

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Second Most-Viewed Women’s Golf Event since June 2014:

·       The 2016 KMPG Women’s PGA Championship aired across Golf Channel and NBC for the 2nd year and was seen by 6.1 million unique viewers. That’s the second largest audience for a women’s golf event since NBC/ESPN’s coverage of the US Women’s Open in 2014 (9.8 mm) and the first time since 2010 that any LPGA Tour major other than US Women’s Open was seen by more than 6 million viewers.

Ratings: 2016 U.S. Open Earns Second Lowest Final Round

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The overnights do not include cumulative audience numbers, which would logically seem more important than ratings given the length of Fox's 2016 U.S. Open coverage.

Nonetheless, for now we have overnights to consider from SportsMedia Watch and some analysis on Twitter from SBJ's Austin Karp.

Only Martin Kaymer's 2014 runaway was lower rated than this year's finale (3.8), and Saturday's rain-delay expanded coverage that reverted to FS1 for the last hour earned the worst third round number since ratings have been tracked (1988).

In two years on FOX, the U.S. Open has delivered two of its four lowest final round overnights. Including the record-low of 2014, the past three years join only 1988 as the lowest rated on record in the metered markets.

Saturday’s third round coverage posted a 2.5 overnight on FOX, down 27% from last year, when coverage went later into primetime (3.4), and down a tick from 2014 on NBC (2.6). The 2.5 is the lowest on record for third round coverage, falling below the previous mark set in 2014.

The second round coverage earned the third-lowest for second round coverage, ahead of only 2014 and 2011.

This from SBJ's Karp:

Fox offered this related to Saturday's coverage:

U.S. OPEN SATURDAY RATINGS NOTES: FOX Sports enjoyed an extended broadcast window Saturday, with nine hours of continuous coverage of the 116th U.S. Open Championship on local FOX stations from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET. Highlighted by perfect playing conditions and a fluid leaderboard, coverage of the second and third rounds yielded 19.8 gross ratings points over the course of the Saturday network window, a +11% increase over the 2014 U.S. Open (17.9 – nearly eight hours; most recent East Coast U.S. Open). Coverage peaked with a 3.0 rating and 4.4 million viewers from 5:30 – 6:00 PM ET.

And this:

U.S. OPEN SATURDAY RATINGS NOTES CONT': Saturday's U.S. Open coverage began with two bonus hours airing on FS1 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM ET, garnering an average of 819,000 viewers, the second most-watched Saturday morning telecast in FS1 history.

I'm torn on whether the ratings news is that bad given what a dark day this might have been. While Fox handled it well and no doubt upset their USGA "partner" that seeks house organ coverage, golf would not have appealed to many casual fans if DJ was cost a U.S. Open by the rules committee.

That said, I still want to see the cumulative audience to see just how bad the number is. And at year's end I'll try to get the cumulatives for the four majors and Olympic golf.

A more detailed review of the highs and lows from the telecast is coming along with links to some other takes. But the Johnson rules situation takes priority for now.

Forward Press: Paul Azinger Provides The Main Reason To Be Optimistic About Fox

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Joel Beall offers nine reasons to be optimistic that Fox won't stumble during the U.S. Open broadcast this year, and I agree with most of them, including Paul Azinger's presence.

Here is this week's Forward Press, where I chat with Azinger about the announcer plan and why he's golf's version of John McEnroe.

And the column includes the necessary Fox, USOpen.com and Golf Channel coverage times.

NBC Promising "Most Live Coverage Ever" For The Open

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140 hours of The Open...night owls rejoice!

For Immediate Release:

NBC SPORTS TO DELIVER MOST LIVE COVERAGE EVER FOR A MAJOR AT THE 145TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, JULY 14-17

From First Tee Shot to Final Putt, NBC Sports’ Live Coverage Includes Golf Channel’s First-Ever Telecast of a Men’s Major Championship and Return of The Open to Broadcast Television on NBC

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 17, 2016) – With the most live hours of tournament coverage ever dedicated to one of golf’s major championships, The R&A and NBC Sports Group’s long-term media partnership kicks off its inaugural year with a record number of planned programming hours. The 145TH Open will return to U.S. live broadcast coverage through Golf Channel and NBC’s nearly 140 hours of television coverage from Royal Troon Golf Club throughout the week. It also will represent Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship.

“The unprecedented coverage of The Open will provide a unique showcase of the world’s best golfers on an iconic links course, navigating the often dramatic weather conditions and ultimately adding to the history that embodies golf’s original championship,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “We’re honored to provide complete coverage of The Open for the first time on Golf Channel and NBC. Fans will be able to see the opening tee shot through the final putt, culminating with the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ raising the Claret Jug.”

“We are delighted to be working with NBC Sports Group and are looking forward to their comprehensive coverage of The 145TH Open,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Our fans in the United States will be able to enjoy every shot over the four days of the Championship and will be part of a true celebration of golf at Royal Troon.”

NBC Sports Group Tournament Coverage: 78.5 Total Hours: NBC Sports Group will devote 49.5 live hours of tournament coverage to The 145TH Open from July 14-17, including 14.5 live hours on Golf Channel over each of the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday; 10.5 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the third round on Saturday; and 10 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the final round on Sunday. In total, NBC Sports Group will provide 78.5 hours, including the live coverage of all four rounds, as well as two highlight specials on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, and encore presentations of each round on Golf Channel. All coverage will be streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra and Golf Live Extra, and additional digital extensions will be announced at a later date.

Golf Channel’s Wraparound News with Golf Central Live From The Open: 59 Total Hours: Golf Channel’s signature news programs, Morning Drive and Golf Central Live From The Open, will provide 31.5 live hours of comprehensive news coverage the week of The Open. Golf Central’s Live From The Open will be onsite throughout the week with 25.5 live hours from Royal Troon, which will be hosting The Open for the ninth time in its history. Morning Drive will kick things off from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET before The Open’s first round to lead into live coverage of the opening tee shot. Coverage will be complemented by comprehensive news and highlights via NBC Sports Digital, Golf Channel Digital and social media platforms throughout the week.

Tournament Team: In order to cover this unprecedented coverage of a major championship, Johnny Miller (1976 Open Champion), Nick Faldo (1987, 1990, 1992 Open Champion) and Frank Nobilo will rotate as lead analyst in the 18th tower. In addition, a team of NBC Sports’ analysts will contribute to the nearly 50 hours of coverage, including David Feherty, Peter Jacobson, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Tom Abbott, Notah Begay, Billy Ray Brown, Curt Byrum, and Jerry Foltz. And Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon, Jimmy Roberts, Steve Sands and Todd Lewis will handle announcing and reporting duties.

Did The Tour Leave As Much As A Billion Dollars On The Table?

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As we get ready to kick off another unpredictable Players Championship (Sean Martin on the amazingly wild track records at TPC for top players even those who have played well here), Cameron Morfit talks to a few folks about the challenges facing likely incoming Commissioner Jay Monahan.

In the short term, Morfit outlines how Miami, Trump and the WGC figure to be a huge matter, as will FedEx in 2017 if Commissioner Reset isn't able to secure a new deal before he hands over his NetJets card.

But as I've outlined in a few posts, the tour seems to be building some leverage with television networks for the next deal with various media ventures. Morfit's reporting suggests what I suspected: the tour is operating with a bit of a chip on its shoulder for having been out negotiated by Comcast when signing for 15 years to be on Golf Channel exclusivity with no out clause, even as the network takes on the money losing leftovers like the Web.com and Champions Tours.

Ogilvie, who was on the policy board when the Tour's 15-year deal with Golf Channel was announced in 2006, says Monahan will have to shore up the main TV deal, which he says is costing players money. Ogilvie's assessment is based on recent sports-television deals, specifically the 12-year Fox-USGA pact, which was said to be worth around $100 million a year when it was announced in '13.

"The Tour left $700 million to $1 billion on the table when it did the deal with Golf Channel," Ogilvie says. "There's been astronomical growth since then, and with 20/20 hindsight Comcast got a sweetheart deal. Tim went for what was safe, and you can't fault him for that."

Pre-20/20 hindsight, the deal got all early rounds on TV, which as I recall, was a pretty big deal and has been sensational for the players. No one could have seen rights fees going the way they did, so the tour has nothing to be bitter about. Except that the rights craze may be subsiding and nets like ESPN and Fox are likely not going to be bidding on any golf.

Golf Boosting U.S. Olympic-Related Ad Spending By 10%?

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Paresh Dave and Steve Battaglio of the LA Times detail some particulars of the NBC-Snapchat partnership announced for the 2016 Rio Olympic games.

Deep in the story there was this interesting factoid that suggests golf is having an impact on the bottom line. Oh, and rugby too, I guess:

NBC already has topped $1 billion in ad sales for this year's Olympics, a mark it passed only just before the opening ceremony in 2012. The rights to broadcast from Rio de Janeiro cost NBC an estimated $1.2 billion.

The Olympics are expected to boost overall spending on U.S. television ads by $703 million in 2016, or about 10% more than the games did in 2012, according to ad research firm Magna Global. The firm attributed the increase to the addition of two sports (golf and rugby) to the games this year.

Fox Revamps, Reduces Broadcast Team For 2016 U.S. Open

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As remarkable as Fox Sports was in 2015 with its first year golf coverage--so says the USGA President--they've overhauled and shrunken their 2016 announce team.

Besides Greg Norman's retirement after just a year and Corey Pavin not returning, Awful Announcing points out some notable new faces, including Paul Azinger, Curtis Strange, Ken Brown and Jaime Diaz.

And this:

Furthermore, Oakmont director of golf Bob Ford will provide special insights on the course for the US Open broadcast from the historic venue.

Perhaps the most notable thing to mention on the full Fox lineup outside of the Azinger-Norman switch is the absence of Fox NFL Sunday host Curt Menefee, who served as the network’s studio host for the US Open, and analyst Tom Weiskopf.

Mike Tirico To NBC; The Open Championship On His List

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John Ourand reports that the hardest working man in sports TV--Mike Tirico--is leaving ESPN for NBC and it sounds like the Olympics and some golf were part of the draw.

With Dan Hicks doing Olympic swimming, Tirico could be in line to host the Olympic golf coverage and also serve as host of The Open Championship coverage on NBC, an event he made no secret about adoring during his ESPN years. His ESPN contract is up this summer, so it's hard to say when his new affiliation begins.