PGA tour considering own television channel

[Shilgy]

http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/pga-tour-cable-channel.html

 

Would be the end of the golf channel if it happens imo.

[Gem]

Probably cost us all a bit more as well.

[bruinsPATSirish]

Doesn't make sense unless they buy Golf Channel or a majority stake in the Golf Channel.

 

Majors and popular tournaments need network TV just like the NFL, NBA, MLB and everyone else do. They could start their own PGA Channel but they would still need to piggy back off of major networks for broadcasting weekend rounds and majors

[caniac6]

Probably cost us all a bit more as well.

Won't cost me any more.

[rafal]

Their "product" stinks currently.

[OldBridge]

I'd really hate this as I actually enjoy the Golf Channel. Won't happen for at least another 5 years due to existing TV deals, though.

[mgholda]

The should consider how to properly prepare TPC Sawgrass for The Players before considering a TV channel. Crawl, walk, run.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Dumb idea. I imagine there are a lot of people who only watch the Masters. If it weren't on 'normal' television, they'd forget golf existed.

[Holy Moses]

Just a feeler to renegotiate their contracts with the four networks already hosting Tour TV or preparations to get a bigger deal in 2018?

[doublehans]

I'd hate to see a solid offering like the golf channel get killed by this. Probably good for the player$, but not really the fans. New network would have growing pains, plus at least a separate network is a (somewhat) independent journalistic source. If the Tour creates its own network, any commentators will always have the feel of being just propaganda from the Tour, rather than an indepedent voice (again, somewhat independent, we all know the GC is never going to go too hard on the Tour, but at least they can pick their spots). That's even worse if a Tour channel took down the GC in the process. Perhaps though this is just floating an idea in an effort to get a better deal with the GC or leverage in other ways with them. Moneywise makes a ton of sense for the Tour to do, but it'd be disservce to the fans if means it just replaces the GC.

[Holy Moses]

Look how much the MLB Network, NFL Network, and other league owned channels are making? Why let other people take your profits? I think they'll still need NBC and CBS, but it will be interesting yo see Golf Channel's response.

[andyinsandiego]

Doesn't make sense unless they buy Golf Channel or a majority stake in the Golf Channel.

 

Majors and popular tournaments need network TV just like the NFL, NBA, MLB and everyone else do. They could start their own PGA Channel but they would still need to piggy back off of major networks for broadcasting weekend rounds and majors

 

Just finished reading "Players" by Matthew Futterman (very interesting book, starts with Palmer being the catalyst for modern day sports management), the author dedicates an entire chapter to how many sports teams tried to mimic the Yankees YES network and create their own sports network, most were total failures.

 

The only sport that is almost entirely shown on network television is the NFL and it has an overwhelming household share compared to other sports (a regular basketball or baseball game only gets ~3% of the regions households with a television).

 

Might be way more info then you wanted to know, but looks like the PGA is going on a fools errand here.

 

edit - Also this is my first post, so hello GolfWRX!

[Matt J]

Makes perfect sense to me. I think their streaming coverage is far better than TGC's coverage. Just show golf shots. Nobody cares what washed up never have beens have to say about golf. It's simple. Get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes.

 

The Golf Channel and NBC are ridiculous in how they market the PGA's product. No replays via their streaming service, poor coverage that starts as the last groups make the turn, and the commentators, oh, the commentators.

 

Any change would be good change IMO. In an era when anyone can stream anything and the FCC has made very little effort to make sure rural non-cable subscribers get network t.v. - well, network t.v. is becoming irrelevant. Why not hedge your event sponsors with commercials during your coverage. The cost of covering an event is going down due to technology and the PGA has plenty of cash to be a player. Be a player, PGA.

[Loki]

I laughed when GC came on the air. But it was good for a while and I didn't get to watch for the first few years.

 

When Erik and Gary started on The Morning Drive I had to fight with my wife in the mornings for the remote. Now? It is unwatchable. I watch their tourney coverage only occasionally. The PGA Tour could probably do better, they certainly can't do worse.

[cdnglf]

Doesn't make sense unless they buy Golf Channel or a majority stake in the Golf Channel.

 

Majors and popular tournaments need network TV just like the NFL, NBA, MLB and everyone else do. They could start their own PGA Channel but they would still need to piggy back off of major networks for broadcasting weekend rounds and majors

 

Just finished reading "Players" by Matthew Futterman (very interesting book, starts with Palmer being the catalyst for modern day sports management), the author dedicates an entire chapter to how many sports teams tried to mimic the Yankees YES network and create their own sports network, most were total failures.

 

The only sport that is almost entirely shown on network television is the NFL and it has an overwhelming household share compared to other sports (a regular basketball or baseball game only gets ~3% of the regions households with a television).

 

I doubt that conventional tv - network or cable - is the primary goal here. The future is "over the top" because all the "millennials" are "cord-cutters".

Think something similar to MLB At Bat - possibly _very_ similar. The NHL outsourced their efforts to MLB Advanced Media, and the PGA Tour (which is quite a bit smaller business than either) might decide to do the same.

[360_CS]

Would that mean no commercials?

[ea19]

Competition is always good for the consumer. Win win for us. If it is good, it survives and we get another viewing option. If it is bad - maybe it fails but we are out nothing. Seems like good potential though. If a college football team can successfully have their own station, seems like pga tour could.

 

Maybe they will run Tin Cup even more often than GC.

[ArkJag]

I don't inherently hate the idea, but the television business is a damn hard road to ride in the modern era.

 

Wouldn't this be nothing more than a re-branded Golf Channel though? I'm assuming that it would air the first two rounds of tournaments (as pulling the weekend rounds and majors off of CBS and NBC would be suicide), and the rest of the time would be filled with analysis shows and probably instruction shows. I mean, what's the point? I'm assuming that NBC would be less likely to play ball with the PGA too, if they went through with this.

 

Hopefully if this does go through, it'll be available completely over-the-top without a cable subscription. But we all know that's not going to happen.

[magnumpl]

I LOVE the idea.... If I want to watch any NBA game here in Poland I can subscribe to NBA TV, pay some $$ and watch whatever I want, whenever I want. I can do the same with NHL and NFL, MLB I believe (all of them I don't care beside NBA ;)). If I want to watch any PGA tournament beside the majors I have to use some crappy online streams with awful quality etc. So... if PGA would offer a subscription like the other league channels then I'm buying it!

[tannyhoban]

I heard each of the tour players will be wearing go pros and streaming live as their own channel. Will they be showing Bagger Vance?

[QuickFeet]

It's just a matter of time...........content delivery will be via streaming; even live network programming will be via a stream you can get wireless or through a wired connection to the Internet. The days of needing a content provider are numbered. Services like Hulu, Chromecast, Amazon Fire stick, NFL Network, etc. are the tip of the iceberg.

 

I don't think Millennials are the only "cord-cutters" out there; I'm over 60 and I like to watch the programming I prefer when it suits my schedule on the device of my choosing.

[BMC]

PGA Tour is a money grab. You can best believe they won't have the viewer's best interest in mind.

 

Let's face it, unless it's a Major, golf on TV is a snoozefest.

[UCBananaboy]

Makes too much sense imo.

 

PGA Tour has an endless library of content so programming costs could be mitigated and I would imagine the revenue they could generate from ad-sales on the network would be larger than whatever GC is paying for usage rights.

 

I only have my fingers crossed that it will be available for purchase separately from cable packages like HBO Now. I'd gladly pay $20-$30/mo if the coverage is plentiful and the content good quality.

[hankmoody]

They are unhappy with their deal with the Golf Channel (so I've read) and are feeling alternatives out.

[gators78]

I really like the PGA Tour Live service, and considering how crappy some of the broadcasts are I'd imagine this is partially to get money but partially to regain control of their product again.

[Holy Moses]

Maybe it's a wake-up call to CBS and NBC that they need to show more golf shots in their golf telecasts

[kg92lefty]

Maybe it's a wake-up call to CBS and NBC that they need to show more golf shots in their golf telecasts

 

Very true. Less bs stories and talking.

And maybe showing more golf, even if it costs more.

[lumberman2462]

From a business standpoint it makes sense. As good as the PGA Tour has been at negotiating TV rights with the networks it seems logical to have their own channel and keep a bigger cut of the advertising dollars. My guess is the Thursday/Friday rounds from the lower tier events will air on their channel.

 

I think we are moving to a point where in a few years you will be able to get on your "Smart TV" and pick a player and essentially watch only that player for the entire day.

[Huskypride28]

Makes perfect sense to me. I think their streaming coverage is far better than TGC's coverage. Just show golf shots. Nobody cares what washed up never have beens have to say about golf. It's simple. Get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes.

 

The Golf Channel and NBC are ridiculous in how they market the PGA's product. No replays via their streaming service, poor coverage that starts as the last groups make the turn, and the commentators, oh, the commentators.

 

Any change would be good change IMO. In an era when anyone can stream anything and the FCC has made very little effort to make sure rural non-cable subscribers get network t.v. - well, network t.v. is becoming irrelevant. Why not hedge your event sponsors with commercials during your coverage. The cost of covering an event is going down due to technology and the PGA has plenty of cash to be a player. Be a player, PGA.

This was my thought exactly. I think the PGA does a great job streaming. If their live coverage is anything like their streaming, this would be great. I'd also like to see the early round coverage as well, instead of just the last few groups in the afternoon.

[homeontherange]

Huge fan of PGA TOUR Live streaming. Plus Apple TV has the App, so I can watch it on the tube, hassle free, or take it on the go.

 

Streaming/ App integration is the future. Bundled TV is dying a slow death, rightfully so. Paying 200+ for the 5 channels I actually watch is insane. There are very few cable TV channels that can produce revenue, and they just keep the other junk afloat.

 

And while I'm generally a fan of Golf channel, it's not as good as it could be. Who ever thought Martin Hall should should get a prime time slot?? I want to send a 54* thru the screen when he's on, just confusing the shite out of people with his ridiculous drills.

 

Now if they had Blair and Sara directing the instruction, well that's something I could get behind.