NBC Signals Beginning of the End for Golf Channel

[Frankensteins Monster]

57 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

 

Kessler was a phony in the financial world, a phony on the show and a total loser after the show. 

 

After breaking ties with the GC, Kessler, in typical arrogant form, stated "he (the personality) was growing bigger than the GC and management resented him for it."  This arrogance drove his desire for creative control and made him difficult to work with on set at the GC.  The rumors about Palmer are just that and nothing more.  In short, Kessler didn't appreciate the notoriety gifted to him via the new platform; he was too caught up in the greed to grow his own brand.  However, as we know now, had he not been such a jerk, the CG could have been a springboard to other new and exciting ventures.  

Went to go see what insane tweets he posted recently. Apparently he's been suspended. Having said that, I met him years ago and he was great to talk to, very cordial, and engaging. While we know what an amazing ego he has, he didn't display that when I was talking to him. He certainly has gone off the deep end the past few years.

[Frankensteins Monster]

Anybody got $15,000-$20,000?

 

https://speaking.com/speakers/peter-kessler/

[Mustard_Tiger]

6 hours ago, Ferguson said:

Old news.  

 

 

Reading Is Fundamental.

[straightshot7]

Where will they be airing Tin Cup?

[TM_HOYER]

Just a continuation of mismanagement and bad programming decisions since NBC Sports has taken over. Did we expect anything less? But the good news is that that decisions like this will reduce the cost the PGA Tour has to pay to buy the Golf Channel and turn it back to what it used to be.

[bladehunter]

NBC.   Well.  Doesn’t really require anything more said  does it? 

[Ferguson]

1 hour ago, Frankensteins Monster said:

Went to go see what insane tweets he posted recently. Apparently he's been suspended. Having said that, I met him years ago and he was great to talk to, very cordial, and engaging. While we know what an amazing ego he has, he didn't display that when I was talking to him. He certainly has gone off the deep end the past few years.

 

I knew an intern production assistant in the early years of the golf channel.  We were friends in college.  She went on to work for NBC, funny I guess.  She said Kessler was a total jerk walking around shouting orders and as it was described firsthand by her, he felt it was his job to "keep people in check."   

[Mustard_Tiger]

Peter Kessler is a genius. The normal rules do not apply.

[Shilgy]

4 hours ago, gioguy21 said:

who knows -- maybe if they went to ESPN or something for the thursday/friday rounds we might have something to watch other than ESPNs wonderful replays of sportscenter or talking heads. 

Considering we are discussing NBC channels and ESPN is under the mouse umbrella with ABC how would that work?

[stinger_gc]

50 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

Considering we are discussing NBC channels and ESPN is under the mouse umbrella with ABC how would that work?

ESPN will have the rights to PGA Tour Live starting in 2022. IMO ESPN is the one benefitting the most from this new deal because they'll have broadcasting rights to 2 majors, the Players, and 36 tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule

 

 

https://www.pgatour.com/company/2020/03/10/pga-tour-live-coming-exclusively-to-espn-plus.html

[dcfas]

I just don’t want to have to hunt for golf coverage, especially the morning rounds of majors.

[KrazyTrain18]

I think this was inevitable no matter how unfortunate.  With online streaming rising in popularity and the big companies like NBC looking to slim down it doesn't leave much room for a dedicated golf channel.  As somebody who grew up with the golf channel (late 90s/2000s) it will be a sad day when/if it leaves the air for good.  

[tacklingdummy]

TV is getting worse and streaming is not any better. Coverage is so fragmented across so many networks, channels, and streaming services. Streaming can have buffering problems at peak times. I was thinking of just getting local channels because I don't watch TV much, but even that is difficult because you have to sign up with contracts with cable companies. I may try to get an antenna, but they haven't worked quite well at my location. 

[bekgolf]

 

The + streaming services are bombing.  So much so that they now include them with cell phone service packages.

 

I can imagine someone in corporate thinking "they will have to buy our service if we move TGC to it". 

[nikeblades00]

1 hour ago, dcfas said:

I just don’t want to have to hunt for golf coverage, especially the morning rounds of majors.

Absolutely agree. Golf channel fit my golf needs Thursday-Sunday. Loved the fact that I watch the PGA replay in the evening. Also I enjoy LPGA and Champions tour. I'll admit the talk shows news stuff was pretty lame and I just didn't watch it.

Not sure why everyone is complaining. What more do you expect? What are you looking for? Basically everything else is on YouTube anyways, from professional instruction to playing with the pros. Only so much that they can do. 

Edited November 4, 2021 by nikeblades00

[TiScape]

10 hours ago, straightshot7 said:

Where will they be airing Tin Cup?

And ‘The Squeeze’?! 

[TiScape]

3 hours ago, nikeblades00 said:

Absolutely agree. Golf channel fit my golf needs Thursday-Sunday. Loved the fact that I watch the PGA replay in the evening. Also I enjoy LPGA and Champions tour. I'll admit the talk shows news stuff was pretty lame and I just didn't watch it.

Not sure why everyone is complaining. What more do you expect? What are you looking for? Basically everything else is on YouTube anyways, from professional instruction to playing with the pros. Only so much that they can do. 

Pretty much par for the course here nb00! 

[TM_HOYER]

9 hours ago, nikeblades00 said:

Absolutely agree. Golf channel fit my golf needs Thursday-Sunday. Loved the fact that I watch the PGA replay in the evening. Also I enjoy LPGA and Champions tour. I'll admit the talk shows news stuff was pretty lame and I just didn't watch it.

Not sure why everyone is complaining. What more do you expect? What are you looking for? Basically everything else is on YouTube anyways, from professional instruction to playing with the pros. Only so much that they can do. 

What am I expecting? A studio show that does not have the presenters behind a desk the whole show. A large screen where they show and dissect a swing while standing in front of the screen. A hitting simulator where they can show ways a hole can be played or swing issues. A putting green with slope to show how a putt can be played or what the pro is doing wrong. A comfortable interview area. A studio location where tour pro’s can stop buy.

 

The golf channel has turned pregame, postgame, and news shows from entertaining to boring, cheap mush.

[bscinstnct]

9 hours ago, bekgolf said:

 

The + streaming services are bombing.  So much so that they now include them with cell phone service packages.

 

I can imagine someone in corporate thinking "they will have to buy our service if we move TGC to it". 

I got me Netflix free with t mobile!

 

But don’t misinterpret that deal as Netflix “bombing”

In 2021 after years of funding the billions they spend on content via debt, they finally are going into positive cash flow. 
 

They have over 200MM US subscribers and are adding millions per quarter internationally. 
 

They are now in a position to spend $50 Billion (billion!) on producing content. And since they don’t need to deal with cable companies, they can reach households anywhere in the world. 
 

Netfilx does over 25B in revenue. Warner Media does 30B and that’s including HBO, Warner Bros movies and tv, tbs, tnt cnn, dc comics. 

 

I think their next frontier is “gaming” so it makes sense to do the deal with t mobile since so much gaming is on the phone. And even I will watch shows on my phone like I’m a car etc. 

 

So, the strategy of building a tremendous content engine is paying off. But as far as GC, it’s exactly the *lack of great content that is the issue. 
 

[smashdn]

On 11/3/2021 at 6:46 AM, Greg_B said:

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/television-early-round-usga-rands-us-open-open-championship-coverage-usa-network

 

"Beginning in 2022, USA Network will broadcast early round coverage of the USGA and R&A signature men’s and women’s championships, which previously had been airing on Golf Channel. USA Network will also air lead-in coverage on the weekends ahead of NBC broadcasting from the tournaments.

 

 

Got to pay extra for Golf Channel with my satellite package.  Wife vetoes any extra channels beyond the basics.  USA however is in the basic group.  Win for me.

 

If there can be a network dedicated to one college (Longhorn Network) surely to goodness one dedicated to a worldwide sport can make a go of it.

Edited November 4, 2021 by smashdn

[dlygrisse]

They lost me somewhere around the time they began all the reality TV nonsense.  What was that like 15 years ago?

[stinger_gc]

33 minutes ago, dlygrisse said:

They lost me somewhere around the time they began all the reality TV nonsense.  What was that like 15 years ago?

What! You weren't a fan of "Big Break" or "Driver vs Driver" with Melanie Collins??

[Blonde Line Lizard]

31 minutes ago, dlygrisse said:

They lost me somewhere around the time they began all the reality TV nonsense.  What was that like 15 years ago?

The golf reality TV re-airs helped ease the boredom of the flu-19 lockdown.

 

Not a big fan of the show but it was something golf related to watch.

[Blonde Line Lizard]

1 minute ago, PHILsThemannnn said:

What! You weren't a fan of "Big Break" or "Driver vs Driver" with Melanie Collins??

Regarding my last post, I lost total interest in BB when they had the land-whale as a competitor.

[stinger_gc]

1 hour ago, bscinstnct said:

I got me Netflix free with t mobile!

 

But don’t misinterpret that deal as Netflix “bombing”

In 2021 after years of funding the billions they spend on content via debt, they finally are going into positive cash flow. 
 

They have over 200MM US subscribers and are adding millions per quarter internationally. 
 

They are now in a position to spend $50 Billion (billion!) on producing content. And since they don’t need to deal with cable companies, they can reach households anywhere in the world. 
 

Netfilx does over 25B in revenue. Warner Media does 30B and that’s including HBO, Warner Bros movies and tv, tbs, tnt cnn, dc comics. 

 

I think their next frontier is “gaming” so it makes sense to do the deal with t mobile since so much gaming is on the phone. And even I will watch shows on my phone like I’m a car etc. 

 

So, the strategy of building a tremendous content engine is paying off. But as far as GC, it’s exactly the *lack of great content that is the issue. 
 

Exactly. Netflix has such a wide reach that the Marketing of content is not an issue. Squid Game alone generated $900 million for Netflix.

[stinger_gc]

2 minutes ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

Regarding my last post, I lost total interest in BB when they had the land-whale as a competitor.

They had some truly absurd challenges in the later seasons of that show. The only thing I remember about that show is Tony Finau was on it.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

I cut the cord over four years ago and haven't had the Golf Channel since.

I get most of my golf news right here on WRX 🙂  

[stinger_gc]

17 minutes ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

I cut the cord over four years ago and haven't had the Golf Channel since.

I get most of my golf news right here on WRX 🙂  

If I'm being honest reading these tournament threads is more entertaining then watching on tv sometimes. I might just refresh the WRX thread for the Masters next year instead of tuning into CBS.

[jdl]

21 hours ago, Jc0 said:

They're killing off nbc sports network as a cable channel and making USA a hybrid sports and entertainment channel like it used to be. They have already started putting soccer and hockey on it. Also as the article states USA is a regular cable channel so it has a better reach than golf channel for the larger events. 

 

It looks like long term major sporting events will be on cable and everything else is going to get pushed to streaming.

That might be one positive aspect if it happens - typically the GC has not really been treated as a "sports channel" in many cable/streaming service offerings. Typically you had to sign up for a higher tier of service to get the GC along with the other "sports" networks like ESPN, FS1, etc. 

[gioguy21]

16 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Considering we are discussing NBC channels and ESPN is under the mouse umbrella with ABC how would that work?

Consider the idea that the PGA tour might have tournaments covered by other media outlets...? They do it for majors -- why would it be inconceivable to think it may not happen with regular tournament events?