PGA Tour TV Ratings Show Sick Patient

[bajadock]

Several sources document 2024 Masters drop of 20% in TV viewership.  Golf . com is one 

 

That reflects similar drop in PGA Tour TV viewership trend in 2024.  Sportsmedia . com watch is the article from this past weekend used for attached TV viewership chart.

 

Matt Adams, Fairway of Life podcast argued that there is too much golf(PGA, PGA alternate event, LPGA, Korn Ferry, Champions, LIV) or that golf should get creative with weekday/night finishes for tournaments.

 

Dozens of articles argue that LIV vs PGA and money discussions have turned fans away.

 

I think that pro golf has simply become repetitive and slow in a very competitive sports and changing entertainment world.  Video on demand, sports around the world, YoutTube(and other vid platforms), families and children spending weekend activities away from the TV are growing the escape away from 4 hours of the hushed tones from the 6 Sunday golf announcers who sound alike. 

 

"Let's go to another compelling weather update from Mark Dusbabek on the rain delay!".

Edited April 24 by pga43
Links off Golfwrx removed

[Soloman1]

anecdotal, but i only watched the masters on the site, not on tv.

 

TV: ”this is the 9th birdie he’s made in the last 48 holes on holes over 446 yards on a thursday when it s cloudy.”

 

but i’m boycotting most tv now.

here’s one episode, subscribe for more.

subscribe, subscribe, subscribe.

they $9.99 you to death.

[Chunked]

I consume golf on YouTube these days because I can watch a match in 24 minutes or an hour. I rarely dedicate more time than that for anything. 
 

exceptions are when someone compelling is in contention, I watched both Saturday and Sunday of the puntacana because of Wesley Bryan. 
 

I’m of the belief the biggest challenge for the pga tour is there just isn’t anyone that’s transcendent on tour right now. Scottie might become that guy if he keeps winning but by and large he’s just so bland that people aren’t latching on yet. 
 

I don’t think LIV has anything to do with it or at least i know Liv has no impact on my or anyone i knows viewing. 

[Dan33185]

49 minutes ago, bajadock said:

Dozens of articles argue that LIV vs PGA and money discussions have turned fans away.

This has to be the biggest factor, I think people are growing weary of the financial state of sports in general. I think most people are tired of listening to millionaires and billionaires fight over petty stuff while they struggle to put a roof over their head and food on the table.

Edited April 23 by Dan33185

[cprice]

I wish they could figure out a way via streaming for you to select 1-4 players each round and see every shot. I know the featured groups on ESPN + are similar, but it's not always who I want to watch. 

[byoung14]

Seeing members of the golf media groan about declining ratings is funny because they’ve played a huge part in it. You can’t spend your time using articles, podcasts, social media and telecasts to influence the masses with propaganda/negativity then expect people to continually tune in to view your product especially when many of the supposed faces of the tour/stars have underperformed.

[ReviellGolf]

I don't have much to say other then I live in Canada and last year the side stream live coverage was free on tsn. This year all of the side streams are behind the same paywall as the main feed. Now I watch free live feeds on other third party hosting websites. I tried watching Liv one time last year and one time this year and frankly I just coudn't stay engaged. Despite the fact that I like some of the golfers, there's just nothing to care about and I cannot stand the crappy music they play all day long. 

 

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

32 minutes ago, Dan33185 said:

This has to be the biggest factor, I think people are growing weary of the financial state of sports in general. I think most people are tired of listening to millionaires and billionaires fight over petty stuff while they struggle to put a roof over their head and food on the table.

I seriously doubt those struggling to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table were ever consumers of golf. 

 

Meanwhile all the spendy(golf demographic type) places I go are busy with lots people spending money like drunken sailors. I think people are doing different things instead of watching TV. 

Edited April 23 by BlackDiamondPar5

[StoutKing]

It's all the talk about money and bickering between tours and rich guys.  I used to watch the NBA, NFL and MLB and no longer do.  Golf was my escape but it's harder and harder to stay interested due to these factors.  Nothing will pull me away from the majors however.

[adamc92]

Solutions…

 

1. Select ~12 players per event (more in certain tournaments) plus surprise leaders and post “every shot from player X in round Y” videos on YouTube. Allows someone to follow their favorite player in 10-15 minutes per day and see them throughout the course. No need to spend 4-5 hours to see 60% of shots - if lucky and leading. I think these videos would kill and could collectively match current viewership per tournament. 
 

2. Allow players to vlog rounds and produce content. Could also hire staff to follow players in a different way if needed. Then edit down and post weekly. Not everyone is a creator or wants to have an audience, but if the tour wants to build stars and personalities, it’s a proven way (not just in golf) but all industries and sports to do that. Would be much more compelling for stories vs the main broadcast aside from the winner. Would also last much longer than main feed broadcasts too. (Don’t know anyone actively rewatching broadcasts aside from mindlessly having golf channel replays on in the background). 
 

We can watch NFL games in 17 minutes, NBA/NHL condensed in 12–15, have endless highlight options and individual reels in other sports. Watching golf for 4-5 hours a weekend is not only hard, but it’s brutally frustrating if and when 8/10 shots you see are force fed for guys you may not want to watch. 

Edited April 23 by adamc92

[TiScape]

After reading the title I was wondering why PGA Tour showing a sick patient? Like, someone in the gallery??? 

I like watching golf, football, baseball and basketball. Millionaires fighting w/billionaires isn’t gonna change that for me. I could certainly be in the minority… Don’t care 🤷🏼‍♂️ 

[NormanFan]

58 minutes ago, Dan33185 said:

This has to be the biggest factor, I think people are growing weary of the financial state of sports in general. I think most people are tired of listening to millionaires and billionaires fight over petty stuff while they struggle to put a roof over their head and food on the table.

 

I agree.  The PGA-LIV fight has sucked some of my joy out of the sport just like the growth of NIL is making college athletics insane.  Hard for regular fans to relate to that and care when they aren't making anywhere near that amount.

 

But again, the TOUR just lacks characters.  Even in the Tiger era you had guys with some distinctive qualities about them.  Monty was the foreigner who crowds loved to hate, you still had Payne Stewart until 1999 with his manner of dress and style, Norman was still kicking a bit (albeit not much post-1999) and had his distinctive "shark" brand, you had John Daly bombing drives and acting a fool, you had Vijay Singh who was a workhorse, you had David Duval with his killer shades, you had Phil making wacky plays on the course that were very risk & reward, etc.  Now, not EVERYONE had a character or specific style but you had a core group of players that usually brought something to th table for viewership.

 

For most players on TOUR aside from Ricky Fowler and Rory, there just isn't much personality there.  Everything is just generic and white bread and that's boring when your players are so interchangeable.

Edited April 23 by NormanFan

[NormanFan]

4 minutes ago, adamc92 said:

Solutions…

 

1. Select ~12 players per event (more in certain tournaments) plus surprise leaders and post “every shot from player X in round Y” videos on YouTube. Allows someone to follow their favorite player in 10-15 minutes per day and see them throughout the course. No need to spend 4-5 hours to see 60% of shots - if lucky and leading. I think these videos would kill and could collectively match current viewership per tournament. 
 

2. Allow players to vlog rounds and produce content. Could also hire staff to follow players in a different way if needed. Then edit down and post weekly. Not everyone is a creator or wants to have an audience, but if the tour wants to build stars and personalities, it’s a proven way (not just in golf) but all industries and sports to do that. Would be much more compelling for stories vs the main broadcast aside from the winner. Would also last much longer than main feed broadcasts too. (Don’t know anyone actively rewatching broadcasts aside from mindlessly having golf channel replays on in the background). 
 

We can watch NFL games in 17 minutes, NBA/NHL condensed in 12–15, have endless highlight options and individual reels in other sports. Watching golf for 4-5 hours a weekend is not only hard, but it’s brutally frustrating if and when 8/10 shots you see are force fed for guys you may not want to watch. 

 

100% agree with this.  Some people/organizations have done this for classic rounds like Tiger's 1997 Masters round, Phil's 2004 Masters final round, Greg Norman's 1993 Open Championship, etc.  It's fun to watch that and I'd definitely tune in to see something like that each day.

[adamc92]

8 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

It's all the talk about money and bickering between tours and rich guys.  I used to watch the NBA, NFL and MLB and no longer do.  Golf was my escape but it's harder and harder to stay interested due to these factors.  Nothing will pull me away from the majors however.

I think this is an excuse that most people say that sounds good to avoid saying or admitting that most tournaments now just don’t really matter to viewers and aren’t that compelling to watch for 4-5-6 hours a Saturday/Sunday. 

Edited April 23 by adamc92

[masegolf1978]

I haven't watched as much live golf, but typically watch after it ends on DVR. Too many commercials, too much "playing through" which i absolutely loathe.

 

Watched a lot of Masters, but Scottie just doesn't interest me that much. Obviously a great player, but watching him swing goes against everything i was taught about the golf swing since i was 10 from a balance standpoint. 

[NormanFan]

1 minute ago, adamc92 said:

I think this is an excuse that most people say that sounds good to avoid saying or admitting that most tournaments now just don’t really matter and aren’t that compelling to watch for 4-5-6 hours a Saturday/Sunday. 

 

I'd agree with this too and it's why I despise the signature events model of the TOUR.  You are sending a signal that the other tournaments are filler on the schedule and just don't matter all that much.  I admit that even in the early 2000s this was the case for non-WGC events and majors but still, those were 8 tournaments on the calendar.  Now you have the majors + signature events + playoff events.  So outside of that, why does anything truly matter?

 

I've hated the playoffs for a really long time and even though I know this won't happen, I wish we'd get back to a system where you play to get to the top 30 on the money list and play for the TOUR Championship at the end of the season in the fall.  The season had a rhythm to it and there wasn't this rush to get everything in before the NFL started as I feel like the July-September time is just so compact now its nuts.

[miss0033]

14 minutes ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

I seriously doubt those struggling to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table were ever consumers of golf. 

 

Meanwhile all the spendy(golf demographic type) places I go are busy with lots people spending money like drunken sailors. I think people are doing different things instead of watching TV. 

 

I am not struggling to keep a roof over my head, but I do agree with Dan33185.  Here in Minnesota, there is a sales tax in the Metro area to pay for the Vikings (NFL) billion dollar stadium.  The Timberwolves and Wild are currently lobbying for public tax dollars to fund their stadiums.  While ticket prices have become increasingly unaffordable for even the upper middle class.  In fact, the Wild's renovations include actually reducing seats and increase the amount of "exclusive" (higher cost) areas.  To better their bottom line, not make it better for Average Joe Tax-payer.  

 

The MLB, NBA, and NHL teams media rights are all wrapped up into Diamond Sports or whatever, and are shown on Bally's Sports.  I changed TV providers 3 times chasing this channel that was getting dropped by more and more cable and satellite providers.  The 4th time I got sick of it.  If they don't want me to watch that badly, I won't.  Now they want me to subscribe, and download an App to watch the game.

 

I can't watch the games casually, I can't afford to go to the games, the merchandise is stupid expensive (not to mention laughable quality from Fanatics), why should I care anymore?  I have no ties to these teams other than I happen to live here.  Right now, I don't think I would care if they left.  I am sick of the "temporary" taxes that fund the stadiums.

 

Golf is somewhat the same way now.  For the most part these guys are all about the money.  Patrick Cantlay's stupid hat protest at the Ryder Cup was really dumb and made me think, why am I even watching these children.  We've got to increase purses and all that, while the PGA whines it is unsustainable.  My Wife's company is a big sponsor for an event, and continues to be, but "increasing overhead costs" are a reason for very low raises this year.  

 

I work too hard to waste my money and time watching a bunch of millionaires whine to each other.  I have just stopped caring in the last couple of years.  NHL hockey used to be appointment viewing in my house, now I need a Bally's Sports Subscription, an ESPN+ subscription, etc. etc. 

 

And this NIL non-sense has made me not care about college athletics anymore either.  Money has completely sucked the fun and enjoyment out of these things.

 

As far as golf...  I don't care as much as I used to.  My free weekends, I'd rather go play my own round during the day than watch guys on TV bend rules, complain about course conditions, etc.  Or a tournament at some super exclusive course I will never play, with expensive tickets I can never afford, and the winning score is 24 under par.  YAWN!

 

I will still watch the US Open and Masters.

 

[adamc92]

I have a hard time buying the “money has changed how I and viewers think about the sport” when it’s with the caveat of “but I’ll still watch the majors!”

 

If it’s about money, why are the tournaments with the biggest purses ok to watch? 
 

It’s an excuse to avoid saying, “I’m just not that interested or compelled by golf coverage because it kind of sucks to watch now a days compared to anything else and what it used to be.” 

[st1800e]

Where are the viewer numbers for streaming services etc. other than TV?  

[adamc92]

11 minutes ago, NormanFan said:

 

I'd agree with this too and it's why I despise the signature events model of the TOUR.  You are sending a signal that the other tournaments are filler on the schedule and just don't matter all that much.  I admit that even in the early 2000s this was the case for non-WGC events and majors but still, those were 8 tournaments on the calendar.  Now you have the majors + signature events + playoff events.  So outside of that, why does anything truly matter?

 

I've hated the playoffs for a really long time and even though I know this won't happen, I wish we'd get back to a system where you play to get to the top 30 on the money list and play for the TOUR Championship at the end of the season in the fall.  The season had a rhythm to it and there wasn't this rush to get everything in before the NFL started as I feel like the July-September time is just so compact now its nuts.

Wrap around schedule is a killer. Great point. Even now I think many a long time golf fan consider the Sentry the beginning of the season?

 

I agree on the money list too. That was at least something that could be easily understood and followed. The points system now is much harder to keep up with. 
 

If there is ever a future with a world tour that is played globally and follows a more rigid annual schedule I could see intrigue spike for new courses and familiarity of events at the same time of year in the same way other sports have. 

[R_Swanson]

On 4/22/2024 at 10:08 PM, st1800e said:

Where are the viewer numbers for streaming services etc. other than TV?  

This is my question as well.

 

LIV vs PGAT has hurt viewership because there are less name brand guys out there, sure... but I don't buy that its because people are sick of how much money the guys make.  Every sport has rich players trying to make more money.

 

NBA ratings are also down...

 

However revenues are up... because the NBA is diversifying heavily into other markets and revenue streams, and working hard to get younger viewers, etc.  I hate to say it, but that's one of LIV's big arguments.  

Edited April 24 by pga43
link off Golfwrx removed

[Pops99]

19 minutes ago, st1800e said:

Where are the viewer numbers for streaming services etc. other than TV?  

8 million watching on Caffeine tv 🤣

Edited April 23 by Pops99
.

[TiScape]

On 4/22/2024 at 7:58 PM, miss0033 said:

 

I am not struggling to keep a roof over my head, but I do agree with Dan33185.  Here in Minnesota, there is a sales tax in the Metro area to pay for the Vikings (NFL) billion dollar stadium.  The Timberwolves and Wild are currently lobbying for public tax dollars to fund their stadiums.  While ticket prices have become increasingly unaffordable for even the upper middle class.  In fact, the Wild's renovations include actually reducing seats and increase the amount of "exclusive" (higher cost) areas.  To better their bottom line, not make it better for Average Joe Tax-payer.  

 

Reading ur post made me think of…

A’s franchise wanted the city of Oakland to flip the remaining $97 million to get the Howard Terminal site done. City/Mayor told them no. A’s (Fisher) said we will go elsewhere if you don’t cover it. Oakland said go for it. Now the A’s will play in a minor league stadium in West Sacramento for at least the next 3 seasons. Some I know on the inside say they will never play in Las Vegas as the funding isn’t complete and the Clark Co teachers association is suing for giving all that money to a billionaire baseball franchise owner instead of one of the worst school districts in the US. To the mayor of Oakland I say 👏🏼 (and I was a big A’s fan) 

Edited April 24 by TiScape

[tomjas]

I live in Australia and my sports package includes every tournament from the PGAT, DPWT, Asian Tour, LPGA, Champions Tour and LET plus random tournaments from around the world 

 

No doubt that my tuning into the RBC made up part of the viewership data but it was literally for about 2 minutes on one day while I channel surfed with my morning ☕️ 

 

It’s not that I don’t like golf but I had watched a lot of the Masters the week before and a couple of hours of the Asian Tour the previous night and simply felt like watching something else 

 

Less is sometimes more and the PGAT has forgotten that with their never ending schedule plus the broadcast quality is out of the dark ages 

Edited April 23 by tomjas

[PedronNiall]

1 hour ago, adamc92 said:

I have a hard time buying the “money has changed how I and viewers think about the sport” when it’s with the caveat of “but I’ll still watch the majors!”

 

If it’s about money, why are the tournaments with the biggest purses ok to watch? 
 

It’s an excuse to avoid saying, “I’m just not that interested or compelled by golf coverage because it kind of sucks to watch now a days compared to anything else and what it used to be.” 

 

If you were active enough on the forums you'd see that there are posters who have stopped watching even the Majors currently. There are also many including myself who are headed that way if the constant push for money continues leading golf in a bad direction. Sports betting ads are now a part of the promo reads, some players are obnoxiously vocal about not getting enough despite anyone who manages to retain a card being in the top percentile of income earners before including endorsements, and athletes in general echo the sentiment despite most being millionaires within a season or two, again no even including outside deals.

 

I don't watch the NFL anymore. I stopped watching F1 despite how much I enjoy the actual racing. If golf goes full on in a direction I can't support then I'll have to stick to simply playing and I'm sure I'll survive. Maybe it won't matter the way everything is being streamlined to suck the marrow out of those willing to pay for the highest dollar experience, but I'm pretty sure that will lose its luster when enough audiences are made up of only top spenders. Whales and leviathans in any medium only get their jollies when others see their extravagance so even they'll likely fall away if enough average fans do. If they don't most won't be around to notice or care, so it's whatever, eh?

 

They did stop constantly talking about the purses at the elevated events this season, so perhaps there was more of a buzz of dissent around that than you think. They also kept quiet about it at the Majors and let the focus be the golf aside from mostly unavoidable talk regarding the split. I don't find it hard to believe some care about the history & legacy of four events a year enough to mostly ignore any attached dollar signs.

[notsohard]

TV is boring. Youtube golf content is more than adequate, and entertaining. 

[Steelman1991]

Here in the UK, I watch all sports via subscriptions. Unfortunately the overt commercialisation of sport has compromised my enjoyment. I still watch, however find myself caring less as the money swilling around increases. This is true of football (Premier League and Champions League in Europe) and is now infiltrating golf. Even athletes in the Olympics will receive prize money this summer. Watching identikit pro golfers compete for squillions of pounds (UK£) is not as compelling as the PGA Tour and TV execs think it is. In my house sport is now wallpaper to other activities rather than sitting down and actively watching. If it's a tight finish the last 9 holes may grab my attention and as much as I admire Scheffler as a golfer, seeing him steamroller fields does little to pique my interest. To be fair, the same could be said for the majority of golfers save McIlroy and very few others. Bland commentary and insights do little to enhance the experience either.

[jaffabell]

What if a large chunk of those previous viewers were fed up of paying so much for their subscription costs and decided to watch the sports via a device that wouldn't log the viewership numbers 😉 

 

I would never do that of course.

[bscinstnct]

Makes sense. Had a good run with Spieth, Rory, JT, Rickie, BK, BD, and DJ. Even TW got in there in 18, 19

 

Guys left, others went cold.

 

Theres less talent on display and a lower quality of competition 

 

There is also definitely an element of viewers habits and lack of attention span conditioned by watching so much “short form”, on demand, content. People just can’t sit there and watch something for hours anymore. 

 

Then, as @NormanFan describes, less characters. A year to year muting and plainness to the personalities, at least what they show to the public. 
 

At the time, to me this seemed so lame. But in retrospect, the contrast shows how boring player personas have become. 

 

 

Edited April 23 by bscinstnct

[tomjas]

Golfers have never been the most exciting bunch because they almost all respect the rules & traditions of the game 

 

Scheffler isn’t boring as far as golfers go

 

He’s actually a normal golfing personality with extraordinary ability