PGA Tour TV Ratings Show Sick Patient

[kmbean]

8 hours ago, miss0033 said:

 

Patrick Cantlay's stupid hat protest at the Ryder Cup was really dumb and made me think, why am I even watching these children.  

 

Good post.

 

The Cantlay hat issue and the JT/Morikawa antics after the fact was pretty ridiculous to see.  It’s amazing to me with all the media/PR training these guys have received they are still completely clueless at how insufferable they come across as at times.

Edited April 23 by kmbean

[chillybilly]

14 minutes ago, kmbean said:

The Cantlay hat issue and the JT/Morikawa antics after the fact was pretty ridiculous to see.  It’s amazing to me with all the media/PR training these guys have received they are still completely clueless at how insufferable they come across as at times.

 

A Cantlay-related off-course rumor at the most recent Presidents Cup indicates that positive PR may not be first and foremost on his mind at all times. I'll leave it there.

 

As for TV ratings, the most obvious culprit has already been identified and is now being openly discussed by all. 

 

But this is a good opportunity to put the boot in regarding one of our preferred targets - the broadcasters. Over time, they have buried the typical Tour event in layers of nonsense. Everything is sponsored. There are cutaways to arcane statistics and factoids. Blimp shots & blimp mentions. Cars 'floating' on water. Points lists and chatter about points lists even if no living soul understands the point system or cares about the outcome. And, perhaps most stilted and ridiculous, the sponsor interview.

 

Is The SplitTM adversely affecting fan interest? Of course. But have the tacky excesses and ADHD-addled presentation also driven viewers away? Absolutely. The core viewing audience often makes plans NOT to watch live golf, instead relying on DVR/FF to 'edit' the tournament into any sort of coherent sporting narrative.

[tiderider]

viewership is down for all sports, in general ... and golf was never going to be near the top without tiger ... 

[Hawkeye77]

11 hours ago, bajadock said:

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.  Sportsmediawatch.com is the article from this past weekend used for attached TV viewership chart.

 

Matt Adams Fairways of Life podcast today 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!".

 

Yawn.  Just regurgitation of what's been out there and parsed over and over.

 

Cherry picked chart leaves out American Express - up 37%; Valero just three weeks ago - up 21%.

 

Down overall on "linear" TV is still true, but still ignores the digital side of things which is significant and increasing.

 

PGA Tour TV deal runs to 2030 so lots of click baiting about ratings, but it's .  .  . 2024.

 

Give the world a break from the people "tired" of the PGA Tour/exhibition league drama.  Just because media outlets endlessly parrot the same stuff doesn't make it accurate - Matt Adams is a doof - "too much golf on TV"  - that's idiotic.

 

The viewers likely not tuning into golf on regular TV (apart from those taking it in otherwise which the numbers ignore) are unlikely to give one whit about or even waste time reading the nonsense about the Norman league - media likes to play it up, no doubt people are tired of that largely manufactured drama but they are still going to watch golf - when it comes down to it, nobody watches the exhibition league and those that watch golf overwhelmingly and by huge margins watch PGA Tour and other golf - so no, not exhibition league fatigue - they don't care about it.

 

Brave new world for traditional TV viewing, golf has periods when viewership is less, but these measurements have limitations they haven't had in the past - and I'm sure some different metrics will be addressed (and are being addressed).

 

Golf is still going to be on TV per the contracts for several more years, and primarily PGA Tour and other real tours ----- deal with it, lol.

Edited April 23 by Hawkeye77

[bscinstnct]

17 minutes ago, tiderider said:

viewership is down for all sports, in general ... and golf was never going to be near the top without tiger ... 

 

 

Ahhh there was a time..

 

cool view from this guys deck. 
 

Awwww you need to click but is good!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOarkfmt2Zs?si=os3fNklu3HvFBYdb

 

 

[jwhite86]

For me, I'll watch the majors.  But the Liv vs PGAT stuff turned me off of professional golf.

[jplroper]

  The money whining is getting old, then claiming they are growing the game is laughable. I think the PGA should just do what they do, and stop talking about the other league. 

[jdl]

50 minutes ago, tiderider said:

viewership is down for all sports, in general ... and golf was never going to be near the top without tiger ... 

Yep, Tiger bubble is over and golf is back to the niche sport it's always been. But of course the "leadership" will panic to try and keep it propped up and attract new viewers. Tough to do that and not piss off your (dwindling) core viewership as we've seen via the complaints on this board.

[bscinstnct]

14 minutes ago, jdl said:

Yep, Tiger bubble is over and golf is back to the niche sport it's always been. But of course the "leadership" will panic to try and keep it propped up and attract new viewers. Tough to do that and not piss off your (dwindling) core viewership as we've seen via the complaints on this board.

 

I just posted a TGL update on me Tigerrrrr! thread 

 

It basically addresses all the issues people seem to have…

 

Tiger playing 

More action/less talk

Faster format and shorter airing time

 

TW save the tour yo! 🤣

[FootWedge16]

I'm enjoying watching the PGA tour. I don't care about the ratings.

[Nard_S]

There might be 6 tournaments worth watching. The rest are vanilla. There's more excitement in the 3rd week of NFL than entire golf season. Pro golf thinks the players are the stars and they are but what makes a great tournament is the venue, they are bit lazy and rubber stamped about that. I watch DP at times just because the course is different. 

[SnowbirdTom]

I had issues watching the Masters and it had nothing to do with want.  I tire of the featured group and hole focus and would prefer to see ALL the play.  What happened with that had me shutting it off and actually playing the game.  When they get their focus back on the consumers vs the players, I'll come back.  Lose the elevated tournaments and let's get back to regular PGA golf where anyone that can qualify plays.

[tiderider]

5 minutes ago, FootWedge16 said:

I'm enjoying watching the PGA tour. I don't care about the ratings.

i like the sig events ... watched just about all of the RBC this past sunday ... 

[MaineMariner]

This data is pretty incomplete without showing:

 

1) Data over more than two years;

 

2) Similar statistics from streaming and time-shifted viewing;

 

3) Demographic data; and

 

4) Perhaps most importantly, the same viewership trends across other sports.

[jimecherry]

31 minutes ago, MaineMariner said:

This data is pretty incomplete without showing:

 

1) Data over more than two years;

 

2) Similar statistics from streaming and time-shifted viewing;

 

3) Demographic data; and

 

4) Perhaps most importantly, the same viewership trends across other sports.

if this was the tiger era none of those things would matter ;} cause the numbers would go up

[Oostiesalbacore]

Things that turned me off of watching golf every Sunday, just off the top of my head.

-Cantlay’s hat and ZJ’s Ryder Cup in general, especially the JT pick

-The attacks on Phil and BD, golf journalism in general

-that time Tiger was compared to Ben Hogen re: car accidents 

-Brooks Koepka implying he doesn’t even like golf and it’s basically just a job to him

-I’m tired of the injection of dishonest politics into the sport. If I wanted to see that, I’d turn on the news. 
-I am also tired of hearing millionaires complain about the burden of playing a game I gotta make sacrifices to play. 
-I really dislike everything about Rory and Tiger’s TGL. Indoor golf is stupid. To me it seems like a sad cope from Tiger because he can’t walk every week but he’s got a competitive itch to scratch so we get this Top Golf hustler bs.

-I was really looking forward to attending the US Open in LA last year but was priced out of the event. Call me a poor loser who shouldn’t be a golf fan or whatever but I can’t justify spending $1000 to watch two days of golf. I live an hour away so it’s not even a travel cost thing yknow like plane tickets or a hotel puts it out of reach. So much for The People’s Open huh? So I stay home to watch it on my stupid cable package I only even have for the golf channel and whoops, turns out I have to download some stupid app on my phone and pay ten bucks for the privilege of not even watching the event on my big tv. Oh great I can maybe cast it to the tv with a glitchy slow connection boy howdy I’m I glad I spent a Sunday with nice weather dealing with this BS so some unlikeable slow playing jagoff like Cantlay can moan about not being paid to wear a hat while holding everybody up.

[gvogel]

10 hours ago, 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.  

 

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.

 

Congress could change the dynamics of sports by not allowing corporations and private businesses to deduct sports boxes and tickets as a business expense.  That would completely upend the model of building new stadiums with less seating and more corporate boxes.  If businesses want to entertain customers at a sporting event - fine, but don't make it tax deductible.  The common guy can't deduct his high priced ticket to events.  The owners would have to lower the prices they charge for boxes and regular tickets.  Who would feel the changes the most?  The athletes who are now paid way too much for what they do.

 

Like a lot of problems with the way we live today, it's a tax problem that very much benefits millionaires and billionaires.

 

Something else that chilled my enjoyment of pro golf - the Netflix series Full Swing.  Seeing the private jets, the homes they live in, and their private chefs made me realize that the best players are living in a whole different world than I live in.  And I have a good friend whose son is one of the producers.  Darn.

[adamc92]

 

13 years ago…
 

“Coverage is terrible”

 

”Ratings are down” 

 

Same thing every few years. Just like truck forums. F150’s were too expensive in 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and now again this year.

[bajadock]

 

This is USA 2023. https://www.reviews.org/tv-service/live-sports-statistics/  Interesting that World Wrestling Entertainment is listed as "Combat Sports". 

 

 

[dfeldss]

Speaking for myself, I haven't watched nearly as much in the last year or so. I love watching golf, but the seemingly never ending discussion about money and the broadcasts being an advertisement program with a side of golf has really just soured me on the whole deal.

 

Here's a freebie for the PGAT: Show us golf and improve the TV product, then more eyeballs will watch, then you can charge your advertisers and sponsors more, then everybody wins.

 

These guys need a reality check. Until they get the eyeballs that the NFL, Soccer (football), NBA, etc etc get, why do these guys think they deserve to get paid like them?

[me05501]

I get the impression the people running the TV/radio coverage never actually view or listen to the coverage to feel how it comes across the airwaves. 

 

This first hit me while listening to PGA Tour Radio on XM. It is often painful to listen to and the presenters seem clueless to how silly they sound.

 

There's way too much play-by-play coverage of putts. I guess the presenters get bored with it and try to make it more exciting than it actually is. The level of detail they offer is just dumb. I actually heard one describe a player putting his ball mark back in his pocket. Then as the ball approaches the hole they get way too loud trying to create excitement whether it drops or not. You can tell from the crowd reaction what happened so none of this is really necessary. 

 

The TV coverage is the same. If the producer from NBC watched two hours of his own coverage I guarantee that changes would be made to "Playing Through."

 

When they're tasked with coming up with creative, engaging ideas they put on stuff like "Kiz's Korner" on 17th at Sawgrass and show us a bunch of awkward interactions with players. 

 

IMO it's not the on-course product that's lacking. It's the tired coverage. 

[DFS PFD]

I've stopped consuming the product altogether. I just have no interest in hearing about the drama of who's signing a $500,000,000 contract this week, while players making $750,000-$10,000,000 claim to be underpaid. I understand that's a relative term, but I don't think golf is actually a product of real market value at the moment, it's hyper inflated like other sports because of billion and trillion dollar companies needing to throw money at something. 

 

I'll play golf, but I don't watch anymore. Especially when I need 8 different subscriptions to watch a consistent schedule. 

[bcflyguy1]

Parallels between the current state of pro golf and the self-destruction of US open wheel racing (ie Indycar) in the mid-1990's are striking. Greed, product quality compromised by attenuation, decisions being made by people who bring little to the table except a talent for self-preservation, etc. etc. 

For the uninitiated:
 

 

 

[bcjim]

2 hours ago, tiderider said:

i like the sig events ... watched just about all of the RBC this past sunday ... 

I do not like them.  Very exhibition feel. With no cut,  everyone's getting paid.  With a cut,  half are leaving in the red and half that are left are grinding to get back in it, or to get a decent check, especially on Saturday.  

[Gdane]

If the viewership decline can start spilling into a decline in the playing public so that tee times are easier to come by.....

[Bubb]

It’s anecdotal, but interest in professional golf amongst the 24 guys I play with on the weekends is way down just based on how infrequently we discuss it as compared to just a couple years ago. Participation is way up, however as the course and range are always packed.

 

My adult son who is a scratch golfer and practices or plays 5-6 times a week watches almost no professional golf. He watches YouTube golfers and tons of MMA, but he has no interest in watching golf on TV. He’s very in tune to what equipment is being played by the pros because he’s an equipment junkie, he just couldn’t care less who wins the RBC Heritage.

[TiScape]

5 hours ago, kmbean said:

Good post.

 

The Cantlay hat issue and the JT/Morikawa antics after the fact was pretty ridiculous to see.  It’s amazing to me with all the media/PR training these guys have received they are still completely clueless at how insufferable they come across as at times.

Man, if I used these standards to choose what I viewed… Well I’d watch a lot of PBS! 🤓

[gvogel]

Headlines such as "RBC Payout: the insane amount of money Scheffler has earned" do nothing to help viewership.

[Hawkeye77]

4 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

I had issues watching the Masters and it had nothing to do with want.  I tire of the featured group and hole focus and would prefer to see ALL the play.  What happened with that had me shutting it off and actually playing the game.  When they get their focus back on the consumers vs the players, I'll come back.  Lose the elevated tournaments and let's get back to regular PGA golf where anyone that can qualify plays.

IMO the Tour isn't going back to 1998 - whether WGC or "elevated" or "signature" or what you want to call them they are here to stay and have been for 26 years.  There was a Tour event opposite the RBC and a Korn Ferry event and that is called  . . . opportunity to play and anyone meeting the criteria can play the signature events.  Like people watched more golf prior to 1999, lol, there wasn't even close to the golf available to watch then and nobody really watched.

[Hawkeye77]

49 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Man, if I used these standards to choose what I viewed… Well I’d watch a lot of PBS! 🤓

As long as the Tour winds up by 8 pm Central so I can watch Mystery and Masterpiece Theater!  Screw 60 minutes.