May 17, 2012

Golf Channel’s Original Hit Series The Haney Project Returns For Season Four With A Celebrity Showdown

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Grammy Award-Winner Adam Levine, Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Celebrity Chef Mario Batali and Actress/Model Angie Everhart Compete for Over $100,000 for Charity

‘The Haney Project’ Teams with New Season of ‘Feherty’ for All-New, Primetime Mondays on Golf Channel

“They all have the drive and determination to win. This will be the biggest Project yet.” – Hank Haney

Video: Adam Levine on Why He is Participating on The Haney Project -
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/haney-project-adam-levine/

Video: How Mario Batali Uses Golf to Refocus a Work-Life Balance -
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/haney-project-mario-batali/

Video: How Sugar Ray Leonard Finds Serenity on the Golf Course -
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/haney-project-sugar-ray-leonard/

Video: Angie Everhart Having Fun on the Golf Course -
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/haney-project-angie-everhart/

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2011) — Golf Channel’s hit original series, The Haney Project, returns Feb. 27 at 9 p.m. ET for a one-hour special premiere episode of the highly anticipated fourth season with an all-new twist: not just one, but four celebrity projects willing to expose their golf games to a national television audience for the chance at improving under the guidance of Hank Haney, one of the world’s most-renowned instructors.

The Haney Project moves to a new night, shifting to the 9 p.m. ET Monday timeslot where it will precede a new season of Feherty (10 p.m. ET) to form a potent, Monday primetime lineup. This year’s eight-part series will follow a lineup of four celebrities from all different walks of life that will rely on Haney’s tutelage to lower their scores. Haney has coached some of the most notable names in golf – including Tiger Woods – for more than 35 years, and also has built golf facilities and player academies across the globe.

The Haney Project has been a critical and ratings success for Golf Channel. The first season, which starred Charles Barkley, marked the highest-rated launch of an original series at that time. Subsequent seasons featured actor Ray Romano and conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.

The Haney Project will star Grammy Award-winning Maroon 5 front man and mentor on NBC’s The Voice Adam Levine, legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, acclaimed chef Mario Batali and former super model Angie Everhart. The star-studded season will follow the celebrities through the trials and tribulations of becoming the next great celebrity golfer, leading up to an ultimate showdown in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where the famous foursome will compete against each other for the chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

“This year we get to do something completely different with some amazing names,” said Haney. “These four celebrities are at the top of their respected fields. They know the hard work and dedication needed to be the best, whether it’s acting, music, sports or cooking. They all have the drive and determination to win. This will be the biggest Project yet.”

Each episode will follow all four celebrities on their quests to play better golf, and Haney will be their ticket to improvement. Whether it’s one-on-one instruction on the golf course or developing lessons they can practice on their own, his watchful eye will never be far away. The series also will showcase the celebrities in their own environments and a smattering of cameos by famous friends and other experts who check in on them along the way.

The Haney Project also complements Golf Channel’s exciting slate of instructional and informational programming, including The Golf Fix, School of Golf, On the Range and Golf Channel Academy, featuring golf greats Greg Norman and Annika Sorenstam. The series is produced by Golf Channel in conjunction with The WorkShop, LLC, an independent multi-media production company based in Bryn Mawr, Penn.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf Channel

Highlights From ‘Feherty Live’ At Super Bowl XLVI Featuring Tim Tebow, Joe Theismann, Steve Mariucci And Fuzzy Zoeller

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Stage Performance of ‘Feherty Live’ will Air as a Two-Hour Golf Channel Special, Saturday at 10 p.m. ET; Show will Re-air Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. ET

“I believe that a human being’s sense of humor is kind of our last line of defense against whatever horrors life throws at us.” – David Feherty on why he does his Golf Channel show.

“Honestly, I look at myself as a football player first, then a quarterback. Sometimes that’s the way I like to play.” – Tim Tebow on getting hit.

“I’m absolutely passionate about it.” – Joe Theismann on golf.

“I don’t think drugs will help a golfer.” – Fuzzy Zoeller on performance-enhancing drugs in golf.

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Funnyman David Feherty’s off-beat humor and unique interview style was on full display tonight before a raucous Indianapolis audience during the Golf Channel production of Feherty Live, a special stage performance at Super Bowl XLVI. The performance was taped live at the Indianapolis Repertory Theater and will air as a two-hour special Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Appearing on stage with Feherty were Denver Broncos quarterback and media sensation Tim Tebow, golfer and Indiana native Fuzzy Zoeller, Super Bowl-winning quarterback and current NFL Network analyst Joe Theismann, and former NFL coach and NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci. MCA recording artist and country singer-Songwriter Josh Kelley and his band also performed.

Feherty, whose critically acclaimed Golf Channel series, Feherty, has been described as “a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Johnny Carson” by The New York Times, has been dubbed “one of the funniest men in the game” by Yahoo! Sports. The second season of Feherty premieres Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Highlights from the show:

TIM TEBOW ON PLAYING IN THE NFL:
“Well, to be honest, playing in the SEC really helped me to play versus fast teams. That’s one of the biggest things you hear is you go to the NFL and it’s a lot faster. For me it wasn’t that. The biggest adjustment was the intelligence factor of a lot of defensive players.”

DAVID FEHERTY ON TEBOW’S FIRST THOUGHT AFTER THROWING GAME-WINNING TOUCHDOWN PASS IN THE PLAYOFFS:
“Then I thought what was your first thought? I’ll give you three answers here, multiple choice. Do you think, A, it looks like I’m not going to be a car salesman next year. B, you know, I wonder if I could do that in the first quarter? Or C, take that, Elway, you old fart.”

TEBOW ON REACTION AFTER TOUCHDOWN PASS:
“I jumped in the stands and I never jumped in the stands in college or NFL or anything. When I was in there, I was like I might not be getting out because they were holding on tight.”

TEBOW ON POSSBILE FUTURE IN POLITICS:
“I don’t know, it could be something in my future. If it’s something I care about, possibly.”

STEVE MARIUCCI ON FIRST JOB IN THE NFL:
“I was the first quality control coach in the National Football League back in 1985. I did it for nothing. I volunteered my services, actually.”

JOE THEISMANN ON IF ANY PLAYERS HAVE ANY KIND OF DREAMS ABOUT LAWRENCE TAYLOR THAT AREN’T NIGHTMARES:
“I doubt if any guys that played him did. I tell you that when we play in a golf tournament, the only thing I ask him was don’t stand over my left shoulder.”

THEISMANN ON ELI MANNING:
“Here we are in the city of Indianapolis with Peyton. It’s basically Peyton’s place, but all the conversation about Peyton I think takes a back seat to the job that Eli has done in proving himself as an individual and a great football player.”

MARIUCCI ON SUPER BOWL PREDICTION:
“It’s going to be an evenly matched game. However, if I have to choose before game day morning, I’m going to pick the Giants.”

THEISMANN ON SUPER BOWL PICK:
“I like the Giants also. It reminds me a awful lot of last year when the Green Bay Packers came in as a wild card and had to win so many games at the end of the season.”

FUZZY ZOELLER ON IMPORTANCE OF MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:
“In a golfer’s life, we kind of go by what we’ve done in the major tournaments. Augusta was my nearly first taste of a major that I dreamed about.”

TEBOW ON GOAL IN LIFE:
“It’s about being a great role model. It’s setting an example for the next generation. My ultimate goal is to be an athlete that a mom and dad can look at their son or daughter and say that’s someone trying to do it the right way. That’s someone living with character.”

TEBOW ON BEING A BRONCO:
“I love being in Denver right now, and I’m thankful that I’ve got the opportunity to be a Denver Bronco and live my dream every day.”

FEHERTY ON TEBOW IN FOOTBALL:
“But I’ll tell you, it’s going to be a future, as long as football has you in it, it’s going to be a whole lot more fun to watch.”

ZOELLER ON BAD GOLF SHOTS:
“I don’t get too uptight or too fired up about any shots. Bad shots happen. We’re human. Let’s accept that fact.”

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf Channel, NFL

Tim Tebow Joins ‘Feherty Live’ From The Super Bowl Saturday At 10 P.M. On Golf Channel

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

NBC’s Golf Channel Brings the Wit and Irreverence of

David Feherty to Super Bowl Week for Live Stage Performance

‘Feherty Live’ Takes Place Friday, Feb. 3, at Indianapolis Repertory Theater; Performance Also to be Produced as TV Special to Air on Golf Channel Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. ET

Tebow Joins Famed Golfer and Indiana Native Fuzzy Zoeller, Along with Football Greats Joe Theismann and Steve Mariucci

Singer-Songwriter Josh Kelly also to Perform

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Feherty Live” will take place at the Indiana Repertory Theater at 7 p.m. local time. There will be a reception preceding the show with food and beverage from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Media are invited to attend. Please RSVP to Katie Schilling, [email protected] or 407-355-4591, for directions and details.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2012) – Tim Tebow, quarterback of the Denver Broncos and the source of “Tebow-mania” that swept the country during the recent NFL season, has been added to the guest list for Feherty Live this week at the Super Bowl. The stage show, which will be taped Friday before a live audience at the Indianapolis Repertory Theater during Super bowl XLVI week in Indianapolis, will air Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Tebow is the latest celebrity guest to join in on the off-beat humor and compelling interviews which have become the trademark of golf funnyman David Feherty’s self-titled Golf Channel series. Also celebrating the super week with Feherty on stage will be one of golf’s all-time characters and Indiana native Fuzzy Zoeller, Super Bowl-winning quarterback and current NFL Network analyst Joe Theismann, and former NFL coach and NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci.

A college football superstar, Tebow continues to be the subject of media frenzies for his part in resurrecting the Broncos this past season and leading the team to its first playoff appearance in six years. The feat made him a worldwide sensation and an iconic personality that transcends the sport. In addition to great conversation with the featured guests, Feherty Live also will include taped features of Feherty roaming Indianapolis and taking in the entire Super Bowl atmosphere – including Media Day with the New York Giants and New England Patriots, and candid conversation with fans.

Feherty, whose critically acclaimed Golf Channel series has been described as “a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Johnny Carson” by The New York Times, has been dubbed “one of the funniest men in the game” by Yahoo! Sports. The second season of Feherty premieres Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

MCA recording artist and country singer-songwriter Josh Kelley will be the musical guest and will entertain the audience throughout Feherty Live. Kelley is best known for the top-5 hit “Amazing,” but his music has been incorporated into TV shows, such as MTV’s The Hills, ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and CW’s Smallville. Kelley is having success in Nashville with his hit “Georgia Clay” from his debut country album. He’s also an avid golfer who played golf at the University of Mississippi – where he was a roommate with Eli Manning – and remains a single-digit handicap.

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Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel

“Feherty Live” On Stage At Super Bowl

January 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

NBC’S GOLF CHANNEL BRINGS THE WIT AND WACKINESS OF DAVID FEHERTY TO SUPER BOWL WEEK FOR LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCE

‘Feherty Live’ Takes Place Friday, Feb. 4, at Indianapolis Repertory Theater; Performance Also to be Produced as TV Special to Air on Golf Channel Saturday, Feb. 5, at 10 p.m. ET

Guests Include Famed Golfer and Indiana Native Fuzzy Zoeller, Along with Football Greats Joe Theismann and Steve Mariucci

Singer-Songwriter Josh Kelly will Perform

EDITOR’S NOTE:  “Feherty Live” will take place at the Indiana Repertory Theater at 7 p.m. local time.  There will be a reception preceding the show with food and beverage from 5:30-6:30 p.m.  Media are invited to attend.  Please RSVP to Katie Schilling, [email protected] or 407-355-4591, for directions and details.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2012) – The off-beat humor and compelling interviews that have become the trademark of golf funnyman David Feherty will be on full display – with a football twist – during Super Bowl XLVI week with Golf Channel’s special production of Feherty Live, taking place from Indianapolis Friday at 7 p.m. CT.

Feherty, whose critically acclaimed Golf Channel series has been described as “a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Johnny Carson” by The New York Times, has been dubbed “one of the funniest men in the game” by Yahoo! Sports.  The second season of Feherty premieres Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Feherty’s Super Bowl-themed kick-off to his new season on Golf Channel will feature his own brand of performance before a live theater audience, as well as conversation with a slate of guests from the world of sports.  Feherty Live also will air on Golf Channel as a one-hour show, Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. ET.

Celebrating the week with Feherty on stage will be one of golf’s all-time characters and Indiana native Fuzzy Zoeller.  Also joining the show will be Joe Theismann, Super Bowl-winning quarterback and NFL Network analyst; and NFL Network colleague Steve Mariucci, former NFL coach who guided the San Francisco 49ers to two NFC West titles.  Also, taped features of Feherty roaming Indianapolis and taking in the entire Super Bowl atmosphere – including Media Day with the New York Giants and New England Patriots – will entertain the audience during the show.

MCA recording artist and country singer-songwriter Josh Kelley will be the musical guest and will entertain the audience throughout Feherty Live.  Kelley is best known for the top-5 hit “Amazing,” but his music has been incorporated into TV shows, such as MTV’s The Hills, ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and CW’s Smallville.  Kelley is having success in Nashville with his hit “Georgia Clay” from his debut country album.  He’s also an avid golfer who played golf at the University of Mississippi and remains a single-digit handicap.

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Filed Under: Golf Channel

GOLF Channel Hit Series ‘Feherty’ Expands To One Hour For Second Season Beginning Feb. 27

January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Special ‘Feherty Live’ Show from Super Bowl XLVI to Air on Sat., Feb. 4

‘Feherty’ Teams With New Season of ‘The Haney Project’ for All-New Monday Nights on Golf Channel

“Feherty has been a definite success. He’s been able to bring out comments from his guests that in some cases they held in check their whole career. Since he’s been through so much he has the ability to bring out the human side of the players. They have a tendency to answer from their heart and from raw emotion. The show has really been interesting and exciting that way.” – Johnny Miller

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2012) – The second season of Golf Channel’s hit primetime series, Feherty, will premiere Monday, Feb. 27 and will build on a successful first season with more shows and – by viewer demand – longer episodes. Feherty will expand to an hour and moves to a new night, shifting to the 10 p.m. ET Monday timeslot where it will follow a new season of The Haney Project to form a potent Monday primetime lineup.

The premiere of the second season will get a boost from a special Feherty Live show from Super Bowl XLVI and the most popular interviews from season one airing in the weeks leading to the 2012 premiere.

Feherty, which originally debuted in June as Golf Channel’s most-watched original series in the network’s 17-year history, has been called “a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Johnny Carson” by The New York Times, “must-see TV” by the Orange County Register, and “a show that has all the ingredients to be a breakout hit” by The Augusta Chronicle. David Feherty, called “one of the funniest men in the game” by Yahoo! Sports, returns as host of his series filled with his unmistakable wit, irrepressible personality and blunt humor.

Before the new season of Feherty premieres begin, viewers will be treated to a special Feherty Live from the Super Bowl and new, one-hour versions of the most popular shows from 2011, including surprisingly heartfelt conversations with Tom Watson and Johnny Miller.

“We were blown away by the positive reaction our viewers had to this show and their appreciation for the truly heartfelt moments David was able to pull from each interview,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. “People know David as funny and a bit irreverent, but they never knew how much emotion would come from this series. The one comment we heard repeatedly from viewers was ‘give us more’ – so that’s exactly what we plan to do in season two.”

Super Bowl Bound: Before the Monday, Feb. 27 premiere, Golf Channel will host a super celebration of the new season by traveling to Indianapolis, Ind., during Super Bowl week to produce a special stage show titled Feherty Live, with Feherty performing before a live theater audience and welcoming a slate of guests from the world of sports and entertainment. The performance also will air on Golf Channel as a one-hour show, Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. ET.

Bonus Shows: Never-before-seen footage shot for two popular “Feherty” episodes from season one will be added and re-aired as hour-long shows in the two weeks leading to the Feb. 27 premiere of season two. Those episodes include interviews with multiple major championship winners Johnny Miller (Feb. 13, 10 p.m. ET) and Tom Watson (Feb. 20, 10 p.m. ET).

“The footage left on the cutting room floor for both of these episodes was as good as what made air, but we had to accommodate the 30-minute format,” said Keith Allo, Golf Channel vice president of Original Productions. “Our viewers now will be able to enjoy the original with twice the compelling content. It will be a great way to lead into the start of the new season.”

Feherty Programming Leading to Season Two Premiere (all times Eastern):
Feherty Live from Super Bowl XLVI Sat., Feb. 4, 10 p.m.
Feherty Live (replay) Mon., Feb. 6, 10 p.m.
Feherty – Johnny Miller Mon., Feb. 13, 10 p.m.
Feherty – Tom Watson Mon., Feb. 20, 10 p.m.
Feherty – Season Two Premiere Mon., Feb. 27, 10 p.m.

What the stars are saying about Feherty:

“I’m a big fan of David on TV and when I got a chance to do his show, I was not disappointed. It was awesome.” – Charles Barkley

“David has the gift of allowing an interview to flow to get the most out of his subjects. He’s really found his niche. I’ve done many interviews, but I must say working with my good friend David and Golf Channel was probably the best I’ve ever experienced.” – Greg Norman

“Feherty has been a definite success. He’s been able to bring out comments from his guests that in some cases they held in check their whole career. Since he’s been through so much he has the ability to bring out the human side of the players. They have a tendency to answer from their heart and from raw emotion. The show has really been interesting and exciting that way.” – Johnny Miller

No topic is off limits in this “unfiltered” series which shares revealing interviews with well-known personalities from all walks of life – from golf and sports to entertainment and politics – along with unique stories and anecdotes from the brilliant yet zany mind of David Feherty. Shot in settings both intimate and personal to the guests, Feherty displays an uncanny interview style that engages his subjects and brings out answers both honest and revealing. During the first season, Feherty went one-on-one with the likes of Greg Norman, Tony Romo, Tom Watson, Charles Barkley and Don Cheadle.

Feherty has made a name for himself in the sports world for his unabashed candor, extensive knowledge of the game, and his propensity to say whatever is on his mind. A native of Northern Ireland and a former European Tour and PGA TOUR professional, he’s become more famous off the golf course as a golf commentator, columnist and author. His career as an on-course reporter and interviewer for CBS Sports has spanned more than 300 tournaments, including such prestigious events as the Masters and PGA Championship on CBS. He writes a monthly column for GOLF Magazine and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books, A Nasty Bit of Rough, Somewhere in Ireland a Village Is Missing an Idiot, An Idiot for All Seasons, and David Feherty’s Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup. He also is a co-announcer with CBS’ Jim Nantz on EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series.

About Golf Channel

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and part of the NBC Sports Group, is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. Exclusive partnerships with the world’s top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf’s best news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel’s digital platform of businesses is led by www.GolfChannel.com, a leading golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel

Woods, Mcilroy and Donald Featured Grouping In Tonight’s Expanded Live Coverage Of Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Beginning At 10:30 P.M. ET

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Westwood, Kaymer and Garcia Featured in Live, First Round Abu Dhabi Coverage Continuing 4 a.m. ET

Golf Central to Prepare Viewers for Live Tournament Action at 10 p.m. ET

Watson and Mickelson Headline Farmers Insurance Open Field at Torrey Pines Golf Course

 

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Dates: Jan. 25-29
Venue: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Airtimes: Wednesday 10:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. and 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Thursday Replay)
Friday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-Noon (Replay)
Sunday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-Noon (Replay)

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team
Steve Burkowski (Studio Host)
Renton Laidlaw (Play-by-Play)
Warren Humphreys (Analyst)
Ken Brown (Tower)
Paul Eales (On Course)
Steve Sands (Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:
· Expanded Round One Live Tournament Coverage – Live tournament coverage of the opening round at Abu Dhabi will air tonight (Wednesday) from 10:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. ET, and continuing from 4-8 a.m. ET. Tiger Woods, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy will be the featured grouping during the 10:30 p.m. broadcast. Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia will be the featured grouping during the 4 a.m. live broadcast.
· Expanded news coverage from Abu Dhabi – Golf Channel’s Steve Sands and Rex Hoggard will report live and on-site throughout the week at Abu Dhabi. Golf Central will air a special Pre Game show tonight (Wednesday) at 10 p.m. ET prior to live tournament coverage at 10:30 p.m. ET. Sands will contribute to the live tournament telecast in addition to daily reports for Morning Drive and Golf Central.
· Headlining the field— Former World. No. 1 Tiger Woods headlines the field in Abu Dhabi with World No. 1 Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, K.J. Choi, Jason Day, Miguel A. Jimenez, Alvaro Quiros, Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Tom Lewis, Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis.

Farmers Insurance Open
Dates: Jan. 26-29
Venue: South Course, Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, Calif.
North Course, Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, Calif.

Airtimes: Thursday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30-11:30 p.m. (CBS Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30-11:30 p.m. (CBS Replay)

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Terry Gannon (Play-by-Play)
Nick Faldo (Analyst)
Peter Oosterhuis (Tower)
Peter Kostis (Tower)
Phil Parkin (On Course)
Todd Lewis (Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:

· Mickelson and Watson headline field — Defending champion Bubba Watson and San Diego native Phil Mickelson headline the field this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
· Weekend Lead-in Coverage Begins Saturday – Golf Channel will air live, weekend tournament coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday for 90 minutes. Golf Central Pre Game will deliver expanded weekend coverage with one-hour shows at Noon ET and a half hour show at 2:30 p.m. ET leading into CBS Sports live coverage.
· Headlining the Field— San Diego native Phil Mickelson, defending champion Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Ernie Els, Nick Watney, Dustin Johnson, Ryo Ishikawa, Keegan Bradley, Camilo Villegas, Angel Cabrera, Robert Allenby, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose, Vijay Singh, Bill Haas and Jhonattan Vegas.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel

Best Opening Day Ever On Golf Channel

January 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

2012 PGA TOUR Season Kicks off with Most-Watched Round One on Golf Channel and Best Since 2005

Round One Also up 27% Over 2011

Final Round of Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Begins Today at 4 p.m. ET

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2012) – Coming off the most-watched year in its 17-year history, Golf Channel kicked off the 2012 PGA TOUR season by recording the highest-rated and most-watched opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions since the network began covering the event in 2007, according to preliminary data released by Nielsen Research.

Golf Channel’s first-round coverage on Friday from Hawaii garnered a 0.7 household rating/705,000 average viewers, which was up 27 percent over last year’s previous best and more than 50 percent better than any previous opening round of this event on Golf Channel. Golf Channel began exclusive coverage of the PGA TOUR’s season-opening event in 2007.

Golf Channel has televised more than four hours of live coverage each day of the first three rounds – much of it in primetime – which has featured great golf from the picturesque Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. Additionally, Johnny Miller and Sir Nick Faldo, two of the preeminent names in golf television today, have been sharing the 18th tower for the first time ever as co-analysts.

Coverage of the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions – the first scheduled Monday finish for this tournament – begins today at 3 p.m. ET, with an hour-long version of Golf Central Pre Game, followed by live tournament coverage from 4-8 p.m. ET.

Coming Up on Tour: Golf Channel has exclusive coverage of the first three tournaments of the 2012 PGA TOUR season. Live coverage of the Sony Open in Hawaii begins Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, with all four rounds airing in primetime. The Humana Challenge, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, begins Thursday, Jan. 19.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf Channel

Most-Watched Year Ever For Golf Channel

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ratings Milestones Reached Across All Dayparts

NBCU Merger Provides Broad Exposure

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2012) – 2011 was the most-watched year in Golf Channel history. The network’s first year as part of the NBC Sports Group finished on Dec. 31 as the most-watched year in the network’s 17-year history, according to data released by Nielsen Research.

Viewership in 2011 was up almost 30 percent from 2010 and topped 2009 by 3 percent to become Golf Channel’s most-watched year ever. Highlights include PGA TOUR viewership up 23 percent, Presidents Cup coverage from Australia providing the most-watched day and week in Golf Channel history, viewership for Golf Central up 47 percent; and in June, the premiere of Feherty became the network’s most-viewed season premiere ever. These milestones provided the network with great momentum heading into the 2012 golf season, which kicks off Friday with primetime coverage in Hawaii of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions from the picturesque Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui.

Total-day viewership growth in 2011 was spiked by milestones across all Golf Channel programming categories – an achievement even more impressive considering Tiger Woods appeared in only 10 events on Golf Channel (and did not win until the last event of his year). Comparatively, in 2009 when the previous record was established, Woods played 17 events and won nine times. Furthermore, 2011 viewership was more than 15 percent better than audience levels in 2007 and 2008.

The January 28, 2011, Comcast merger with NBCUniversal, which provided Golf Channel with broad-based promotion across a vast network of various NBCU platforms, and the addition of more original shows – including the critically acclaimed Feherty and the network’s first-ever live morning show, Morning Drive – engaged viewers who watched the network more often than ever before.

“While we toast this banner year and are extremely grateful to our family of loyal viewers, we remain committed to continued growth and excited about the prospects for the future,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. “This viewership record is a testament to the vitality of golf, strengthened partnerships with the game’s governing bodies and the power of NBCUniversal cross-promotion. Our aim is to give viewers more reasons to watch, and in 2011 they responded in record numbers. While we’re pleased by the unprecedented viewership, we’re even more excited about the future and know that the best is yet to come.”

Best Beginning to End: The year began and finished with record-setting quarters and Golf Channel was one of only four sports networks to show growth (up 14 percent) in the third quarter of the year.

Tournaments Set the Pace: Golf Channel televises more tournament golf than all other networks combined and 2011 was a banner year for all the major tours with ratings up year over year. Golf Channel also shone its brightest during golf’s biggest events:

· PGA TOUR FedExCup season up 23 percent.
· LPGA Tour up 30 percent.
· European Tour up 23 percent.
· Champions Tour up 16 percent and the most-watched season ever on Golf Channel.
· The Presidents Cup made the third week in November the highest-rated week in Golf Channel history and Friday, Nov. 18, the highest-rated day in Golf Channel history.

Golf Channel Had it Covered: When it came to covering the world of golf, Golf Channel led the way. Ratings for its signature news franchise, Golf Central, were up 47 percent over last year and the newest addition to its morning schedule, Morning Drive, was up 68 percent versus its comparable time slot in 2010. At golf’s biggest events, Golf Channel’s Live From news coverage was unmatched and included the following highlights:

· Most-watched PGA Championship Week ever on Golf Channel.
· Masters Week was the fourth most-watched week in Golf Channel history.
· U.S. Open Week achieved the highest weekend ratings from an East Coast U.S. Open.

Golf Channel Originals and Instruction Kept Viewers Engaged: Significant investments to provide viewers more than tournament action paid off. Golf Channel original series and specials – up 20 percent as a genre over 2010 – kept fans tuning in. Instructional programming followed suit and was up 25 percent. Highlights include:

· Feherty set record as most-viewed series premiere in Golf Channel history.
· Ratings for The Haney Project season three with Rush Limbaugh were up 36 percent from previous season.
· Pipe Dream joined The Haney Project to lift Tuesday nights more than 50 percent.
· Big Break Ireland started with the highest-rated premiere for any Big Break series since fall of 2009, and finished with the highest-rated season finale of all originals in 2011.

Golf Channel in 2011 averaged 90,000 viewers watching at any given moment during a 24-hour period.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf Channel, Ratings

Golf Channel Kicks Off 2012 PGA Tour Television Coverage With Hyundai Tournament Of Champions

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Miller and Faldo to Share Broadcast Booth

Golf Channel to Air 17 ½ Hours Live Hours in Primetime

2012 European Tour Season Begins in South Africa

“Having Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo share the booth will be very entertaining. Can’t wait to be involved in the broadcast.” – Golf Channel analyst Curt Byrum

 “In its second year as title sponsor, Hyundai Tournament of Champions gets a Monday night finish. A stroke of genius that will give the opening event a unique television time slot to start the season. The true sports fan will enjoy golf and college football in the same night.” – Golf Channel analyst Frank Nobilo

 

Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Dates: Jan. 6-9
Venue: Plantation Course, Kapalua Resort, Kapalua, Hawaii

 

Airtimes: Friday 5:30-10 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 5:30-10 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 5:30-10 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Monday 4-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team
Terry Gannon / Dan Hicks (Play-by-Play)
Nick Faldo / Johnny Miller (Analyst)
Frank Nobilo (Tower)
Mark Rolfing (Tower)
Curt Byrum (On Course)
Jerry Foltz (On Course)
Kelly Tilghman (Show Host / Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:

· Faldo and Miller to Share Broadcast Booth – Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo, the two preeminent names in golf television today, will work as co-analysts for the first time at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
· More than 17 Hours of Live Tournament Coverage – Golf Channel’s coverage will include 17 ½ live hours from Hawaii – with the majority in primetime – featuring a Monday finish for the first time.
· Aimpoint presented by Fidelity featured – Aimpoint presented by Fidelity, Golf Channel’s Emmy award-winning technology that predicts the line of a putt and where players must aim to hole out, will be featured on holes 13 and 18 at the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
· Wraparound News Coverage at Kapalua – Golf Central and Golf Central Pre Game will broadcast live and on-site from the Plantation Course Thursday-Monday. Steve Sands and Brandel Chamblee will host Golf Central, joined by the network’s team of reporters and anchors.
· Opening Drive Special Thursday – Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, Golf Central will kick off the 2012 PGA TOUR season with a two-hour Opening Drive special, featuring Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC personalities previewing the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and discussing the hot topics heading into the 2012 season in a roundtable format. The special also will feature several PGA TOUR professionals competing in a closest-to-the-pin competition on the 11th hole at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, benefiting a number of area charities. Throughout the show, Kelly Tilghman and Jerry Foltz will interview players as they prepare for the 2012 PGA TOUR season, and Terry Gannon will sit down with Johnny Miller to get his predictions on the 2012 season.

Africa Open
Dates: Jan. 5-8
Venue: East London Golf Club, East London, South Africa

Airtimes: Thursday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tape Delay)

Broadcast Notes:

· Headlining the Field – Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen, Retief Goosen and several of South Africa’s top International players, including George Coetzee, Jaco van Zyl, Jbe Kruger and Branden Grace are scheduled to compete in the European Tour’s 2012 kickoff event.

 

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel

Relive Golf’s Biggest Moments For The Holidays In Primetime On Golf Channel

December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Look Back at Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate’s Historic Showdown at the 2008 U.S. Open

Final Rounds of 2011 U.S. Open, World Golf Championship Events and Top 2011 PGA TOUR Finishes

Solheim Cup and Presidents Cup Final Days to Air Saturday and Sunday

Ring in 2012 at Stroke of Midnight with ‘New Year, New Rules’ Special

 

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 22, 2011 – Golf Channel’s primetime treat this holiday season are tournament replays of golf’s biggest moments from 2011 – from Adam Scott winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational amid a media frenzy, to Rory McIlroy capturing his first major championship at the U.S. Open to Bill Haas’ miraculous up-and-down from the water to win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

Airing in primetime for the next two weeks, Golf Channel will air in its entirety the original airings of the final rounds of several top events during the 2011 season. Golf Channel also will revisit one of the greatest tournaments in recent memory – the 2008 U.S. Open – when Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods gave everything they had in one of the most dramatic playoffs in history. The third and final rounds, as well as the Monday playoff, will air on consecutive nights, Wednesday-Friday (Dec. 28-30), at 7 p.m. ET.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received from the recent primetime tournament telecasts from Australia and Asia prompted us to add one last holiday treat for our viewers who have been so good to us this year. As part of this special holiday season, we’ll feature the memorable, playoff-fueled 2008 U.S. Open with Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. The USGA was first to fully embrace primetime golf with West Coast U.S. Opens and this is the primetime event that our viewers have asked to see the most,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day, Golf Channel will ring-in 2012 with a Golf Central Special: New Year, New Rules. Hosted by Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo, the show will introduce viewers to all of the changes to the Rules of Golf and the changes to golf’s “Rules of Amateur Status,” issued jointly by the USGA and the R&A in October. Thomas Pagel, senior director of rules of golf with the USGA, will be a special guest on the special to discuss the new rules changes, and also will answer five frequently asked questions by golfers who play every day.

Golf Channel Tournament Replays Airtimes

2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational – Final Round
Thursday, 8-11 p.m. ET

In one of the most-watched tournaments of the year, Adam Scott fended off the media frenzy surrounding his caddie Steve Williams and Tiger Woods to claim his eighth victory on the PGA TOUR and securing a position into the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

2011 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola – Final Round
Friday, 8-11 p.m. ET

Producing one of the most riveting final rounds in the history of the tournament, Bill Haas converted a miraculous up-and-down from the water during a playoff with Hunter Mahan to take home the TOUR Championship trophy and was crowned 2011 FedExCup Champion.

2011 Solheim Cup – Final Day
Saturday, Noon-6 p.m. ET

With the score tied 8-8 going into the final day of competition at The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland, the outcome came down to the final three matches, where Team Europe regained the Cup with a 15-13 victory over Team U.S.A.

2011 Presidents Cup – Final Day
Sunday, Noon-6 p.m. ET

Captain’s Pick Tiger Woods secured the clinching point during the final day of The Presidents Cup to ensure the Cup will return to the U.S. following a 19-15 victory over the International Team.

2011 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic – Final Round
Saturday, 8-11 p.m. ET

World No. 1 Luke Donald capped off a memorable 2011 PGA TOUR season with a victory at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, securing top honors on the 2011 PGA TOUR Money List. The PGA TOUR’s 2011 finale also featured memorable storylines on players battling to retain their PGA TOUR cards for 2012.

2011 U.S Open – Final Round
Sunday, 8-11 p.m. ET

Rory McIlroy set or tied 12 U.S. Open records as a result of his victory at the 2011 U.S. Open, including becoming the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923 and the first player in U.S. Open history to reach 17-under-par.

2011 Tavistock Cup – Day One
Monday, 7-11:30 p.m. ET

Day one of the annual matches between two of Orlando’s top country clubs – Isleworth Golf & Country Club and Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.

2011 Tavistock Cup – Final Day
Tuesday, 7-11:30 p.m. ET

Day two of the annual matches between two of Orlando’s top country clubs – Isleworth Golf & Country Club and Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

2008 U.S. Open – Round Three
Wednesday, 7-11:30 p.m. ET

Third round of the 2008 U.S. Open from Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif, where Tiger Woods, despite struggling with a knee injury, dazzled on the back nine with improbable shots, resulting in two eagles and a chip-in birdie from the 17th hole to take a one-stroke lead.

2008 U.S. Open – Final Round
Thursday, 7-11:30 p.m. ET

Final round of the 2008 U.S. Open from Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., where Tiger Woods birdied his 72nd and final hole to force a Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate.

2008 U.S. Open – Monday Playoff
Friday, 7-11 p.m. ET

The first U.S. Open playoff since 2001 featured dramatics and a back-and-forth match between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate, forcing a sudden-death playoff after both players shot even par for the round. Woods recorded a par on the first hole of sudden death to Mediate’s bogey, sealing victory.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel
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