USA Network

USA NETWORK DELIVERS VIEWERSHIP MILESTONES AS CABLE HOME OF NBC SPORTS

August 30, 2022 By admin

Expansive Programming Across NBC Sports on USA Network Has Grown Audiences Throughout 2022

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 30, 2022 – USA Network has delivered numerous viewership milestones since expanding its slate of premium sports properties and events this year across the Premier League, NASCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, horse racing, cycling, track & field and more.

Since becoming the new cable network home for NBC Sports programming on Jan. 1, 2022, USA Network has grown sports event audiences alongside its fan-favorite entertainment content including last year’s top scripted cable launch “Chucky” and unscripted hits like “Miz and Mrs.”

“Sports have experienced sustained viewership increases across the board as part of our strategy transitioning key programming to USA Network. We look forward to continuing that upward trajectory into the fall season,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.

Below are viewership highlights for NBC Sports programming on USA Network:

Premier League

Two of the four most-watched Premier League matches on cable on record: Manchester City-Liverpool on April 10, 2022, with a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) average of 1.15 million viewers (#2 most watched cable Premier League match on record) and Chelsea-Liverpool on Jan. 2, 2022, with a TAD of 1.04 million viewers (#4 most watched).
The opening match of the 2022-23 Premier League season between Crystal Palace-Arsenal posted a TAD of 526,000 viewers, making it NBC Sports’ most-watched weekday opener on record, and the second-most watched opener on record (Manchester United-Tottenham on NBCSN in 2015; 651,000 viewers TAD).
Post-match coverage following Newcastle-Manchester City on Aug. 21, 2022, was NBC Sports’ most-watched Premier League post-game show on cable on record (582,000 viewers).

NASCAR

The race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 21, 2022, marked the sixth consecutive USA Network Cup Series race to deliver year-over-year viewership gains.
USA Network’s telecast from Atlanta on July 10, 2022, stands as the most-watched Cup Series race on cable (2.626 million TV-only viewers) since last year’s Darlington race (3.149 million on FS1, 5/9/21).

Beijing Olympics

Featuring live coverage of every Winter Games sport, USA Network was the top destination for sports and entertainment programming on cable and along with Tokyo Olympics coverage last summer, delivered the network’s most-watched 15-day span (Feb. 5-19) span since September 2018.
The Beijing Olympics averaged 1.4 million primetime viewers and 920,000 Total Day viewers – both the highest among all sports and entertainment cable networks during the Games.

Tokyo Olympics

Highlighted by live coverage of track & field, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and softball, USA Network was the top destination for sports and entertainment programming on cable, ranking as the #1 sports and entertainment cable network in primetime over the course of the Games with an average of 1.6 million viewers.
USA Network’s primetime viewership average was the best ever for any cable network during the Summer Olympics and featured cable’s three most-watched Summer Olympics nights ever.

Golf: U.S. Open & The Open Championship

Round 2 of the 2022 U.S. Open averaged a TAD of 1.17 million viewers, resulting in USA Network’s best weekday afternoon viewership since January 2017 (excluding Holidays).
Excluding the Olympics, the 150^th Open Championship drove USA Network to its best week of viewership in more than two years (since May 2020).
With a TAD of 1.38 million viewers, 2022 delivered the most-watched early rounds for the Open Championship ever for NBC Sports and most-watched overall since 2015 on ESPN. The Round 1 TAD of 1.35 million viewers was the largest audience for that round since 2013 on ESPN.

Tour de France

USA Network posted the two most-watched weekday stages of the Tour de France in more than 10 years. With 554,000 viewers, the Friday July 15 telecast was the most-watched weekday stage since 2009. The competition the day prior (Thursday July 14) averaged 510,000 viewers which was the best weekday delivery since 2010.

Horse Racing

2022 Kentucky Derby programming on Friday and Saturday delivered its best cable performance since 2019.
559,000 viewers for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby undercard programming marked the second-best performance for the event in the last six years.
Friday’s Kentucky Oaks coverage averaged 244,000 viewers, the best for the event since 2019.

Track & Field

USA Network’s primetime coverage of the World Track & Field Championships Oregon22 on Friday July 22 averaged 783,000 TV-only viewers, NBC Sports’ second-most watched track & field cable telecast on record, excluding Olympics and U.S. Team Trials. It only trails the 2018 Indoor Championships, which had a Winter Olympics lead-in (1.306 million, NBCSN, Feb. 10).

–NBC SPORTS–

150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ST. ANDREWS IS SECOND MOST-WATCHED OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN NEARLY A DECADE

July 19, 2022 By admin

Total Audience Delivery of 2.516 Million Viewers Across NBC, USA Network and Peacock – Up 16% vs. 2021, Up 27% vs. 2019

Viewership Up 8% vs. 2015, Last Time Open Championship Was Held at St. Andrews

Final Round Total Audience Delivery of 4.725 Million Viewers on NBC and Peacock – Up 12% vs. 2021 – Peak of More Than 7.1 Million Viewers

Led By Peacock, 150^th Open Championship is Most-Streamed Golf Event in NBC Sports History

All Four Rounds Were Most-Watched Sports Events of Their Respective Days

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 19, 2022 – NBC Sports comprehensive coverage of the 150^th Open Championship at St. Andrews across NBC, USA Network and Peacock delivered the second most-watched Open Championship in nearly a decade, averaging a Total Audience Delivery of 2.516 million viewers to make it the second most-watched Open Championship since 2013.

Overall viewership for the 150^th Open Championship was up 16% vs. 2021 (2.174 million TAD) and up 27% vs. 2019 (1.983 million TAD).

Sunday’s final round coverage on NBC (9 a.m. – 1:48 p.m. ET) averaged a TAD of 4.725 million viewers – up 12% vs. last year’s final round (4.207 million TAD) – and peaked with more than 7.1 million viewers from 1:30-1:45 p.m. ET, as Cameron Smith completed his come-from-behind victory.

This year’s Open Championship viewership was also up 8% vs. 2015, the last time the event was held at St. Andrews (2.329 million TV-only viewers on ESPN).

Additional viewership highlights from NBC Sports’ 150^th Open Championship coverage:

Led by Peacock, the 150^th Open Championship is the most-streamed golf event in NBC Sports history, totaling 262 million minutes for all four rounds, surpassing 244 million minutes for this year’s U.S. Open and up 95% vs. last year’s Open Championship;

Saturday’s third-round coverage (9 a.m. – 3:28 p.m. ET) delivered a TAD of 3.426 million viewers across NBC and Peacock – up 14% from last year’s third round coverage (3.018 million TAD);

All four rounds of the Open Championship were the most-watched sports events of their respective days;

Live From The Open coverage on GOLF Channel averaged 152,000 to equal last year’s mark as the most-watched Live From The Open since 2017.

Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 150^th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Final Round)

1.	Ft. Myers-Naples	7.2/23
2.	West Palm Beach	4.8/16
T3.	Dayton	4.6/14
T3.	Detroit	4.6/19
5.	Richmond	4.3/16
T6.	Buffalo	4.2/16
T6.	Cincinnati	4.2/16
T6.	Greenville	4.2/16
T9.	Boston	4.0/19
T9.	Louisville	4.0/14
T9.	Columbus, OH	4.0/16

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS‘ MOST-WATCHED OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP EARLY ROUNDS ON RECORD – NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIRD ROUND AT ST. ANDREWS

July 16, 2022 By admin

“Rory McIlroy is primed to get over the line and win this Open Championship tomorrow.” – Paul McGinley on Live From The Open on GOLF Channel and Peacock

“A crazy shot. There’s no way you train to perfect that shot. He’s risked his whole championship on that shot and I don’t understand it.” – Paul Azinger on Cameron Smith’s second shot on the 13^th hole on NBC and Peacock

Early Round Viewership on USA Network Up 20% vs. 2021, Up 22% vs. 2019

Final-Round Coverage – 4 a.m. ET on USA Network, 7 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 16, 2022 – NBC Sports presented exclusive third-round coverage of the 150^th Open Championship from The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland across NBC, USA Network and Peacock, capped by Live From The Open on GOLF Channel and Peacock.

Rory McIlroy (-16) and Viktor Hovland (-16) both shot 66 today and are four strokes ahead of Cameron Smith (-12) and Cameron Young (-12).

Exclusive final-round coverage begins tomorrow at 4 a.m. ET on USA Network and continues at 7 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

NBC Sports is off to its most-watched Open Championship through two rounds, with Thursday and Friday’s viewership on USA Network up 20% vs. 2021 and up 22% vs. 2019.

150^th Open Championship – Second Round Leaderboard

Player	Total
Rory McIlroy	-16
Viktor Hovland	-16
Cameron Smith	-12
Cameron Young	-12
Scottie Scheffler	-11
Si Woo Kim	-11

Final Round Coverage Schedule

Date	USA Network	NBC/Peacock
Sunday, July 17	4-7 a.m.	7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

ON RORY MCILROY (Co-Leader, 16-under)

McIlroy to Kathryn Tappen on today’s round and what it will take to raise the Claret Jug: “It’s nice that I get to play with Viktor again. We played well (today) and it’s a comfortable pairing for both of us…I’ve been knocking on the door for awhile now and this is the best chance I’ve had in a long time. I just need to stay in my own little world for one more day.”

Paul McGinley on Live From The Open: “Rory McIlroy is primed to get over the line and win this Open Championship tomorrow. There’s a lot of things working in his favor, but also the work that he’s done in the last two to three months has built towards something big happening and it could well be an Open Championship…he’s moved out of the peloton now…it’s just him and Hovland now, it doesn’t mean those guys can’t catch them, but they really have to go.”

Brandel Chamblee on Live From The Open: “It has been nothing short of a magical week thus far for Rory McIlroy…as we talk about luck and magic, here it was again today on the 10^th hole. Magical moments…just one, two of those, but he’s had a little bit of that every single day on top of how well he’s been hitting it…there are lots of parallels. Call them luck, call them magic, but both McIlroy and Hovland have had magical weeks.”

Paul Azinger on his bunker shot for eagle on the 10^th hole: “He was careful not to get too ‘up’…I think he was pretty subdued really with that fist pump, he didn’t let it all come out…it’s almost like he consciously pulled it back before he got out of that bunker…I can assure you he hit a lot of shots out of that bunker this week in preparation.”

Notah Begay III on the eagle on 10: “The gallery to the left of the 11^th hole and all of those grandstands went absolutely nuts. Rory composed himself, walked over and watch the tee shot of Scheffler to see if he could figure out something from the wind direction, so he’s staying in the moment.”

Justin Leonard on McIlroy handling the vocal support from the crowd: “For a lot of players, and even for Rory some time ago, this might add pressure…but he’s certainly encouraged and maybe even wanting to take on this challenge of winning the Open even more because of that support.”

ON VIKTOR HOVLAND (16-under, Co-Leader)

Hovland to Tappen following his round: “It kind of felt like match play. I didn’t try to think of it that way…I’m going against one of the best players in the world and I’m certainly not going to hold back because he’s certainly not.”

Azinger: “He kind of just had to follow Rory around. He said he didn’t react to Rory, but he did a few times on the tee…Rory had the honor and he followed him with the driver.”

McGinley on Live From The Open: “With his inexperience, and the crowd cheering for McIlroy, tomorrow is going to be a tough day for him…as great a player as he is. The crowd are going to be very much in McIlroy’s favor tomorrow.”

Chamblee on Live From The Open: “The greens here are so big, and the surrounds are cut so tight, that you can go through this entire week and not have to chip. If he misses a green tomorrow where he is short-sided and he has to go over a bunker, then we’re leaning in…because he is so devastatingly bad at chipping, He’s the worst chipper, by far, on the PGA TOUR. You go back to 2004 and you can only find three players who have ever chipped worse at any part of their career than what Viktor Hovland is doing right now…he’s a sublime ball-striker…the question is, will he have to pitch tomorrow?”

ON CAMERON SMITH (12-under, T-2^nd)

John Wood prior to his second shot on the 13^th hole with the ball well above his feet standing in the bunker: “This is a huge gamble. In his rehearsals, he walked up the hill and tried to see what his line was and looked like he was going to stand behind it and try to play a huge, massive cut…but (standing in the bunker) looks even tougher if he tries this.”

Gary Koch: “If the heel grabs first, this ball could go low, left, and there’s nothing but gorse bushes over there.”

Azinger: “You don’t practice this. He’s risking his whole championship on a shot he never practices.”

Wood following the shot into the gorse bushes: “I just didn’t understand anything about that shot.”

Koch: “That’s just a course management mistake.”

Azinger: “A crazy shot. There’s no way you train to perfect that shot. He’s risked his whole championship on that shot and I don’t understand it.”

Koch: “You just punch the ball out sideways, you have a wedge left to the green, and the worst you walk away with is five.”

Azinger: “That’s a time where his caddie could have stepped in there and said, ‘Hey, let’s just hold on a minute. You’re in good shape, let’s not wreck our championship here.’”

Azinger on his eagle putt on the 14^th hole: “He just does not have the same touch has he did the first two days, there’s no doubt about it…it just wasn’t his day on the greens.”

ON CAMERON YOUNG (12-under, T-2^nd)

Azinger on the 14^th hole: “He has looked good today. For somebody who has never really been in this position before, he has really held it together nicely.”

David Feherty following Young’s four-putt on the 16^th hole: “What a blunder.”

Wood: “Such a shame what happened on 16. He did nothing like that all day long, just in total control of his game, and that four-putt cost him two shots…he’s going to be kicking himself.”

ON DUSTIN JOHNSON (10-under, 7^th)

Dan Hicks on his putt into the pot bunker on the 14^th hole: “That is disastrous.”

Azinger: “The putter has betrayed him today, and it’s really let him down all season. Hitting it great but just a couple of putts away from being where he wants to be, and that one was a disaster.”

–NBC SPORTS–

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE OPEN KICKS OFF 200+ HOURS OF COVERAGE FROM THE OLD COURSE AT ST. ANDREWS ACROSS NBC, USA NETWORK, GOLF CHANNEL & PEACOCK

July 11, 2022 By admin

Beginning Today at 9 a.m. ET, GOLF Central Live From The Open Provides Nearly 75 Hours of Live On-Site Pre- and Post-Championship Coverage

Celebration of Champions – Four-Hole Competition Featuring 40 Open and R&A Champions Including Tiger Woods – Today at 11 a.m. ET LIVE on GOLF Channel

Transcript – Dan Hicks, Paul Azinger, Notah Begay III, John Wood and Producer Tommy Roy Preview the 150^th Open Championship

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 11, 2022 – GOLF Central Live From The Open begins its near-75 hours of studio coverage of the 150^th Open Championship today at 9 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock, kicking off 200-plus hours of NBC Sports’ coverage originating from The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland this week across NBC, USA Network, GOLF Channel and Peacock.

Today’s coverage on GOLF Channel includes a live presentation of the Celebration of Champions at 11 a.m. ET, as 40 Open and R&A champions compete on 10 four-person teams on the 1^st, 2^nd, 17^th and 18^th holes at St. Andrews. Champions slated to compete include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Anna Nordqvist, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo.

GOLF Central Live From The Open

Broadcast Team

Hosts: Rich Lerner / Cara Banks / Shane Bacon
Analysts: Brandel Chamblee / Paul McGinley / Mark Rolfing / Arron Oberholser / Notah Begay III / Jaime Diaz / Eamon Lynch
Reporters: Todd Lewis / Damon Hack / Rex Hoggard / Ryan Lavner

Date	*Golf Central – Live From The Open**
Monday, July 11	9-11 a.m. / 1:30-3:30 p.m. / 7-11 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12	6 a.m. – 6 p.m. / 7 p.m. – 6 a.m.
Wednesday, July 13	6 a.m. – 3 p.m. / 7 – 12 a.m.
Thursday, July 14	12-1 a.m. / 4-6 p.m. / 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Friday, July 15	4-6 p.m. / 9 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Saturday, July 16	3-6 p.m.
Sunday, July 17	2-6 p.m.
*all times ET, post-round coverage begins following conclusion of play, also streams on Peacock

Last week, NBC Sports golf commentators Dan Hicks, Paul Azinger, Notah Begay III, John Wood, and producer Tommy Roy previewed the upcoming 150^th Open Championship on a media conference call. Click here for a full transcript.

150^th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Broadcast Team

Host: Mike Tirico
Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Mike Tirico / Terry Gannon
Analyst: Paul Azinger / Justin Leonard / Nick Faldo
Tower: David Feherty / Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen / Steve Sands / Curt Byrum / Tom Abbott
On-Course: Notah Begay III / John Wood / Mark Rolfing / Karen Stupples
Essays: JimmyRoberts
Interviews: Kathryn Tappen / Cara Banks / Todd Lewis

How To Watch – Thursday, July 14 – Sunday, July 17 (all times ET)

TV – NBC, USA Network
Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date	Peacock	USA Network	NBC/Peacock
Thursday, July 14	*1:30-4 a.m./3-4 p.m.	4 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday, July 15	*1:30-4 a.m./3-4 p.m.	4 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 16		5-7 a.m.	7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday, July 17		4-7 a.m.	7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

*coverage will begin shortly before the first scheduled tee time at 1:30 a.m. ET

-NBC SPORTS-

NASCAR IS ON USA NETWORK – NEARLY 200 HOURS OF COVERAGE IN 2022

June 28, 2022 By admin

Live Coverage of NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Racing From Road America This Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, Beginning at 2 p.m. ET

23 of Next 26 Combined Cup and Xfinity Races Air Live on USA Network, Featuring Iconic Tracks Including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway

Nearly 200 Hours of NASCAR Coverage on USA Network in 2022

USA Network Is Widely Available Across Cable, Satellite and Streaming Providers

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 28, 2022 – USA Network begins its run as NBC Sports’ new cable home of the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series this weekend with live race coverage from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., this Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET each day.

USA Network will be the exclusive home for 23 of the next 26 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races through September, visiting iconic tracks such as Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Including practice and qualifying, as well as the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series and Whelen Modified Tour, USA Network will present nearly 200 hours of NASCAR coverage in 2022.

USA Network has been a top five cable entertainment brand for over 20 years and is widely available across cable, satellite and streaming providers, including:

AT&T U-verse HD: Channel 1125
Charter Spectrum HD: Channel 101
Comcast XFINITY TV HD: Channel 823
Cox Contour HD: Channel 1028
DIRECTV HD: Channel 242
DISH Network HD: Channel 105
Verizon FiOS: Channel 550
Optimum: Channel 38

Channel listings may vary by market and could be updated by the provider to a different channel at any time.

USA Network is also available via most streaming services, including:

DirecTV Stream
fuboTV
Hulu + Live TV
Sling TV (Blue package)
Youtube TV

Earlier this year, USA Network became the cable home of premium NBC Sports events, which, in addition to NASCAR, includes coverage of the Premier League, INDYCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, horse racing, cycling and more.

As in years past, coverage airing on USA Network will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app via authentication.

Following are NBC Sports’ full 2022 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series schedules:

NBC SPORTS 2022 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Date	Location	Platform	Time (ET)
Sunday, July 3	Road America	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, July 10	Atlanta	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, July 17	New Hampshire	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, July 24	Pocono	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, July 31	Indianapolis Road Course	NBC	2:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 7	Michigan	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, August 14	Richmond	USA	3 p.m.
Sunday, August 21	Watkins Glen	USA	3 p.m.
Saturday, August 27	Daytona	NBC, Peacock	7 p.m.
Sunday, September 4	Darlington	USA	6 p.m.
Sunday, September 11	Kansas	USA	3 p.m.
Saturday, September 17	Bristol	USA	7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 25	Texas	USA	3:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 2	Talladega	NBC	2 p.m.
Sunday, October 9	Charlotte ROVAL	NBC	2 p.m.
Sunday, October 16	Las Vegas	NBC	2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 23	Homestead-Miami	NBC	2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 30	Martinsville	NBC	2 p.m.
Sunday, November 6	Phoenix	NBC, Peacock	3 p.m.

NBC SPORTS 2022 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE
Date	Location	Platform	Time (ET)
Saturday, July 2	Road America	USA	2:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 9	Atlanta	USA	5 p.m.
Saturday, July 16	New Hampshire	USA	2:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23	Pocono	USA	5 p.m.
Saturday, July 30	Indianapolis Road Course	NBC, Peacock	3:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 6	Michigan	USA	3:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 20	Watkins Glen	USA	3 p.m.
Friday, August 26	Daytona	USA	7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 3	Darlington	USA	3 p.m.
Saturday, September 10	Kansas	USA	3 p.m.
Friday, September 16	Bristol	USA	7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 24	Texas	USA	3:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 1	Talladega	USA	4 p.m.
Saturday, October 8	Charlotte ROVAL	NBC, Peacock	3 p.m.
Saturday, October 15	Las Vegas	NBC, Peacock	3 p.m.
Saturday, October 22	Homestead-Miami	USA	4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 29	Martinsville	NBC, Peacock	3 p.m.
Saturday, November 5	Phoenix	USA	6 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–

USA NETWORK CHANNEL INFORMATION

June 27, 2022 By admin

USA Network has been a top five cable entertainment brand for over 20 years and can be found on most cable and satellite packages, including:

AT&T U-verse HD: Channel 1125
Charter Spectrum HD: Channel 760
Comcast XFINITY TV HD: Channel 823
Cox Communication HD: Channel 1028
DirecTV HD: Channel 242
DISH Network HD: Channel 105
Time Warner Cable HD: Channel 55, 101
Verizon FiOS: Channel 550

Channel listings may vary by market, and could be updated by the provider to a different channel at any time.

USA Network is also available via most streaming services, including:

fuboTV
Youtube TV
Sling TV (Blue package)
Hulu + Live TV
DirecTV Stream

NOTES AND QUOTES – NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF THE 122nd U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (SECOND ROUND)

June 17, 2022 By admin

“We learned more about Rory McIlroy when he made that putt for double bogey than we may have learned all day long about what’s going on in his head.” – Brandel Chamblee

“What this guy has got the ability to do is catch lightning in a bottle. Not everybody has that ability – a lot of the great players do – and he does.” – Paul McGinley on co-leader Collin Morikawa

“As recently as 11 days ago, he said, ‘I will never win a major championship.’ I wonder what he’s thinking right now. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.’ He’s got a chance.” – Chamblee on co-leader Joel Dahmen

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 17, 2022 – NBC Sports presented second round coverage of the 122^nd U.S. Open Championship from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, capped by Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel.

Exclusive third round coverage begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET on Peacock and continues on NBC at noon ET.

U.S. Open – First Round Leaderboard

Player	Total
Collin Morikawa	-5
Joel Dahmen	-5
Rory McIlroy	-4
Jon Rahm	-4
Hayden Buckley	-4
Aaron Wise	-4
Beau Hossler	-4

Friday-Sunday Coverage Schedule

Day	Peacock	USA Network	NBC/Peacock
Saturday	10 a.m.-Noon		Noon-8 p.m.
Sunday	9-10 a.m.	10 a.m.-Noon	Noon-7 p.m.

*coverage will begin shortly before the first scheduled tee time at 6:45 a.m. ET

ON SECOND ROUND

Paul Azinger on NBC: “I’ve been saying for a few years that Friday really is ‘Moving Day’ at the U.S. Open. Only two out of the last 38 winners have shot over par on Friday – Angel Cabrera and Webb Simpson. It’s important to be within a couple shots of the lead. Twenty-three of the last 25 winners have been within two shots of the lead going into the weekend…Saturday and Sunday you have to hang in like a bulldog, but today is critical because history shows you have to be close to the lead.”

Brandel Chamblee on Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel: “Right now, as we speak, No. 1, 2, 3 and 7 in the world are all in the Top 7 in this leaderboard…not to trot out a cliché too early, but the cream is really rising to the top here.”

Azinger: “What a move by these guys. Morikawa, the reigning Open champ shoots 66…Rahm, the reigning U.S. Open champ shoots 67…Scheffler, the reigning Masters champ shoots 67.”

ON THE COUNTRY CLUB

Justin Leonard on USA Network: “There’s no local knowledge on this golf course other than a few players. It’s a golf course that’s democratic. It’s not overly long. It tests every part of these players’ games.”

ON COLLIN MORIKAWA (-5, T-1^st)

Chamblee on Live From: “Sometimes when you’re just a little off your game, it does force you to play a little more conservatively than you otherwise would…even when he’s a little off, he’s still a stellar iron player…over the last six or seven tournaments he’s played, he’s had incredible runs with his irons…but losing strokes every single round on average to the field on the green…by and large, its his work on the greens this week.”

Paul McGinley on Live From: “What this guy has got the ability to do – which is so much more important than what your overall average is – is catch lightning in a bottle. When he gets hot, he gets really hot with that putter. We’ve seen him lead that category in putting when he won the PGA Championship, we saw him do it at the Open Championship…getting really hot at one element of the game at the right time in a big week is invaluable. Not everybody has that ability, a lot of the great players do, and he does.”

ON JOEL DAHMEN (-5, T-1^st)

Chamblee on Live From on Dahmen tied for the lead: “It may catch some people by surprise. It may catch him by surprise. As recently as 11 days ago, he said, ‘I will never win a major championship.’ I wonder what he’s thinking right now. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.’ He’s got a chance…his golf game is so over-shadowed by his comedic antics, but imagine if he did pull through for a victory? That would be one heck of an entertaining Sunday night.”

McGinley on Live From: “One of his better finishes this year was at Pebble Beach, and there’s only one golf course on the U.S. Open rotation that has smaller greens than here at The Country Club – it’s Pebble Beach.”

ON RORY MCILROY (-4, T-3^rd)

Chamblee on Live From: “U.S. Opens reveal how a player can deal with adversity. This is what tenacity looks like…if and when he wins this championship on Sunday…we learned more about Rory McIlroy when he made that putt for double bogey than we may have learned all day long about what’s going on in his head.”

Steve Sands on McIlroy’s double bogey on No. 3 on USA Network: “Remember that moment right there on a Friday afternoon – saving, yes, saving, a double bogey…That is about as good a double bogey as you could possibly ask for in that situation. Wow.”

John Wood on NBC: “This has felt like a different Rory the past couple of days.”

ON JON RAHM (-4, T-3^rd)

McGinley on Live From: “His short game is coming around and that’s the big key…we got to The Masters and said this guy is so far off with his short game…but like a pendulum, it’s going to come back at some stage. The mainstay of his game is his ability to strike the golf ball…we’re seeing evidence of (his short game coming back) this week. I think there’s more in Jon Rahm, I don’t think he’s given us his best.”

Chamblee on Live From: “He leads the year in strokes gained off the tee, but he also leads in total driving…he’s the longest, straightest driver on the planet and I have no doubt that that iron game will come around…this guy is like a Cadillac Escalade with Lamborghini speed.”

ON MJ DAFFUE (-1, T-16^th)

Nick Faldo on second shot on the 14^th hole from hospitality area carpet on USA Network: “The bottle of nerve to say ‘I’ll just thread this between the picket fence down the right and the hospitality with the cocktails, flower beds – no problem, plenty of room’…Perfect, nailed it.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF THE 122nd U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (FIRST ROUND)

June 16, 2022 By admin

“I’ve been a close follower of Rory since he was a kid coming through the amateur ranks in Ireland and I’ve never seen him play so well.” – Paul McGinley on Rory McIlroy (-3, T-2^nd)

“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the golf course. Quality shots being rewarded, primarily from the fairway…that’s what the U.S. Open is all about.” – Notah Begay III on The Country Club

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 16, 2022 – NBC Sports presented first round coverage of the 122^nd U.S. Open Championship from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, capped by Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel.

Exclusive second round coverage begins tomorrow at 6:45 a.m. ET on Peacock and continues at 9:30 a.m. ET on USA Network.

U.S. Open – First Round Leaderboard

Player	Total
Adam Hadwin	-4
Rory McIlroy	-3
Callum Tarren	-3
David Lingmerth	-3
Joel Dahmen	-3
MJ Daffue	-3

Friday-Sunday Coverage Schedule

Day	Peacock	USA Network	NBC/Peacock
Friday	*6:45-9:30 a.m./7-8 p.m.	9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	4-7 p.m.
Saturday	10 a.m.-Noon		Noon-8 p.m.
Sunday	9-10 a.m.	10 a.m.-Noon	Noon-7 p.m.

*coverage will begin shortly before the first scheduled tee time at 6:45 a.m. ET

ON THE COUNTRY CLUB

Notah Begay III on Peacock: “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the golf course. This has been a fine, fair test out there. You’re seeing quality shots being rewarded for players taking on certain hole locations, but primarily from the fairway, and that’s what the U.S. Open is all about. It rewards accuracy and a little bit of aggressiveness.”

Paul McGinley on Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel: “I loved it. We got the mixture of the old and the new, the modern style adjusting to a golf course that’s 140 years old…it’s firm, it’s a little windy…there are so many questions being asked of these players.”

Brandel Chamblee on GOLF Channel: “This is exactly what a U.S. Open should look like…these golden age golf courses just look like a U.S. Open.”

ON STATE OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF

Paul Azinger on NBC: “There’s a cloud hanging over the game of golf. There’s no doubt about it. This is unprecedented and kind of unthinkable – the enormous amount of being pushed at these guys – and they’re turning their back on the (PGA) TOUR to go over there and get that money to play in a 54-hole event that’s a shotgun start. It’s just about the money. I was able to get in pretty close to some of those guys and have some intimate conversations. Some of them may say it’s to grow the game or whatever, but in the end, it’s about the money. Golf is in a tough spot and we’re just going to have to see how it plays out.”

ON ADAM HADWIN (-4, Leader)

Begay III on Peacock: “He took advantage of the good breaks and he manufactured some great saves like you have to if you’re going to win this championship.”

ON RORY MCILROY (-3, T-2^nd)

Azinger on USA Network: “The cloud hanging over the sport feels like it’s energized Rory McIlroy a little bit. He’s become the guy doing the bidding of the PGA TOUR as a player and he’s doing a good job of it as well. But it seems to have added a real spark to his game.”

Chamblee on GOLF Channel: “This putter was hot today…watching him today, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him play with such clarity…I see freedom in his (putting) stroke. This is the fourth-best putting round that he’s ever had and it’s the best he’s had since 2015.”

McGinley on GOLF Channel: “He is playing as good as I’ve ever seen him. I’ve been a close follower of Rory since he was a kid coming through the amateur ranks in Ireland and I’ve never seen him play so well…I think the competition is more now and I think he’s more prepared now to win a major championship, certainly since he won his last one.”

ON MATT FITZPATRICK (-2, T-7^th)

Dan Hicks on USA Network: “A lot of talk about him coming into this championship…he just seems to be one of those guys that’s due to win a major at a tough place where you’ve got to grind it out.”

Azinger on USA Network: “He’s always given you that feeling. He’s so meticulous and thorough with how he goes about playing golf. A ‘no stone unturned’ kind of guy.’”

ON PHIL MICKELSON (+8, T-145^th)

Mike Tirico with Justin Leonard on USA Network: “Nonstop conversation around the golf world with Mickelson being at the forefront of all of it with the real fissure in professional golf…there are legitimate conversations by people – who are not prone to hyperbole, who you respect – who think that professional golf may not look the same anytime in the next few years. That’s the path that we are on – and Mickelson has become the face of that.”

Leonard: “It’s interesting to see where he was about 13 months ago coming off winning the PGA Championship at 51, and now he has thrown a bit of a divide into the game. He’s certainly at the forefront of it.”

Tirico: “Do you think any of the outside stuff impacts the score he puts on the card at the end of these two or four days?”

Leonard: “How could it not? I think he’s been through a lot and facing the media and fans, I think he’ll get good support from this Boston crowd. But…he’s been a fan and media favorite for a long time, and now he’s cast a shadow on that.”

Dan Hicks on Mickelson’s three-putt on the 6^th hole on NBC: “This is a mini-disaster.”

Azinger on missed par putt: “It’s hard to miss the hole from that distance…14 putts through six holes for Phil. Wow.”

ON JON RAHM (-1, T-14^th)

Leonard on USA Network: “There’s something going on in that golf swing that he hasn’t quite figured out yet.”

ON JUSTIN ROSE (-2, T-7^th)

Gary Koch on USA Network on Rose making a long putt on 17^th hole, similar to Justin Leonard’s putt in 1999 Ryder Cup: “That looks like a putt we’ve seen before at 17! And that’s a pretty good imitation (of the celebration).”

–NBC SPORTS–

MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF RETURNS TO USA NETWORK THIS SUMMER BEGINNING WITH LIVE U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN COVERAGE THIS WEEK

June 1, 2022 By admin

Nearly 15 Hours of Live U.S. Women’s Open Coverage This Thursday-Sunday on USA Network from Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Pine Needles, N.C.

Field Includes Past Champions Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West; 19 of Top 20 Including World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Defending Champ Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, and Lexi Thompson

80 Hours of Major Championship Golf on USA Network in 2022 Includes U.S. Open (June 16-19), The Open Championship (July 14-17) and AIG Women’s Open (August 4-7)

Prior Golf Coverage on USA Network Includes The Masters, Ryder Cup and PGA TOUR

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 1, 2022 – Major championship golf makes its return to USA Network this summer, beginning with NBC Sports’ live coverage of the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica this Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5, from Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Pine Needles, N.C.

USA Network will provide nearly 15 hours of live championship coverage this week, as 156 of the world’s top professional and amateur players compete for the largest purse in women’s golf. The field is headlined by 19 of the top 20 players in the Rolex Rankings, including last year’s U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson, and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko.

The field boasts 12 past U.S. Women’s Open champions, including three-time champion Annika Sorenstam – who makes her return to the U.S. Women’s Open after winning last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open – as well as 2014 champion Michelle Wie West, who recently announced she will be stepping away from competitive golf following this week’s event.

Thursday-Friday coverage on USA Network airs from 3-8 p.m. ET, followed by Saturday and Sunday coverage from 1-3 p.m. ET. Click here for more coverage details, including on-air talent and programming windows on NBC and Peacock.

The U.S. Women’s Open marks the first of four marquee golf events – and 80 total hours of live major championship golf – that will appear on USA Network in 2022, followed by the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., (June 16-19), The 150^th Open Championship at St. Andrews (July 14-17), and the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield (August 4-7).

USA Network has been a television destination for some of the world’s most high-profile golf events including The Masters (1982-2007) and The Ryder Cup (1989-2010), as well as early-round and lead-in coverage for the PGA TOUR in prior years.

–NBC SPORTS–

USA NETWORK BROADENS SLATE WITH ADDITION OF PREMIUM NBC SPORTS CONTENT IN 2022

November 2, 2021 By admin

Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, and College and Olympic Sports Among Premium Properties and Events Moving to USA Network

USA Network to Feature Premier League Tripleheader on January 1, 2022

USA Network Was #1 Sports and Entertainment Cable Network Throughout the Recent Tokyo Olympics

NBC Sports Content Also Moving to CNBC, Peacock and Other NBCUniversal Platforms

NBCSN to Conclude Programming on Dec. 31, 2021

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and STAMFORD, Conn. – November 2, 2021 – Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, USA Network broadens its slate with the addition of premium NBC Sports events, including coverage from the Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, college and Olympic sports, horse racing, cycling and more. In addition, CNBC, Peacock, and other linear platforms will also host a wide variety of live sports.

USA Network will kick off the 2022 sports calendar on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. ET with a New Year’s Day Premier League tripleheader, beginning with Arsenal hosting defending champion Manchester City.

“We are excited to transition the cable coverage of many of our premium sports events to USA Network, Peacock, and other widely-distributed NBCUniversal platforms, which will give us a significant boost in television homes and will put us in an even stronger position as we grow our business,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.

“USA has always been home to big, iconic characters – on reality shows like ‘Chrisley Knows Best,’ premium scripted dramas like ‘Chucky’ and ‘The Sinner,’ and of course the high-octane energy of our WWE personalities – and larger-than-life pro athletes will fit right in,” said Frances Berwick, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. “We expect this expansion of our live sports offering will both engage existing fans and bring in new communities to USA, further cementing the network as a top destination for the best and broadest entertainment in all of its many forms.”

During the recent Tokyo Olympics, USA Network televised live coverage of track & field, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and softball, and ranked as the #1 sports and entertainment cable network in primetime with an average of 1.6 million viewers. In September, the Manchester United-Newcastle match featuring the return of Cristiano Ronaldo ranked as the most-watched Premier League game on USA Network.

NBC Sports Programming on USA Network in 2022

- Atlantic 10 basketball
- Horse Racing
- IMSA
- INDYCAR: Two races
- NASCAR: Cup and Xfinity Series races
- Olympic sports
- Premier League
- The R&A – The Open, AIG Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage
- The Winter Olympics
- Tour de France
- USGA – U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage

Note: Many of these sports will continue to have programming on the NBC broadcast network. In addition, all linear coverage can be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. (*All PGA TOUR events remain exclusively on NBC or GOLF Channel.)

For streaming fans, Peacock features extensive live sports including Sunday Night Football, all Notre Dame football home games, Premier League, NASCAR, golf, and much more. In 2022, Peacock will continue to offer an array of live sports coverage including Super Bowl LVI and Olympic competition. To learn more about sports on Peacock and how to sign up, visit https://www.peacocktv.com/sports.

Additional sports content will be presented across widely-distributed linear and digital platforms in the NBCUniversal portfolio, including CNBC, E!, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. It was announced earlier this year that NBCSN will cease operations at the end of 2021.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, NBCSN will display a slate to inform viewers about tune-in information. In addition, there will be extensive marketing and social media campaigns as well as content within telecasts to alert viewers about the situation. NBC Sports’ partners will also educate their fan bases about the change. Exact timing of the network’s decommissioning may vary based on distributors.

–NBC SPORTS—