Player Commitments, Timeline And Major Buy-In For PGA Tour's Netflix Entry

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Dylan Dethier of Golf.com had the most details on Wednesday’s news surrounding golf’s Drive To Success clone green lit by Netflix.

While it’ll get the PGA Tour headlines, production has barely begun. So as I noted in The Quadrilateral, there are several surprises, including the buy-in from the Five Families. Or that so many players committed and so much information is being shared with so little “in the can”.

Dethier said the first interviews just occurred and we probably can’t expect the docuseries for a year. And there was this on editorial control:

“We do not have editorial control,” a Tour spokesperson said. “We will be involved to the extent that Netflix and the producers have the access they need to film at our events. We want them to make a great show, and we all agree the documentary needs to be as authentic as possible.”

The enthusiasm of Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been crucial in getting to this point. People familiar with the process were impressed with his open-mindedness and that he became a crucial voice in bringing the project to market.

“Everything that I’ve experienced so far is that the Tour is fully invested in making the realest possible reality,” said one source close to negotiations.

Open-mindedness=ok with F bombs as long as they’re on Netflix.

Again, it’s a long ways off…

While both Netflix and the Tour declined to comment on an official release date, filming will continue through the end of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, wrapping with the Tour Championship at the end of August. Following the model of Drive to Survive, the show’s first episodes will likely be released as hype builds for the following Tour season in early 2023. In other words, golf fans may not see any of this footage for another year. They’ll hope the show is worth waiting for.

Players committed to the project as Tweeted by the Tour:

ESPN+'s PGA Tour Live Appears To Deliver A Streaming Breakthrough For Golf

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This stubborn cable subscriber has been looking for streaming to show it can be better and mostly it’s been a clunkier version of the same picture quality. But the debut of ESPN+ coverage last week offered stunning pictures, fun multicasting and a clear path for golf's streaming future. I explain here.

Plus, a word on Kapalua's record scoring and how players clearly are not missing their green reading books or 46-inch-plus driver shafts.

The item is here for all to read because I was just so happy after watching the Rams and Chargers lose in devastating fashion. You can read more here on The Quad in 2022.

Ratings: 2021 PNC Championship Up Big!

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Tiger and Charlie beat 2020 Tiger and Charlie!

According to Showbuzzdaily.com, the 2021 PNC Championship final round drew a Nielsen 1.43 overnight, with an average of 2.23 million viewers and 404,000 of the cap-on-backwards demo.

The 2020 edition featuring Team Woods and 19 other teams drew a Sunday .98 rating and 1.5 million/280,000 non-AARPers.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, December 16, 2021

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Actual Grow The Game Files: Notah Begay Junior Golf National Championship On Golf Channel

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While a lot of Tour pros think they are growing the game by their mere presence in exotic dictatorships where public beheadings are a thing, others are actually trying to grow the game.

On Wednesday December 8th from 7-9 p.m. ET, Golf Channel airs the Notah Begay Junior Golf National Championship. It’s the culmination of a two-stage, 30 regional effort to reach the finals. Named after and started by the former Tour player and NBC analyst along with former Golf Channel colleague Ryan Burr, who will be part of ESPN+’s PGA Tour Live Coverage team in 2022.

Burr’s son is an accomplished junior golfer and like many exposed to that world, wondered if there was a better way to help kids get tournament experience and seen by coaches without some of the AJGA’s excess. He pitched the concept to Begay who has long given back to various causes, including junior golf.

This will be the second time the event airs on television and gives some older juniors a chance to shine. Last year Lance Christensen got some attention with a 357 yard drive and ended up getting a golf scholarship to New Mexico State.

The National Championship played 54-holes with four divisions: Boys 14-18, Boys 13 & Under, Girls 14-18 and Girls 13 & Under. 

More impressive is the encouragement of participation by kids and the promise to pick up entry fees if they can’t afford it. They are also offering a giveaway of free entry fees for the entire Begay Junior Golf Tour schedule for the lucky kid who answers a trivia question. Nice work guys.

Ratings: The Match Up A Bit When Factoring In Channels You've Never Heard Of; World Challenge Down

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All the numbers are in from the various places The Match V aired—including NHLN and the dreaded TruTV we only use in March—and Brooks Koepka against Bryson DeChambeau did more than fine.

According to Paulsen at Sports Media Watch, the final tally across all platforms gave them an increase in viewership...

— averaged 1.2 million viewers across TBS, TNT, TruTV and NHLN, up 13% from last year’s Black Friday edition (1.0M). Compared to the previous edition of “The Match” in July, viewership fell 29% from 1.7 million.

The July Match is a different beast due to the pandemic, but the increase over Phil Mickelson with Curry, Manning and Barkley is a win for Turner.

Meanwhile the 2021 Hero World Challenge included Tiger Woods booth visits and less-than-subtle range sessions, but no on course play as was the case in 2019. This translated to declines, especially with the coveted-demo. I blame the lack of Live Under Par messaging.

From Showbuzzdaily, the 2021 Hero’s .59/955k/183k vs. its last playing in 2019 drawing .91/1.3 million/254k:

More Details About PGA Tour Live On ESPN+: 4300 Hours, 15-Person Announce Team And Continued Coverage During Network Windows

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As the new year and new TV deal are close, the PGA Tour and ESPN+ are rolling out more details of their ambitious coverage plans.

Standout elements of this figure to be Featured Hole coverage (assuming the right holes are selected), the early “Main Feed” essentially providing a traditional broadcast prior to Golf Channel’s coverage, the Marquee Group and the continuation of Featured Groups (depending on the groups) when the Golf Channel, NBC and CBS take over.

Whether ESPN influences any of this or some experimental efforts ala Peyton and Eli, remains to be seen. But at $6.99 a month, plus access to ESPN+’s Masters and PGA Championship feeds, along with +’s other offerings, it’s a steal for fans.

TOUR, ESPN+ Announce Details of Expanded and Extended Coverage Beginning in January 

PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ set to launch January 2022

Four new streaming feeds more than triples live coverage 

to more than 4,300 exclusive hours

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – ESPN+ and PGA TOUR announced details for the inaugural season of PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, with extended and expanded coverage that more than triples the total coverage – adding more than 3,200 new hours of live streaming available for a total of more than 4,300 exclusive hours. All PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ coverage will be available to ESPN+’s more than 17.1 million subscribers.

In 2022, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will include live coverage of 35 tournaments – from the TOUR’s Hawaii events in January all the way through the FedExCup Playoffs and into the fall – with at least 28 events having four full days of coverage and four simultaneous live feeds each day. 

“The start of the PGA TOUR in 2022 will tee off a new and exciting opportunity for fans to watch the best golfers in the world,” said Burke Magnus, President, Programming and Original Entertainment, ESPN. “The new and expanded PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ is an incredible offering for golf fans – with more than three times the coverage from last season, while also bringing them access to thousands of other sporting events and original programming, all for $6.99 per month.”

With the launch of PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ comes new streaming feeds that will bring expanded coverage of events totaling more than 4,300 exclusive hours. Beginning with The American Express (January 20-23, 2022), PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will offer fans four live feeds for each tournament: 

  • Main Feed: primary tournament-coverage featuring the best action from across the course;

  • Marquee Group: new “marquee group” showcasing every shot from each player in the group;

  • Featured Groups: traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups;

  • Featured Holes: a combination of par-3s and iconic or pivotal holes.

When network television coverage begins, the four streams will pivot to two featured groups and two featured holes so fans can continue to engage with PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ in addition to the telecast.

Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer, PGA TOUR said, “The PGA TOUR couldn’t be more excited to launch a new era in content delivery with Disney and ESPN+, which will greatly expand and diversify our audience reach. There will be more content available to our fans than ever before with an exciting and diverse group of on-air talent delivering the action.

This expanded, unprecedented coverage, with over-the-top (OTT) streaming and emerging technologies moving to ESPN+, is part of the TOUR’s new nine-year domestic media rights portfolio announced in March 2020. 

The weekly production crew behind PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will increase from approximately 85 people to more than 210, with 16 cameras on the course, and a 15-person talent crew calling the action across the four channels. The expanded talent roster is still being finalized and will include current studio hosts John Swantek, Jonathan Coachman, Lisa Cornwell and Ned Michaels and on-course analysts Christina Kim, Karen Stupples, Mark Immelman, Chantel McCabe, Mark Wilson, Stuart Appleby and Michael Collins.

“We are excited about the growth of PGA TOUR LIVE and the opportunity to reach a larger audience on ESPN+,” said PGA TOUR Vice President and Executive Producer Greg Hopfe. “Four separately produced streams will showcase more action than ever before from top players and fan-favorite holes at each tournament. We look forward to being able to share nearly every shot from golf fans’ favorite players on ESPN+.”

PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will cover both early January Hawaii events – Sentry Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii – for the first time with Featured Groups coverage in the mornings, followed by Featured Holes in the afternoons. 

The complete four feed PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ offering will begin at The American Express. For more information, please visit frequently asked questions about PGA TOUR LIVE.    

PGA TOUR LIVE originally launched in 2015. ESPN+, launched in 2018, has grown to reach 17.1 million subscribers. The combined PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will provide significant growth opportunities for PGA TOUR content via ESPN+’s digital reach, innovative platform and young and diverse audiences.  

PGA TOUR LIVE will be part of any ESPN+ subscription, at no additional cost, alongside more than 15,000 other live sporting events, acclaimed studio programs, original series and documentaries and a library of other on demand programming.

Golf programming on ESPN+ also includes The Masters (115 hours of live coverage, plus 50 hours of The Masters Films from 1960-2020), The PGA Championship (200 hours of live coverage, plus 30 hours of library and classic programming), as well as the original series America’s Caddie with Michael Collins, which will return in 2022 with new episodes throughout the PGA TOUR season. 

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com for just $6.99/month or $69.99/year. It is also part of The Disney Bundle, a one-stop streaming subscription offer that gives customers access to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $13.99/month. 

Rankin Winding Down Her 2022 Schedule, Golf Channel Producer Hutter Stepping Down

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The LPGA will see two huge changes to their broadcast presentation in 2022, with Judy Rankin confirming plans to only do four events in 2022 before retiring. If there were a broadcast wing to the World Golf Hall of Fame she’d re-enter the Hall for her incredible tenure at ABC/ESPN/Golf Channel. While she’s often lauded for breaking gender barriers, golf fans just know her as a steady, smart and reliable broadcasting presence. She’s been ABC/ESPN’s lead on-course reporter and easily transitioned to lead analyst duties when needed, the primary role Rankin played covering the LPGA in recent years.

GolfDigest.com’s Kent Paisley on Rankin confirming the news while accepting the Commissioner’s Award at the Rolex Awards.

"I'm coming to the end of my time," said Rankin, who turns 77 next February. "I'm not going to do a Brett Favre and retire about four times. I am seriously slowing down. I don't know how much their will be after this, at some point I will see you next year."

Rankin received tributes from many of her broadcasting and golf colleagues prior to speaking.

You can see it all starting at the 1:09 mark in this broadcast of the awards.

More surprising was the tribute paid by emcee Tom Abbott to Golf Channel’s LPGA producer Beth Hutter, who he announced was finishing her run with this weekend’s CME Group Tour Championship to spend more time with her family. The Abbott tribute can be viewed at the 9:22 mark.

Hutter received much attention in 2021 as the first woman to lead a major championship production and more recently was the subject of coverage when Golf Channel featured an all-female broadcast team at October’s Shop-Rite event. Multiple stories noted the moment but did not mention any plans to step aside at year’s end to spend more time with family. I’ve asked Golf Channel for comment on what is a shame for viewers, as Hutter got the most out of shrinking resources and brought fresh perspectives to audiences that helped differentiate LPGA coverage.

The USGA highlighted Hutter’s groundbreaking role in this pieced helmed by Bailey Chamblee:

Ratings: Schwab Cup Beats Out The Houston Open Flatbellies

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That could be a fun band name: the Houston Open Flatbellies. Too bad in this case the name represents the never younger, more athletic, more popular PGA Tour fall collection of tournaments buoyed by FedExCup points but still losing to the geezers. Who says the Champions Tour is dead?

There is some positive news for golf: TNT’s Wednesday prime time hockey game pulled up the rear for the second week in a row, but still crushed golf in the only demo that matters.

Showbuzzdaily.com posted the 2021 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open ratings (.15/222,000 average viewers of which only 32,000 are of the magical 18-49 demo). Remember, I am not responsible for carpel tunnel caused by scrolling down to find the golf where, you’ll see the flatbellies were beaten by the Schwab Cup Championship featuring Phil Mickelson winning and Bernhard Langer capping off his sixth cup win.

Wanted: Captain Willing To Helm S.S. Golf Channel As It's Listing

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Thanks to the crack reader who reminds me it’s really time I spent more time on LinkedIn.

Seems Golf Channel needs an SVP to report to EP Molly Solomon while the once-grand ship is listing even after throwing the USGA and R&A over to the wrestling and rerun channel because it’s leaking homes and overall, not appearing to try any longer.

Anyway, here’s the job ad if you’re looking for something in Stamford. And I’d plan on renting if you get the job.

About the job

Responsibilities

Overview: The SVP, Golf Production is responsible for managing the production, both studio and remote, for the 24/7 sports network, Golf Channel. This role will report to the Executive Producer, Golf.

Based: Position will be based in Stamford, CT. Will be required to travel

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee remote production of 80+ annual live tournaments and drive remote production transformation using new technology and transmission workflows

• Responsible for production, talent, and operations budgets for tournaments and studio programming on Golf Channel & Peacock

• Work with NBC Sports technology leaders to identify on-screen golf technology, analytics, and on-screen information

• Work closely with Tours to identify and develop next generation of on-air tournament and studio announcers

• Provide announcer and production feedback to studio and tournament teams to improve their impact

• Oversee News and Features team to assist in daily planning, budget and execution

• Work closely with GolfPass team to align Instruction and lifestyle content

• Work with Peacock content team to find increased synergies and live golf content opportunities

• Works with Executive Producer and EVP, Programming and Partnerships on maintaining close communication with governing bodies of golf 



Qualifications/Requirements

• Minimum 15 years experience in network or cable sports production

• Experience in working with and maintaining partnerships with governing sporting bodies

• Must have a strong knowledge of Golf and the Tours

• Experience in building content strategies in partnership with other core departments

• Experience in managing budgets



Desired Characteristics

• Proven success in building and developing on-air talent

• Professional history in network sports

• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment

• Demonstrates executive-level presentation, leadership and interpersonal skills

• Strong understanding of building content strategies

• BA/BS or equivalent experience



USGA, R&A Early Coverage Headed To USA Network; Is Golf Channel's End Near?

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Sports Business Journal's shocking reveal suggests the end is near for Arnold Palmer's bold vision.

As I explain in this Quadrilateral item, it may be too late to save the channel. But man, what are the USGA and R&A thinking as they get relegated to the place where reruns go to die?

**And the press release…

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.)

2021 ZOZO, Other Fall Golf Events Fail To Draw A Rating

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The ZOZO moved back to Japan after a one-year stop at Sherwood and without Tiger Woods contending, apparently off all radar screens.

Showbuzzdaily’s weekly roundup included no detectable golf broadcast ratings for Hideki Matsuyama’s ZOZO win, Jin Young Ko’s BMW Ladies Championship win, or Bernhard Langer’s historic Dominion Energy Classic win, all on Golf Channel.

But I’m sure the streaming numbers were yuuuuuge!

The last time the ZOZO was played in Japan, Tiger won the 2019 edition and drew pretty solid numbers for late night viewing:

Rory's CJ Cup Win Draws A Small And Annoyed Audience

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The fall wraparound schedule’s dismal ratings were predicted from the outset and remain awful even after the addition of FedExCup points. As if anyone besides family and friends care. Even that is debatable.

The tiny audiences are even manageable if sponsors are willing to pay millions for the privilege of a pro-am round or in the case of the CJ Cup in normal times, bringing the PGA Tour to Korea. But with all sports returning to normal and golf having given viewers more than enough “product” over the last 18 months, something extraordinary must happen to draw a decent audience when going against college football, the NFL, MLB playoffs, WNBA playoffs, NHL and Premier League soccer.

Theoretically, such a rare event occurred at the CJ Cup, where Rickie Fowler led through 54-holes in his quest to win again after a quiet two years. Add Rory McIlroy and reigning Open Champion Collin Morikawa into the mix of pursuers, and this one had something.

But as we now know, the Champions Tour ran 39 minutes late and without a reliable online feed or PGA Tour Live Featured Group coverage, momentum stalled and the day will remembered more for the struggle to actually see any of these young stars play golf.

As Showbuzzdaily.com notes, golf was again at the bottom of the weekend sports ratings by a lot, with the Champions not making the list of discernable audiences. The CJ Cup, with its 5 pm ET scheduled start, at least drew an average audience of 648,000, with just 92,000 of those in the coveted demo.

That was good enough, however, to beat out the 9:05 ET Air Force-Boise State game for non-cataracts-dotted eyeballs.

The 2020 CJ Cup was also played in Las Vegas and drew a 589,000/105,000 for a .36). The Champions also drew ratings last year, unlike 2021.

There is happy ending: executives at the PGA Tour and Golf Channel have reached out to fans, media and sponsors to ensure this scheduling fiasco does not happen again. After all, mistakes do happen who knew the Champions would take that long and…wait, wrong people. My bad. They haven’t said a peep.

Wouldn’t you love to make six or seven figures and not give a hoot about the product you sell or the customers you want to reach?