NBC/Golf Channel this morning debuted as the rights holder for the British Open after the tournament for 55 years had aired on ABC/ESPN, and the R&A acknowledged the "primary reason" for moving the tournament to NBCU was to "put the event in front of a broader audience," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. The early morning start of the tournament "hurts its audience regardless of whether it is on cable or broadcast TV." No final round on ESPN since it took over exclusive coverage in '10 "approached the average of 5.5 million viewers who saw Stewart Cink defeat Tom Watson" in a playoff in '09 on ABC. NBC is not expected to draw an audience "nearly as large on Sunday, but it is likely to exceed the 2.8 million who saw last year's rain-delayed final round and playoff won by Zach Johnson on a Monday." In the pairing of NBC and Golf Channel, the R&A saw a "chance to ally itself with a major broadcast and niche cable network devoted to golf even though it has notably fewer subscribers than ESPN" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/14).
MAJOR COVERAGE PLANS: The Open marks NBC's first major since losing the rights to the U.S Open following the '14 tourney, and GOLF.com's Cameron Morfit noted viewers will be "treated to record coverage -- nearly 50 hours of live golf" on NBC and Golf Channel. They will have 99 cameras -- 44 "dedicated solely to NBC and the rest dedicated to the world feed." Eleven cameras are focused on the 8th hole alone, including "at least one in each of the five bunkers around the so-called 'Postage Stamp' green." A wire-cam similar to the one on the island green at TPC Sawgrass will "zoom viewers from tee to green." To measure the inevitable British Open wind direction and speed, NBC will "deploy ultrasound technology used by the British national sailing team" (GOLF.com, 7/12). Golf Channel Exec Producer Molly Solomon noted the "storyline at the Open is always the weather," so the net is "really focusing on how we really enhance the storytelling around link-style golf." She said, "The physical elements play a part every single year, so we've created some cutting edge wind technology, where we're putting out ultrasound win detectors across the golf course. We'll have real-time data that's going to show you what the golfers are taking into account as they hit shots" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 7/13).
DEBUTING WITH STYLE: GOLF DIGEST's Geoff Shackelford noted Golf Channel as part of its first major tournament will offer a "staggering 14 1/2 hours on Thursday and Friday, followed by the first three hours each weekend day." Producer Brandt Packer is overseeing the "world feed-based telecasts, which mixes the jointly produced feed with NBC/Golf Channel-specific elements and voices." NBC's usual on-air team of Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller, Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch and Mark Rolfing will now be joined by David Feherty and Nick Faldo, as they both will "rotate as lead analyst with Miller." David Duval, who is playing at Royal Troon this week, will be part of Golf Channel's "wrap-up coverage" today and tomorrow (GOLFDIGEST.com, 7/12).
