Par 3 Broadcast Part Of Masters Move To Reach Younger Audience
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(l to r) Player, Nicklaus And Palmer Premiere
Group During Yesterday's Par 3 Contest |
ESPN yesterday aired The Masters' annual Par 3 Contest, the first time the event has been televised, and it is "really the ultimate made-for-TV event," according to John Paul Newport of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The event featured Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player playing together, and "most of the younger competitors with families let their young children caddie and take an occasional putt." The decision to broadcast the Par 3 is part of Masters Chair Billy Payne's "initiative to open up the game to the rising generations of golf fans" (WSJ.com, 4/9). GOLF.com's Cameron Morfit wrote under the header, "First-Ever Airing Makes Par-3 Contest Must-Tee TV." Morfit noted the event could "potentially be even better television than the regular tournament -- well, at least the boring parts of the regular tournament. ... It was great TV." CBS' David Feherty said before the broadcast, "It'll change the perception that golf is old and stodgy" (GOLF.com, 4/9). On Long Island, Mark Herrmann wrote the idea of broadcasting the Par 3 was part of Augusta National's "attempt at reaching a younger audience," which includes allowing some children in for free. Herrmann: "The Par 3 Contest is more of a 'now' than a 'then' event" (NEWSDAY, 4/10).
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ESPN Exec Says Broadcast Of
Par 3 Contest Was About Kids |
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL: In Augusta, Steven Uhles yesterday watched the Par 3 Contest from inside ESPN's production trailer, and writes the show "bears many of the hallmarks of a traditional Masters Tournament broadcast, while focusing on the lighter aspects" of the Par 3 event. ESPN Managing Producer of Creative Content Julie McGlove: "Par-3 is actually easier to work on because it is so much more relaxed. It also helped that this broadcast was about kids." Uhles notes as the broadcast went live yesterday, conversation in the trailer "immediately turns to small corrections. One voice in the darkness says the wrong graphic is being used," but for the most part, the "feedback is positive" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/10). THE DAILY Staff Writers Erik Swanson and Brian Helfrich yesterday tracked the Par 3's live video feed available on Masters.org, and noted the "most striking aspect of the feed was the outstanding picture." To read the full review of Augusta Live's feed, visit SportsBusinessDaily.com (THE DAILY).
ESPN'S COVERAGE: ESPN's coverage of the first two rounds of The Masters begins today at 4:00pm ET. Payne yesterday said ESPN "will be very respectful of the tradition of The Masters." Payne: "We have discussed at length how we would like for them to portray The Masters." When asked if the net's coverage of yesterday's Par 3 Contest could be a sign of more full-round weekend coverage in the future, Payne said: "I don’t think it's the beginning of more full-round coverage." He added he "never had a discussion" with ESPN about Chris Berman not being part of the net's coverage. Payne: "We don't tell our broadcast partners who their on-air talent can be" (THE DAILY). In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes, "Why is there so much controversy and consternation surrounding ESPN's broadcast of the first two rounds of the Masters?" There has been "way too much silly discussion in recent days about the Masters on the verge of being 'ESPN-ized.' ... Does anybody really believe the big dogs at Augusta National would allow a TV network to come in and make a mockery of their revered [event]?" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/10). In Dallas, Barry Horn writes under the header, "ESPN Won't Wrinkle Those Green Jackets" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/10). But in Georgia, Adam Van Brimmer writes Berman's absence is "glaring," as he is part of ESPN's U.S. Open coverage, "not to mention the face of the network." Also, for "all the apparent safeguards against the ESPN-ization of the Masters, one has to worry about the network's influence in the future" (SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS, 4/10).
NEXT ON THE CONSOLE, AUGUSTA? Payne said during his annual pre-tournament press conference he has considered the possibility of creating a Masters videogame. Payne: "Maybe that's the next logical step if these [youth] initiatives get some traction; another way to capture the interest, and so we are trying to stay ahead of the technology, so I would not be truthful if I didn't tell you that we have looked into that. But we are far from making any decision about it." However, he added, "We are not going to be included on other people's videogames" (THE DAILY).
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