From first tee shot to final putt, NBC Sports’ live coverage includes
Golf Channel’s first-ever telecast of a men’s major championship
and return of The Open to broadcast television on NBC
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2016) – With the most live hours of tournament coverage ever dedicated to one of golf’s major championships, The R&A and NBC Sports Group’s long-term media partnership kicks off its inaugural year with a record number of planned programming hours. The 145TH Open will return to U.S. live broadcast coverage through Golf Channel and NBC’s nearly 140 hours of television coverage from Royal Troon Golf Club throughout the week. It also will represent Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship.
“The unprecedented coverage of The Open will provide a unique showcase of the world’s best golfers on an iconic links course, navigating the often dramatic weather conditions and ultimately adding to the history that embodies golf’s original championship,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “We’re honored to provide complete coverage of The Open for the first time on Golf Channel and NBC. Fans will be able to see the opening tee shot through the final putt, culminating with the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ raising the Claret Jug.”
“We are delighted to be working with NBC Sports Group and are looking forward to their comprehensive coverage of The 145TH Open,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Our fans in the United States will be able to enjoy every shot over the four days of the Championship and will be part of a true celebration of golf at Royal Troon.”
NBC Sports Group Tournament Coverage: 78.5 Total Hours: NBC Sports Group will devote 49.5 live hours of tournament coverage to The 145TH Open from July 14-17, including 14.5 live hours on Golf Channel over each of the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday; 10.5 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the third round on Saturday; and 10 live hours across Golf Channel and NBC during the final round on Sunday. In total, NBC Sports Group will provide 78.5 hours, including the live coverage of all four rounds, as well as two highlight specials on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, and encore presentations of each round on Golf Channel. All coverage will be streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra and Golf Live Extra, and additional digital extensions will be announced at a later date.
Golf Channel’s Wraparound News with Golf Central Live From The Open: 59 Total Hours: Golf Channel’s signature news programs, Morning Drive and Golf Central Live From The Open, will provide 31.5 live hours of comprehensive news coverage the week of The Open. Golf Central’s Live From The Open will be onsite throughout the week with 25.5 live hours from Royal Troon, which will be hosting The Open for the ninth time in its history. Morning Drive will kick things off from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET before The Open’s first round to lead into live coverage of the opening tee shot. Coverage will be complemented by comprehensive news and highlights via NBC Sports Digital, Golf Channel Digital and social media platforms throughout the week.
Tournament Team: In order to cover this unprecedented coverage of a major championship, Johnny Miller (1976 Open Champion), Nick Faldo (1987, 1990, 1992 Open Champion) and Frank Nobilo will rotate as lead analyst in the 18th tower. In addition, a team of NBC Sports’ analysts will contribute to the nearly 50 hours of coverage, including David Feherty, Peter Jacobsen, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Tom Abbott, Notah Begay, Billy Ray Brown, Curt Byrum, and Jerry Foltz. And Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon, Jimmy Roberts, Steve Sands and Todd Lewis will handle announcing and reporting duties.
Golf Central’s Live From The Open Team: Golf Central Live From The Open will be hosted by Rich Lerner and Ryan Burr, while Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Frank Nobilo, Notah Begay and Mark Rolfing will serve as analysts, along with David Duval (2001 Open Champion), who also will be competing in the event. Golf Channel Insiders Tim Rosaforte and Rex Hoggard will provide insight on the field, and Todd Lewis and Steve Burkowski will provide daily reports and conduct player interviews throughout the week.
NBC Sports’ Unprecedented 12-Week Stretch of Golf, including The Senior Open Championship & Women’s British Open: The Open kicks off NBC Sports’ three-week stretch of consecutive R&A events this summer. Golf Channel and NBC will carry live coverage of The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, July 21-24, and the RICOH Women’s British Open, July 28-31. The Open also will commence NBC Sports’ unprecedented 12-week stretch of premier golf events, including the Rio Olympics, PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, and Ryder Cup.
NBC Sports Group Live Programming at the 145TH Open (All Times EST)
Monday, July 11 Golf Central Live From The Open 9-11 a.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 7-9 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12 Golf Central Live From The Open 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday, July 13 Golf Central Live From The Open 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 7-9 p.m.
Morning Drive 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Thursday, July 14 The 145TH Open – Round 1 1:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 4-5 p.m.
Friday, July 15 The 145TH Open – Round 2 1:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 4-5 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 The 145TH Open – Round 3 4-7 a.m.
The 145TH Open – Round 3 – NBC 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Open Highlights Special – NBC 4-6 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 2:30-3 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 8-9 p.m.
Sunday, July 17 The 145TH Open – Final Round 4-7 a.m.
The 145TH Open – Final Round – NBC 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Open Highlights Special – NBC 4-6 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 2-3 p.m.
Golf Central Live From The Open 6-7 p.m.
ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available in more than 200 million homes in 84 countries and 11 languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open Championship, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel’s digital platforms, headed by GolfChannel.com, deliver unmatched coverage of the world of golf. Fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Live Extra and NBC Sports Live Extra and select programming is simulcast via SiriusXM’s PGA TOUR Radio. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour.
Contact:
Jeff Szklinski
Golf Channel Communications
814-880-6933
Jeff.Szklinski@golfchannel.com
David Schaefer
Golf Channel Communications
407-429-8402
David.Schaefer@golfchannel.com
