Nearly 100 interviews gathered for Jack, airing in primetime across consecutive nights; Starts Sunday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET following Golf Central Live from The Masters, continues through Tuesday, April 11; Jack will be presented with limited commercial interruption by Nationwide; Other sports “greats” to share perspective, reflecting on Nicklaus’ legacy
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 8, 2017) – Golf Channel today announced its next Golf Films project, Jack, a three-part biopic on record 18-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus, that will play out over three consecutive nights in primetime, beginning Sunday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET following Golf Central Live From the Masters. The film, presented by Nationwide, will feature limited commercial interruption.
“His work ethic, determination, focus, all of those things combined with
incredible talent, that’s a pretty lethal combination. Second to none.”
– Two-time Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback Peyton Manning
The product of nearly 100 interviews and hundreds of hours of archived film, Jack blends recollections from Nicklaus, as well as his playing competitors, family members, sports legends, business partners, and childhood friends, along with golf and sports media. Also included are signature moments from a storied career to capture the essence of an individual who forged a permanent mark as the most accomplished golfer of all-time. Additionally, Jack will feature other “Greats of All-Time” in their respective sport, each weighing in on Nicklaus’ impact on the larger sporting landscape, including Wayne Gretzky, Richard Petty, Jerry Rice, Annika Sorenstam and Kelly Slater.
“Jack is a project that Golf Films has spent years developing in order to comprehensively capture the career and legacy of golf’s most accomplished champion,” said Mike McCarley, president, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “At the heart of the film is a commitment to high-quality, personal detail captured through nearly 100 interview subjects recounting signature moments over the course of Nicklaus’ career in order to help shape a definitive biopic that accurately reflects Mr. Nicklaus’ legacy in golf and in sport.”
The three parts are segmented chronologically:
• Prodigy (Sunday, April 9 – 9 p.m. ET) – Beginning with Nicklaus’ childhood upbringing, highlighted by the Golden Bear’s relationship with his father (Charlie), meeting his wife (Barbara) in college at Ohio State, and his early successes as a professional golfer.
• Prime (Monday, April 10 – 9 p.m. ET) – The bulk of his on-course career accolades inside the ropes, led by his record 18 professional major championships and 73 PGA TOUR victories.
• Pinnacle (Tuesday, April 11 – 9 p.m. ET) – Focusing on his lasting legacy as an ambassador to the sport, the priority he placed on family, and his business and philanthropic endeavors, including global golf course design, and the hospitals bearing the Nicklaus name.
As a longtime partner of Nicklaus – as well as the sponsor of his Memorial Tournament – Columbus-based insurance and financial services company Nationwide will serve as the presenting sponsor of Jack, which will allow for the three-part film to air with limited commercial interruption.
“Jack Nicklaus is considered the greatest golfer to ever play the game, but his successes can be measured by more than just wins on the golf course,” said Steve Rasmussen, Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide. “Counted among his accomplishments is the work that he has done for charity, particularly with pediatric hospitals like Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide is proud to partner with Golf Channel to share Jack’s story with his fans and the world.”
“He was the best – always moved the needle. If you had anything
to gauge your game by, you looked at the Golden Bear.”
– Six-Time Major Champion Lee Trevino
Jack utilizes accounts from Nicklaus gathered over numerous sit-downs at his South Florida home during the past 18 months, and showcases an unprecedented video collection of rarely seen broadcast footage from his record 18 major championship victories. The film also offers unique, first-hand accounts from individuals on the grounds at different vantage points during each respective major victory. A section of the film additionally will pose the question of who is the greatest golfer of all-time, Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods, and feature insight from fellow Tour professionals and media, including consideration to whether Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors will ever be equaled, or broken.
The film will give viewers a sense of Nicklaus the competitor, offering insight from swing experts on the physical traits that poised him for sustained success, along with an examination from psychologists on his unyielding resolve to finish ahead of his contemporaries. Jack also will incorporate collectibles from the site of each of Nicklaus’ 18 major championship victories. Utilizing vintage items collected by Golf Channel to help tell the stories of the Golden Bear’s most identifiable achievements, items collected span from his first professional major title at age 22 in the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont through his final major at age 46 in the 1986 Masters, 24 years later.
Jack is being produced by Golf Films, led by 13-time Emmy Award-winning coordinating producer Israel DeHerrera, who also served as the lead producer for the critically acclaimed, three-part Arnie film in 2014 on Arnold Palmer, which stands as the most-watched original production in Golf Channel’s 22-year history. Other award-winning projects produced by Golf Films include the Emmy-nominated Payne, on the late Payne Stewart; Arnie & Me, a follow-up, fourth installment of Arnie; ’86, a chronicle of Nicklaus’ final major championship win at the 1986 Masters that aired to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his iconic win; and Ben Crenshaw: A Walk Through Augusta, on the two-time Masters champion, and his special relationship with the tournament.
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, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel Digital delivers unmatched coverage of the world of golf. Fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Channel Mobile and the NBC Sports App, both powered by Playmaker Media, 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.
ABOUT NATIONWIDE
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
Contact:
Jeff Szklinski
Golf Channel Communications
Jeff.Szklinski@golfchannel.com
407-248-3267