VIEWER-FAVORITE BIG BREAK REALITY COMPETITION SERIES RETURNS TO GOLF CHANNEL
NEW GOLFPASS VIDEO MEMBERSHIP LAUNCHES WITH FREE TRIAL OFFER, UNLOCKING A VAST ARCHIVE TO FEAST ON BIG BREAK AND COUNTLESS HOURS OF VARIED ENTERTAINMENT
Ground-Breaking and Compelling, Big Break Showcased Thrilling Competitions, from Iconic Glass-Break Challenge to the Dreaded Flop Wall, with Memorable Characters over 23 Seasons
GOLFPASS Offers Big Break, Along with a Video Library of Entertainment Choices, as Well as On-Demand Instructional Videos from Top Pros and Their Teachers
ORLANDO, Fla. – Big Break, the original competition series that broke new ground in television entertainment in 2003 and ran for a record-breaking 23 seasons, is back on GOLF Channel and new on GOLFPASS.
Starting Monday, March 30, on GOLF Channel, fans who have long-awaited for their Big Break fix can finally feast on episodes from every season of the hit series and hang on every critical shot from a hit-list of competitors – some who became larger-than-life characters with pop-star-like followings, while others kick-started a new pro-tour career.
The first Big Break Monday will feature the full season of Big Break II: Las Vegas, which featured the affable “Big Mike,” mischievous David Gunas and straight-laced Bart Lower – but highlighted by the compelling duel of clubs and words between Kip Henley and Don Donatello. A full-season marathon of every episode will begin Monday at 7 a.m. ET, continuing through 6 p.m. ET, followed by the last three hours encoring in primetime at 8 p.m. ET. Subsequent Big Break seasons will follow on Big Break Mondays, with full-season marathons airing during the day and the final three hours typically replaying in primetime starting Monday, April 13 following Masters week on GOLF Channel.
New GOLFPASS Video Membership Celebrates Big Break Return,
Unlocks 2-Month Free Trial
GOLFPASS, golf’s only comprehensive digital membership offering everything golfers love about the game, is celebrating the return of Big Break with an offer to access its vast library of premium entertainment and instructional videos for free through a complimentary two-month trial of the newly launched GOLFPASS Video membership.
Starting Friday, March 27, anyone can enjoy a vast video library of GOLFPASS originals, like My Roots and Lessons with a Champion Golfer, as well as a robust video archive spanning historic competitions, award-winning franchises like Emmy-nominated Feherty, GOLF Films, the Rory & Carson Podcast, and more. Available immediately and ready for binge-watching is Big Break season one, with subsequent seasons from the Big Break archive scheduled to premiere on GOLFPASS each Friday.
Also included in the free, two-month video membership is an unmatched collection of on-demand instructional videos featuring many of the world’s elite coaches, including Michael Bannon (Rory McIlroy’s coach), Sean Foley (Justin Rose’s coach) and Chris Como, and tips from golf legends like Paul Azinger, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam. Also featured are golf-specific fitness and training programs, including Core Golf with Don Saladino.
Big Break Became a Viewer Sensation
The Big Break series concept, which was at the forefront of the reality competition craze started by Survivor in the late 1990’s, features professional golfers competing in skills challenges that test their physical abilities and mental toughness, finding themselves in situations when these words from legendary golfer Ben Hogan were never proven more true: “The most important shot in golf is the next one.” On Big Break, the competitors must perform or be eliminated.
Champions from each season of Big Break received his or her “big break,” exemption(s) to compete on the world’s top professional tours. Big Break provided break-out opportunities for current tour professionals, including Wesley Bryan, Matt Every, Tony Finau, Tommy Gainey, Kristy McPherson, Ryann O’Toole, Gerina Piller, Jackie Stoelting and Richy Werenski.
The series also featured other memorable characters like Danielle Amiee (Big Break III: Ladies Only), Sara Brown (Big Break Sandals Resorts), Mark Farnham (Big Break I), Eddie Gardino (Big Break IV: USA vs Europe), Andrew Giuliani (Big Break Disney Golf), Mark Murphy (Big Break Ireland), Blair O’Neal (Big Break Prince Edward Island), Chad Pfeifer (Big Break The Palm Beaches), Anthony Rodriguez (Big Break VIII: Mesquite) and Bri Vega (Big Break VI: Trump National), among many others.
GOLF Channel Upcoming “Big Break Mondays” Programming Schedule
Monday, March 30 Big Break II: Las Vegas
Monday, April 13 Big Break Sandals Resorts
Monday, April 20 Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe
Monday, April 27 Big Break Prince Edward Island
Monday, May 4 Big Break III: Ladies Only
GOLFPASS Big Break Programming:
Available to Stream Now Big Break 1
Friday, March 27 Big Break II: Las Vegas / Big Break III: Ladies Only
About NBC Sports Group’s GOLF Division
NBC Sports Group’s GOLF division delivers multimedia golf content, technology and services. Anchored by GOLF Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 – GOLF Channel content is available to nearly 500 million viewers in nine languages across more than 70 countries around the world. GOLF features more live coverage of the sport than all other U.S. networks combined, including global tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, European Tour, NCAA, THE PLAYERS, The Open, Olympics, Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage from the world of golf via GOLF Channel Digital, fans can access 24/7 live streaming through the NBC Sports App, as well as complementary coverage via PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold. In addition, NBC Sports connects the world to golf through a wide array of technology and lifestyle services, including: GOLFNOW, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform; GOLF Business Solutions, solving business needs through leading technology, marketing and services; GOLFPASS, an all-in-one digital membership delivering comprehensive benefits tailored to the modern golfer’s lifestyle; GOLF Advisor, the ultimate digital destination for the traveling golfer, featuring the largest number of user-generated golf course ratings and reviews in the industry; and GOLF Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour. GOLF’s global reach originates from its world headquarters in Orlando, Fla., and extends to its international office in Belfast, Northern Ireland; regional offices across North America, Europe and Australia; and also includes collaborations with Sky Sports and serving as the Official Media Partner of St Andrews Links.
About GOLFPASS
GOLFPASS is the only comprehensive digital golf membership that delivers exclusive content and comprehensive benefits tailored to the modern golfer’s lifestyle across five pillars – Play, Learn, Watch, Travel and Shop – which are the most frequent ways golfers engage with the sport. Developed in partnership between global golf superstar Rory McIlroy and NBC Sports Group, GOLFPASS is a first-of-its-kind, direct-to-consumer subscription program, which offers opportunities to play more golf, comprehensive tools to improve any golfer’s game, high-quality video content, and enhanced shopping and travel experiences. A GOLFPASS membership is available in North America at GOLFPASS.com, in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland at GOLFPASS.co.uk, and in Australia at GOLFPASS.com.au. The GOLFPASS membership also is available via connected TV, iOS and Android apps.
-NBC Sports Group-
Media Contacts:
Jeremy Friedman
GOLF Channel Communications
Jeremy.Friedman@GOLFChannel.com
407-721-9752
Dan Higgins
GOLF Channel Communications
Dan.Higgins@GOLFChannel.com
407-496-8107
