Golf Channel Anywhere, Any Device...Almost

As with ESPN, HBOGO and other entertainment apps, Golf Channel is announcing today expanded coverage via its app that allows for viewing of live coverage and original programming. All you need is a cable subscription or a friend's subscription or a cable company other than mine to access Golf Channel almost anywhere via smart phones or tablets.

For Immediate Release...

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 23, 2013) – Golf Live Extra, will begin live streaming Golf Channel 24/7 via “TV Everywhere” beginning Wednesday, April 24. Golf Live Extra, which is available via Golf Channel’s digital platforms on desktop, mobile and tablets, as well as on most digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, telco and other video subscription services, will stream Golf Channel around the clock, including the network’s coverage of tournaments, news, instruction and original programming.
 
“Golf Channel’s mission to connect the world to golf will be enhanced by Golf Live Extra making the same high-quality network available to golfers anywhere, anytime and on any device,” said Mike McCarley, President of Golf Channel and NBC Golf Media. “Golf Live Extra will satisfy golfers’ desire to watch Golf Channel on the best screen available, whether that is on their laptop on a business trip, a tablet on the driving range or a phone on their lunch break.”
 
Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Comcast Xfinity TV, DISH, Mediacom, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS are the first providers to offer this new service to their customers. It is anticipated that other subscription services will be added shortly. The vast majority of content on Golf Live Extra will be streamed only via “TV Everywhere” and made available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of Golf Channel’s distribution partners’ services.
 
Golf Channel, which logged the network’s most-watched year ever in 2012 and is off to its fastest start ever in 2013, provides viewers with high-quality content including:

· Tournament coverage from all the major tours including the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, European Tour and Champions Tour. Golf Channel has been streaming golf competition on the PGA TOUR since January 2013, via “TV Everywhere” on Golf Live Extra.

· News and analysis programming including Morning Drive, Golf Central, Live From and Grey Goose 19th Hole.

· Instructional series including Playing Lessons, School of Golf, The Golf Fix, and Golf Channel Academy.

· Original productions including Feherty, The Haney Project: Michael Phelps, Big Break and In Play with Jimmy Roberts.
 
“Golf Channel’s digital platforms have experienced tremendous growth since joining the NBC Sports Group in 2011 and Golf Live Extra furthers our mission to provide viewers the best golf content available, no matter where they are,” said Rick Cordella, SVP & GM, Digital Media, NBC Sports Group. “Live streaming of Golf Channel via Golf Live Extra offers another high-quality user experience that complements all of our other platforms, whether you want to follow the professional tours, get tips on how to improve your game, or get a unique perspective from the top personalities in golf.”
 
Golf Live Extra rounds out Golf Channel’s digital portfolio, which ranked #1 among all digital properties dedicated to golf in unique visitors in February and March according to comScore. Golf Channel’s digital portfolio currently includes:

· GolfChannel.com & Golf Channel Mobile: A leading resource for online coverage of golf, GolfChannel.com and Golf Channel Mobile logged their best quarter ever this past first quarter 2013, pulling in record numbers across all key metrics including visits and video starts.

· Golf Channel Academy App: The network’s mobile instructional application, which features Golf Channel’s extensive library of instructional videos and the ability to tap into the expertise of certified SwingFix instructors, anywhere, anytime on their mobile devices.

I can listen to Michael Breed yell anywhere, anytime! Hallelujah!

· GolfNow.com & GolfNow Mobile App: The largest and most comprehensive online tee time reservation service, GolfNow offers golfers more ways to stay connected to their favorite courses and tee times through the web, e-mail and iPhone and Android mobile apps.

· Golf Live Extra: Golf Channel’s live streaming product for desktop, mobile and tablets, Golf Live Extra provides live streaming of the linear TV network to authenticated subscribers.

Adam Scott's Impromptu Rendition Of "Come on Aussie!"

Many were wondering what Adam Scott screamed in his moment of triumph after sinking the birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the Masters. Just as CBS's Ian Baker-Finch nailed the interpretation--and great call by CBS to keep the Australian golfing great involved in the final moments of the telecast to lend perspective and emotion--it was "Come On Aussie."

John Strege reviews the telecast and other Sunday media, including the CBS announcers doing some impressive lip reading:

"Did I just lip-read him, 'come on Aussies?'" Faldo asked. A slow-motion replay confirmed it.

"There's a great song at home called 'Come On Aussie, Come on,'" Australian native Ian Baker-Finch said. "That's what we've all been saying."

Here's the first verse, a fitting ode to Scott and Australian golf:

"It's been a long time comin'
"To silence all that drummin'
"To show them that it wasn't just a dream."

In the post round press conference, yours truly asked for a confirmation. Here was Scott's answer:

Q.  On 18 in regulation, when you reacted, it looked like you were saying something; do you remember what you said?

ADAM SCOTT:  Yeah.  Come on, Aussie.  Yeah, that's right.  I did, yeah.  It was maybe a natural reaction.  That's from back in my cricket days probably.

I don't know if Steve appreciated me yelling that straight toward him (laughter) but whatever.  Maybe the one time he doesn't mind.

You can find that winning moment on the Masters.com video page somewhere, perhaps sitting through a highlight video that does not have a link.

Or you can wait a few hours and we can watch an unauthorized YouTube version through some person's iphone camera and television screen.

What is on YouTube is a fine rendition of "Come on Aussie."

Faldo, Chamblee Calling On Woods To "Man Up" & WD

Stunning contrast right now on Golf Channel and ESPN this wacky morning.

Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee right now are calling on Tiger Woods to "man up" (Faldo) and that he knows he gained an advantage, knows he broke the rule and has not yet withdrawn "sad" (Chamblee).

Both players made clear they believe he made a mistake, mixed up the rules and did not intentionally cheat.

ESPN meanwhile, with Andy North and Curtis Strange, have been lauding the committee's use of the Decision and that this is why the rule was created. Whether it was created for this reason though, is very much in dispute.

Costas: I'd have to discuss Augusta's "History of racism and sexism"

Appearing on Dan Patrick's radio show Friday, Bob Costas said he could never announce at The Masters because he'd be forced to discuss the club's past on the air.

DVR Alert: Nantz Remembers Crenshaw At The Masters

Glad I set the DVR before I left since the Nantz Remembers have never been anything but excellent and this one figures to be special.

For Immediate Release:

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR FEATURES
“JIM NANTZ REMEMBERS AUGUSTA: BEN CRENSHAW AT THE MASTERS®”
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 14
 
CBS Sports broadcasts a CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR special JIM NANTZ REMEMBERS

AUGUSTA: BEN CRENSHAW AT THE MASTERS® on Sunday, April 14 (1:00-2:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.   Jim Nantz, this year covering his 28th Masters for CBS Sports, and 26th as host, looks back at the career of one of the tournament’s most revered champions, Ben Crenshaw. 
 
From his debut in 1973 when he finished as low amateur, his first green jacket in 1984, and his emotional triumph in 1995, Crenshaw's journey has been a remarkable ride.  It all began in Austin, Texas where he learned the game from one of its greatest teachers, Harvey Penick.  The bond that developed between the two men was a love that carried beyond the golf course, and in one magical week in 1995 they showed the world what love could do.
 
“Ben Crenshaw embodies the history of golf and this tournament,” said Nantz.  “He learned the game from one of its greatest teachers.  His emotional Masters win in 1995 became the ultimate tribute to his mentor who had passed away earlier that week.” 
 
The one-hour special includes a conversation with Crenshaw as he joins Nantz in looking back at his memorable moments and glorious triumphs at Augusta.
 
JIM NANTZ REMEMBERS AUGUSTA: BEN CRENSHAW AT THE MASTERS is produced and directed by Chris Svendsen.  The Executive Producer is Jim Nantz.

Tiger Giving Telecasts A 60% Boost These Days

Matthew Futterman files a WSJ look at the state of Tiger and big business.

Down the piece a bit, and after considering what the sport faced in 2008-09, Futterman looks at the Tiger-fueled recovery and includes this on 2012 and 2013 television ratings:

CBS has seen television viewership for golf rise steadily. Audiences for final-round coverage of tour events averaged 3.5 million in 2012, 46% higher than in 2010. So far this year, an average of 4.1 million viewers have watched final-round coverage of the network's three tournament broadcasts. NBC's audiences grew to 3.4 million viewers last year, from 2.3 million in 2010.

Mr. Woods's participation in tournaments still has a big effect—but not as big as it once did. In 2012, his participation in a final round boosted viewership by 60%, compared with 118% in 2009.

Strange: Nike Man Curtis Lashes At Rory Critics, Appears To Have Forgotten His Similarly Disastrous Equipment Switch!

Curtis Strange, on a conference call to promote his work as part of ESPN's Masters announce team, says Johnny and Sir Nick have been "so out of line, so out of touch with club manufacturers now" in criticizing (here and here) Rory McIlroy's wholesale club switch.

Tony Jimenez of Reuters reports on the comments from the former Macgregor man who turned to Maruman man after winning two U.S. Opens…and never won again.

Thanks to reader Lloyd for the link and reminder of Strange's strange move.

Nantz's Crazy Busy Season Is Here...

Ed Sherman talks about Jim Nantz's one-two punch of working the NCAA Final Four and the Masters.

Though he doesn't reveal how he gets to Augusta so quickly after the national title game, we're going to assume NetJets is in the Hello Friends Hall of Fame.

Nantz operates at a frenetic pace as he tries to talk to as many players as he can. The biggest obstacle, he says, will be the players wanting to talk to him about the NCAA tournament instead of chatting about themselves.

“I’m not going there to observe the birds and check out the flora,” Nantz said. “I’m looking for fresh information. I’m running the whole time. I don’t sit down for a meal that week.”

Holly Sonders Admits: She Has Trouble Saying Rory McIlroy

This news, which most had not noticed but will now, along with revelations can be seen in promo video set to rejected-reality show music for the Morning Drive star's Golf Digest photo shoot.

Sonders appears on the cover of the May fitness-themed issue which I've already seen on the newstand in my neighborhood.

Bay Hill Viral Video Update: Sergio Tops 3 Million

Some of you know golf has been a tad slow to embrace The YouTube. The most glaring example is in Augusta, where clips of Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen's epic shots from last year's Masters remain unfindable except in really bad bootleg form (here and here). Not surprisingly, the number of views are shockingly small.

So here's a follow up for the stakeholders, proud enforcers of rightsholders television contracts, who might still have doubts about YouTube and its ability to generate interest in the game, attention for players, and impressions for sponsors.

At Bay Hill last week we saw some amazing moments and a few of them went viral or semi viral. These aren't Gangham numbers, but you have to start somewhere. And I'm guessing Mastercard enjoyed having their brand noticed by over 3 million or so pairs of eyes. Just a guess.

Sergio climbs tree at Bay Hill to hit shot video; 3,003,132 views

Nicholas Thompson's barefoot water shot: 578,782 views

Even Matt Every's water hazard eagle is up to: 106,741 views

Silva Named Back9Network Head, Confirms Channel Still Exists

For Immediate Release from the "lifestyle multiplatform television network and media company" which named a new president today, Carlos Silva.

The channel's mission, elaborated on in its press release, sounds like a noble one. Minus the "hang" part.

Back9Network was developed as a complementary alternative to traditional media's focus on professional golf tournament coverage. Focused on compelling storytelling, interesting personalities, features and fashions, interviews and instruction, travel, gear and so much more, fans of all kinds will want to hang with the Back9Network.