An Open Championship (U.S.) TV Primer
/It can be a little tricky figuring out broadcast times, but things are getting simpler with ESPN going live on all, gulp, platforms. If you want simple, golf.com posts a basic viewing guide.
Here is ESPN's schedule, all times ET:
Thu., July 14 First Round 4 a.m.to 3 p.m. ESPN. ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Thu., July 14 The Open Championship Today 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ESPN
Thu., July 14 Best of The Open Championship 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ESPN
Same schedule for Fri., July 15
Sat., July 16 Best of The Open Championship 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. ESPN2
Sat., July 16 Third Round 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ESPN, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Sat., July 16 The Open Championship Today 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ABC
Sat., July 16 Best of The Open Championship 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ESPNSun., July 17 Final Round 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ESPN, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Sun., July 17 The Open Championship Today 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ABC
Sun., July 17 Best of The Open Championship 7 p.m.to 10 p.m. ESPN2
Mon., July 18 Best of The Open Championship 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ESPN2
As for the announce team and technology:
For the 15th consecutive year, Mike Tirico will host ESPN’s live telecasts from the Open Championship. ESPN’s team will include five-time Open Championship winner Tom Watson (eight major titles), two-time U.S. Open champions Curtis Strange and Andy North, 1993 PGA champion Paul Azinger and 1973 Open Champion Tom Weiskopf. The BBC’s legendary golf announcer Peter Alliss also will contribute to ESPN’s coverage.
Scott Van Pelt and Terry Gannon also will serve as hosts, with Van Pelt, Strange and Sean McDonough working as hole announcers. On-course reporters will be North, Bill Kratzert and Olin Browne, while reporter Tom Rinaldi will conduct interviews and ESPN The Magazine’s Rick Reilly will present essays.
ESPN’s technology for The Open Championship will include “Perfect Path,” which tracks drives on five holes from behind and in front of the drive, and “Putt Zone,” which shows the path the player needs to hole a putt. Putt Zone will be used on the 4th, 9th and 13th holes. ESPN will have 42 dedicated cameras to complement the world feed and will utilize announcer touch screens for scoring information, course maps, and weather as well as ORAD, an enhanced telestrator for analysis.
Regarding Golf Channel...
Open Championship Week Programming (all times ET)
Wednesday, July 13 Morning Drive 7-11 a.m. Grey Goose 19th Hole 8:30-9:30 p.m. Live From Royal St. George’s 2-4 p.m. (news conferences)Live From Royal St. George’s 6-8 p.m.
Thursday-Friday, July 14-15 Morning Drive 7-11 a.m. Live From Royal St. George’s 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 Live From the Royal St. George’s 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, July 17 Live From Royal St. George’s 1:30-2 p.m. Live From Royal St. George’s 7-9 p.m.
And something called LiveStream is touting coverage as well:
A team of presenters that includes Dominic Holyer and Georgie Bingham will grant viewers live access to the unique atmosphere of The Open, wherever they are in the world, as well as coverage of post-round press conferences, exclusive interviews and analysis of all the golfing action. Beginning on Wednesday, July 13 at 6am ET/3am PT, viewers for the first time ever will have the chance to enjoy the intimate experience that The Open creates for spectators. The five days of exclusive coverage will provide behind-the-scenes access that includes interaction with presenters, guests and other fans throughout the globe. Viewers are invited to join us live on the green at http://www.livestream.com/theopenchampionship.
