Golf Channel

Last updated

Golf Channel
Golf Channel Logo 2018.png
3D version of logo since 2014
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaUnited States
Canada
Caribbean
Europe
HeadquartersStamford, Connecticut
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner NBCUniversal (Comcast)
Parent NBC Sports Group
Sister channels NBC
NBC Sports Regional Networks
Universo
CNBC
USA Network
History
LaunchedJanuary 17, 1995;29 years ago (1995-01-17)
Links
Website www.golfchannel.com
Availability
Streaming media
Service(s) Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV, Fubo TV, Hulu with Live TV

Golf Channel (also verbally referred to as simply "Golf" or "NBC Golf") is an American sports television network owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, [1] it is currently based out of NBC Sports' headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

Contents

The channel focuses on coverage of the sport of golf, including live coverage of tournaments, as well as factual and instructional programming. It is the cable television rightsholder of the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and PGA European Tour, and also holds rights to selected USGA tournaments and the NCAA Division I golf championships. Since 2016, it has also participated in NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympics, focusing on its golf competitions.

Via the Golf Channel unit, Comcast also owns other golf-related businesses, including the course reservation service GolfNow, online golf instruction provider Revolution Golf, and the World Long Drive Championship. Some of these associated properties operate from the network's former home of Orlando, Florida.

As of September 2018, Golf Channel was available to approximately 70.3 million pay television households (76.2% of households with cable) in the United States. [2] As of June 2023, the channel was available in 61.0 million homes. [3]

History

The idea of a 24-hour golf network came from media entrepreneur Joseph E. Gibbs of Birmingham, Alabama, [4] who first thought of such a concept in 1991. [5] Gibbs felt there was enough interest in golf among the public to support such a network, and commissioned a Gallup Poll to see if his instincts were correct. With the support of the polling behind him, Gibbs and legendary golfer Arnold Palmer then secured $80 million in financing from several cable television providers (including Adelphia Communications Corporation, Cablevision Industries, Comcast, Continental Cablevision, Newhouse, and the Times Mirror Company) to launch the network, which was among the first subscription networks developed to cover one singular sport.

Announced in February 1993, [6] [7] [8] the launch date was targeted for May 1994; [1] and it was launched on January 17, 1995, as The Golf Channel with a ceremonial flip of the switch by co-founder Arnold Palmer. [9] [10] [11] The first live tournament the channel televised was the Dubai Desert Classic, held January 19–22. Originally a premium channel with limited subscribers, [12] it retooled in September 1995 to be part of basic-tier pay TV to reach more viewers, and ratings rapidly increased. [13] In 1996, Fox Cable Networks acquired a minority stake in the channel for $50 million. [14] [15]

From 1999 to 2001, Golf Channel held part of the PGA Tour's cable rights for early-round coverage. To boost their availability, Golf Channel reached an agreement with Fox Sports Networks (FSN) to air simulcasts of the coverage. In 2002, Golf Channel lost its rights to the main PGA Tour, but gained rights to the developmental Buy.com Tour. [16] [17] [18]

Acquisition by Comcast

In 2001, Fox sold its 30.9% stake in Golf Channel, as well as its stake in Outdoor Life Network, to minority owner Comcast as part of a larger transaction by Fox to acquire Comcast's stake in Speedvision. [14] [15] In December 2003, Comcast acquired the remaining 8.6% stake of Golf Channel it did not already own from the Tribune Company, giving it full ownership. [19] [20]

In January 2007, Golf Channel became the exclusive cable broadcaster of the PGA Tour as part of a new 15-year contract, replacing ESPN and USA Network. The contract included early-round coverage of all official money events, and 13 events per-season carried exclusively by the network. By then, Golf Channel had carriage in 75 million homes. [19] It also simplified its branding, dropping the article The from its on-air name. [21]

Concurrently, Comcast also launched Versus/Golf HD, a 1080i high definition channel featuring programming from Golf Channel and sister network Versus. Golf Channel programming was broadcast during the daytime hours, and Versus programming was broadcast during the evening and primetime hours. This arrangement ended in December 2008, when both networks launched their own 24-hour high-definition simulcasts. [22]

In March 2008, Comcast acquired the online golf reservation platform GolfNow. It was re-located to Golf Channel's headquarters in Orlando. [23] [24]

Merger with NBC Sports

In January 2011, Comcast acquired a 51% majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric. As a result of the re-alignment of Comcast's existing properties into NBC Universal, Golf Channel and sister sports network Versus were subsumed by a restructured NBC Sports division. On-air synergies between NBC's existing production unit began to take effect in February 2011 at the WGC Match Play Championship, when NBC's golf telecasts took on the Golf Channel branding as "Golf Channel on NBC", in a similar manner to ESPN's co-branding of sports output on ABC. NBC Sports personalities could now appear on Golf Channel, and former NBC Sports senior vice president Mike McCarley took over as the network's new head. The network also adopted an amended logo featuring the NBC peacock. [25]

In December 2013, Golf Channel unveiled a new logo, implemented in May 2014 to coincide with the 2014 Players Championship. The new logo replaces the "swinging G" emblem that had been used since the network's launch with a wordmark alongside the NBC peacock. The new logo was meant to provide a unified brand across Golf Channel's associated properties and services. [26] That month, it also partnered with Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio to feature audio simulcasts of its studio programming. [27]

In 2014, Golf Channel acquired rights to the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship. In 2015, it also began to broadcast the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships. In 2017, Golf Channel extended its rights to the tournaments through 2029. [28]

On June 8, 2015, it was announced that NBC Sports had acquired rights to The Open Championship beginning in 2017 under a 12-year deal; [29] after former broadcaster ESPN opted out of the final year of rights, NBC began coverage in 2016 instead. [30] Early round coverage is aired by Golf Channel, which marked the first time ever that Golf Channel had ever broadcast one of the four Men's major golf championships. [29] On May 3, 2016, NBC announced that Golf Channel would air the bulk of the men's and women's golf tournaments for the 2016 Summer Olympics, covering up to 300 hours of the tourney, with 130 of those hours live. [31]

In 2016, Golf Channel acquired the World Long Drivers Association, organizer of the World Long Drive Championships; coverage of its events were subsequently added to the network. [32] In 2017, Golf Channel acquired Revolution Golf, an online provider of golf instructional materials. [33]

January 14, 2018, broadcast technicians represented by IATSE went on strike affecting tournament coverage for the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, Web.com from the Bamahas and Diamond Resorts Invitational in Orlando. Ten days later the striking workers returned to work after a new contract was ratified on January 24, 2018. [34]

In February 2019, Golf Channel announced a new subscription service known as GolfPass. The service will feature a variety of content, including a streaming library of archive content, instructional content, as well as special offers (such as credit for free round of golf per-year, and a premium tier offering additional discounts). Rory McIlroy will also be involved in the service, hosting new instructional content for GolfPass, as well as an autobiographical web series. [35] [36]

In February 2020, it was reported that Golf Channel would consolidate its television operations with the remainder of NBC Sports at its facilities in Stamford, Connecticut, in a move expected to occur over the next 12 to 18 months. [37] The GolfNow and GolfPass services will continue to primarily operate from Orlando. With the move to Stamford, Golf Channel also ended its long-time morning show Morning Drive, replacing it with the new midday show Golf Today from Stamford beginning January 4, 2021. [38] [39]

In 2021, amid the renewal of NBC Sports' rights to the circuit, and the upcoming shutdown of long-time sister network NBCSN (the former Versus), NBCUniversal began to put a greater emphasis on Golf Channel's rights to the PGA Tour. That November, it was announced that early-round coverage of the Open Championship, U.S. Open (which moved to Golf Channel after NBC re-acquired the rights to USGA tournaments in 2020), and their women's counterparts, would move to USA Network in 2022. [40] At the 2022 Players Championship, Golf Channel adopted a special logo used on-air during PGA Tour telecasts and studio programming, which is co-branded with elements of the PGA Tour logo. [41] [42]

Programming

Event coverage

Golf Channel is the pay television rightsholder of the PGA Tour, broadcasting live coverage of early rounds, and early window coverage of weekend rounds prior to network television coverage. Some events (particularly, late-season events such as the former Fall Series, and additional events) are broadcast in their entirety by the network. Golf Channel airs primetime encores of each round during PGA Tour events, including network television broadcasts from NBC or CBS where applicable. Golf Channel also broadcasts coverage of PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour events. Outside of events organized by the PGA Tour, Golf Channel also carries coverage of the European Tour, LPGA Tour, and Asian Tour.

Golf Channel was the cable broadcaster of two of the men's majors, including the U.S. Open and other USGA championships (since June 2020) and the Open Championship (since 2016, including their women's and senior men's events). In November 2021, it was announced that early round coverage of the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the U.S. Women's Open, and the Women's British Open, would move to USA Network beginning in 2022. [40]

Since 2016, it participates in NBCUniversal's coverage of the Summer Olympics by covering its golf competitions. It has also carried coverage of the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup alongside NBC, and the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's golf championships.

Since its integration with NBC Sports, Golf Channel has been infrequently used as an overflow channel for non-golf programming, including two games of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs (due to programming conflicts with USA Network and CNBC), and as part of NBC's "Championship Sunday" effort to televise all matches on the final matchday of the Premier League soccer season. [43] [44]

News and analysis

Factual and reality

Instructional

Notable personalities

Golf Channel uses a number of people for tournament, news and instructional programming. [45]

Current personalities

[46] [47]

Hosts / Reporters

Analysts

Notable former personalities

Viewership

For the month of October 2013, Golf Channel averaged a daily viewership of 84,000. [56]

International version

Canada

The Golf Channel is also available in Canada on most cable and satellite providers, as it is authorized for carriage as a foreign cable television service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. While it mostly airs the American feed, live events coverage is subject to blackouts due to TSN holding many of its broadcasting rights domestically.

Poland

Golf Channel Poland (Polish Golf Channel Polska) is licensed version of the network owned by MWE Networks launched on March 18, 2017.

Golf Channel UK

A British version of the channel called Golf Channel UK was operated by sporting goods retailer JJB Sports, and was available on the BSkyB satellite service. It broadcast many of the programs seen on the U.S. channel, but was unable to attract a viable audience as it offered few live golf tournaments; the channel shut down on December 31, 2007.[ citation needed ]

Since the acquisition of Sky plc by Comcast in late-2018, NBC Sports properties have begun to increase their collaboration with Sky Sports for expanded coverage of relevant events; Golf Channel and Sky Sports Golf trialed on-air talent sharing and co-productions at the 2019 Players Championship. [57]

Golf Channel Latin America

The Latin American version of the Golf Channel was launched in 2006 as a DirecTV joint venture, and was acquired from DirecTV by former DirecTV executives Jason Markham and Evan Grayer together with Inversiones Bahia in 2018. [58] The channel broadcasts professional tournaments from the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, European Tour and LPGA Tour with Spanish-speaking journalists, as well as Golf Central and other English-language shows. [59] In 2019, Discovery bought the channel, but continues to license the brand and service marks for Golf Channel from Comcast. [60]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA Network</span> American pay television channel

USA Network is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network, one of the first national sports cable television channels, before being relaunched under its current name on April 9, 1980. Since then, USA steadily gained popularity through its original programming, a long-established partnership with WWF/WWE and, for many years, limited sports programming that increased significantly in 2022 after the shutdown of NBCSN.

E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable television network. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel focuses primarily on pop culture, celebrity based reality shows and movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Men's major golf championships</span> Four prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf

The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the major championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. Historically, the national open and amateur championships of Great Britain and the United States were regarded as the majors. With the rise of professional golf in the middle of the twentieth century, the majors came to refer to the most prestigious professional tournaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC Sports</span> Division of American broadcast network NBC

NBC Sports is an American programming division of the broadcast network NBC, owned and operated by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal and subsidiary of Comcast. The division is responsible for sports broadcasts on the network, and its dedicated national sports cable channels. Formerly operating as "a service of NBC News", it broadcasts a diverse array of sports events, including the French Open, the Premier League, the IndyCar Series, NASCAR, the National Football League (NFL), Notre Dame Fighting Irish college football, the Olympic Games, professional golf, the Tour de France and Thoroughbred racing, among others. Other programming from outside producers – such as coverage of the Ironman Triathlon – is also presented on the network through NBC Sports. With Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, its own cable sports networks were aligned with NBC Sports into a part of the division known as the NBC Sports Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Channel (American TV channel)</span> American television sports channel

Olympic Channel was an American pay television sports channel owned by the NBC Olympics, a joint venture between NBC Sports and the United States Olympic Committee. It was dedicated to Olympic sports, and was a franchise of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Channel operation.

Tennis Channel is an American sports-oriented digital cable and satellite television network owned by the Sinclair Television Group subsidiary of the Sinclair Broadcast Group. It is devoted to events and other programming related to the game of tennis, along with other racquet sports such as badminton, pickleball, and racquetball. Launched on May 15, 2003, the channel is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and produces its programming out of an HD-capable broadcast center in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City. Ken Solomon serves as the network's Chief Executive Officer.

Golf telecasts have aired on NBC since 1954, with some of its earliest telecasts having included the 1954 U.S. Open, and the first televised coverage of the Ryder Cup in 1959.

PGA Tour on CBS is the branding used for broadcasts of the PGA Tour that are produced by CBS Sports, the sports division of the CBS television network in the United States.

<i>PGA Tour on ABC</i> American TV series or program

PGA Tour on ABC was the de facto branding used for telecasts of the main professional golf tournaments of the PGA Tour on ABC Sports in the United States until 2006. ABC broadcast at least one PGA Tour event from 1962 to 2009, focusing before 1995 on the majors, with the network serving as the primary television partner of the PGA Tour from 1999 until 2006.

Golf coverage on ESPN has been a regular feature of the cable sports channels' programming since soon after ESPN's launch in the United States in 1979.

Golf on USA is the umbrella title for USA Network's coverage of the PGA Tour and other golf events. in the United States. USA Network's own coverage of the PGA Tour ended after the 2006 season. USA also covered the early rounds of The Masters Tournament from 1982 until 2007. The network also carried the Ryder Cup Matches regularly from 1989 until 2006, as well as overflow coverage in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast</span> Business transaction held from 2009 to 2013

On December 3, 2009, telecommunications company Comcast announced its intent to acquire mass media company NBC Universal from General Electric (GE). The acquisition was subject to scrutiny from activists and government officials; their concerns primarily surrounded the potential effects of the vertical integration that the acquisition could create, as Comcast is also heavily involved in cable television and internet services in many media markets. The deal went through on January 28, 2011, resulting in Comcast owning 51% of the company until March 19, 2013, when GE divested its stake to give Comcast sole ownership. Through this acquisition, Comcast gained ownership of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the film studio Universal Pictures, cable channels such as Syfy, CNBC and MSNBC, and Universal Parks & Resorts, among other assets owned by NBC Universal. It has also integrated its own cable channels – including E! and Golf Channel – into NBC Universal. As a result of the acquisition, NBC Universal slightly changed its name to "NBCUniversal", rendered in camel case, to indicate the integration between NBC and Universal Pictures.

NBCSN was an American sports television channel owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It originally launched on July 1, 1995, as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which was dedicated to programming primarily involving fishing, hunting, outdoor adventure programs, and outdoor sports. By the turn of the 21st century, OLN became better known for its extensive coverage of the Tour de France but eventually began covering more "mainstream" sporting events, resulting in its relaunch as Versus in September 2006.

Golf coverage on Fox Sports properties have occurred occasionally since 1999. From 1999 through 2002, its regional sports network group Fox Sports Networks (FSN) sub-licensed early-round coverage of PGA Tour events from Golf Channel.

The PGA Tour's broadcast television rights are held by CBS Sports and NBC Sports, under contracts most recently renewed in 2021 to last through 2030. While it considered invoking an option to opt out of its broadcast television contracts in 2017, the PGA Tour ultimately decided against doing so. Golf Channel has served as the pay television rightsholder of the PGA Tour since 2007, and its current contract will also expire in 2021. Under the contracts, CBS broadcasts weekend coverage for an average of 20 events per-season, and NBC broadcasts weekend coverage for an average of 10 events per-season. Golf Channel broadcasts early-round and weekend morning coverage of all events, as well as weekend coverage of events not broadcast on terrestrial television, and primetime encores of all events. Tournaments typically featured in NBC's package include marquee events such as The Players Championship, the final three tournaments of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and the biennial Presidents Cup event. The 2011 contract granted more extensive digital rights, as well as the ability for NBC to broadcast supplemental coverage of events on Golf Channel during its broadcast windows.

Following the dissolving of USA Sports into NBC Sports after the 2007 Masters, USA Network began deemphasizing sports. During this time NBC Sports properties generally only aired on USA in special cases, such as during the Olympics, Stanley Cup Playoffs or the final week of the English Premier League season.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cable golf channel on par with times". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, TX. June 29, 1993. p. 2B.
  2. Bucholtz, Andrew (September 10, 2018). "Nielsen coverage estimates for September see gains at ESPN networks, NBCSN, and NBA TV, drops at MLBN and NFLN". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  3. Robert Seidman (June 4, 2023). "How many homes the sports networks are available in". Internet Compost.
  4. Newberry, Paul (June 28, 1993). "Birmingham man plans 24-hour golf channel". Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL. Associated Press. p. B1.
  5. "Golf Channel co-founder resigns". Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, FL. Associated Press. October 17, 2001. p. 7D.
  6. Estes, Cary (June 13, 1993). "Can Golf Channel really work?". Sunday Telegraph. Nashua, NH. Scripps Howard News Service. p. C7.
  7. "Palmer to start golf channel". The Telegraph. Nashua, NH. Associated Press. February 11, 1993. p. 13.
  8. Winfrey, Lee (May 13, 1993). "Around-the-clock golf coming to cable soon". The News. Boca Raton, FL. Knight-Ridder Newspapers. p. 3C.
  9. "Palmer introduces all-golf network". Gainesville Sun. January 18, 1995. p. 3C.
  10. "The Golf Channel hits the air". Eugene Register-Guard. wire services. January 27, 1995. p. 2F.
  11. Winfrey, Lee. "Golf Channel tees off Tuesday, joining History Channel as new cable fare", Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, January 16, 1995.
  12. "Struggling golf channel slashes price structure". Toledo Blade. September 5, 1995. p. 32.
  13. Sirak, Ron (February 29, 1996). "The Golf Channel might be here to stay". Daily Courier. Prescott, AZ. Associated Press. p. 10A.
  14. 1 2 Dempsey, John (May 23, 2001). "Fox Cable, Comcast race for channels". Variety. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Farrell, Mike. "Golf, Outdoor Stakes Sold In Fox's Speedvision Race". Multichannel. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  16. "Fox Gets Left Out as PGA Signs Four-Year TV Deal". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1997. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  17. Ferguson, Doug (August 12, 2000). "The Golf Channel becomes Tiger TV". The Register Citizen. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  18. Barron, David (July 16, 2001). "PGA Tour signs lucrative TV rights deals". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Golf Channel swings into the big time". The Hollywood Reporter. January 20, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  20. "Company News; Comcast Buys Tribune's Stake in Golf Channel". The New York Times . December 12, 2003. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  21. Awtrey, Stan (January 10, 2007). "Tour tees up era on Golf Channel". Times-News. Hendersonville, NC. Cox News Service. p. 5E.
  22. Moss, Linda. "Comcast To Launch Three HD Nets, Including E!". Multichannel News. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  23. Peter Kafka (March 3, 2008). "Comcast Buying GolfNow.com". Business Insider. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  24. "Golf Channel Invests $1.9 Million To Expand Its Orlando, Florida, Headquarters". Area Development. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  25. Renyolds, Mike. "McCarley To Head Golf Channel, Davis Out At Versus In NBC Sports Group Reorg: Sources". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  26. "NBCU's Golf Channel Unveils New Logo". Deadline.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  27. "SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio Adds Golf Channel Programming". Radio World. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  28. "NCAA agrees long-term Golf Channel extension". SportsPro. August 29, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  29. 1 2 "NBC, Golf Channel ending ABC/ESPN British Open reign". Sports Business Journal. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  30. Ourand, John (October 12, 2015). "NBC getting British Open a year early". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  31. Baker, Liana (May 3, 2016). "Golf Channel unveils Olympics plans; NBC says 'no shows' to have regrets". Reuters. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  32. "Golf Channel isn't shorting Long Drive". Sports Business Journal. March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  33. "NBC/Golf Channel Acquires Digital Video Instruction Company Revolution Golf". August 7, 2017.
  34. "Golf Channel Cameramen Walk Amid Coverage of Sony Open". ESPN. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  35. "NBC Sports and Rory McIlroy launch a streaming service for golf nuts". Engadget. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  36. "Rory McIlroy teams with NBC Sports for GOLFPASS, a hybrid digital content and lifestyle subscription service". Awful Announcing. February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  37. Zimmerman, Kevin (March 3, 2020). "NBC moving Golf Channel HQ from Orlando to Stamford". Westfair Communications. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  38. "Golf Channel replaces 'Morning Drive' with new show, adds Shane Bacon to team". Golf Digest. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  39. "End of the road: Golf Channel says goodbye to 'Morning Drive'". Golfweek. December 20, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  40. 1 2 "NBC Sports to move some USGA, R&A golf programming to USA Network". Golfweek. November 2, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  41. "Golf Channel to unveil new PGA Tour-inspired logo". Golf. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  42. "Golf Channel introduces combined PGA Tour logo for select coverage". NewscastStudio. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  43. "How to watch all of Premier League's season finales". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  44. "Multiple NHL playoff games will air on Golf Channel, for some reason". Awful Announcing. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  45. "Golf Channel Archives". NBC Sports Pressbox. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  46. "Golf Channel Archives - NBC Sports Pressbox".
  47. "Golf - NBC Sports Pressbox". January 3, 2023.
  48. "Jerry Foltz leaves Golf Channel for LIV Golf". June 2, 2022.
  49. "Brian Hammons hangs up his mike – Fairways Golf & Travel". November 10, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  50. Sherman, Ed (May 13, 2002). "Golf Channel fans teed off at Kessler's exit". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Publishing . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  51. "'It hurts:' Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie open up about not having their NBC contracts renewed for 2023".
  52. Hoggard, Rex (January 28, 2006). "2006: Anchor away, Jennifer Mills". Golfweek. Gannett. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  53. "Tim Rosaforte, veteran writer and Golf Channel 'insider,' dies after Alzheimer's battle". January 12, 2022.
  54. "Holly Sonders Leaving Golf Channel". Golf Channel. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  55. "Hot Mic: NBC Golf adds Kathryn Tappen as lead interviewer for 2022". November 17, 2021.
  56. "NBCSN, Golf Channel & 'Sunday Night Football' Lead Major October Surge for NBC Sports Group Viewership". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. October 30, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  57. "The Players Championship to be simulcast on NBC Sports and Sky Sports". SportsPro. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  58. "Simple e Inversiones Bahia Adquieren Golf Channel". PrensarioInternacional. April 17, 2018.
  59. "Fanáticos del golf contarán un canal dedicado sólo a este deporte". Emol.com. October 12, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  60. Discovery acquires Golf Channel Latin America - Golf Digest, December 18, 2019