Let's Be Consistent Here
Can we come to a consensus on how The Golf Channel is doing in broadcasting PGA Tour events? In the Detroit Free Press, Carlos Monarrez (someone I almost automatically disagree with on any golf issue) says that TGC's coverage is lackluster. Larry Bohannan at the Desert Sun in Palm Springs, CA, thinks that TGC looks pretty sharp.
Look, there can be varying opinions on golf media. I loved ABC's coverage the most (RIP), but some people love the CBS golf team - meanwhile, I've thrown them under the bus on a few occasions (see: commentary archives). But there is no way that TGC's coverage is as bad as Monarrez thinks, and Bohannan glosses over the broadcast too quickly and it too happy with the AimPoint feature.
TGC is learning how to put on a broadcast that is on par with those of their network counterparts. Their effort is clearly better than what ESPN was putting out in the past few years. There are glitches, Kelly Tilghman and Faldo are still gaining chemistry. Rocco Mediate is still learning to broadcast. And Rich Lerner isn't Jack Whitaker, but you can't ask him to be that.
Regardless, the ratings came out for the broadcast of the Mercedes. It was a 44% drop from last year. Can't say that I'm surprised by that number. Let's not pin this on TGC yet. Did anyone see ad time bought by TGC and the PGA Tour that said where we could find the Mercedes? I didn't think so. The message will get out, and things will be fine. But you can kiss goodbye the days of when random sports fans hoping for World Series of Poker reruns stick around to watch PGA Tour golf. That may account for 20% right there...
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