Viewership Surge, Which Began with Last Year’s
NBCUniversal Merger, Attributed to Cross-Promotion, Higher Quality Programming & New Golf Storylines
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 28, 2012) – Golf Channel scored its most-watched June ever, capping the most-watched second quarter in the network’s 17-year history and the sixth consecutive quarter of record growth since becoming part of the NBC Sports Group. This viewership surge makes Golf Channel the fastest-growing network on U.S. television (among networks serving 80 million or more homes), according to data released by The Nielsen Company.
“There are a number of reasons we’ve continued to attract new viewers, but the most important is our commitment to quality,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. “We are making investments in quality programming and, in return, our loyal viewers are watching in record numbers. Those fans that wake up with Morning Drive come back for Feherty or On the Range in primetime. And, the unpredictable storylines from many of the game’s rising stars are really resonating with our viewers.”
Golf Channel averaged 115,000 viewers during June, which represents an increase of 37 percent over last year and 40 percent over 2010. The second quarter also averaged 115,000 viewers and topped the past two years by 29 percent and 34 percent, respectively. Though June, average viewers (116,000) are up 22 percent over the same period last year (95,000) and an impressive 51 percent over 2010 (77,000).
Five of the first six months of 2012 – and seven of eight months dating to November 2011 – have been “best ever” months on Golf Channel, meaning that viewership for each was the highest in Golf Channel history for that particular month of the year.
Month % Increase vs. 2011
June 2012- Most-Watched Ever 37%
May 2012- Most-Watched Ever 33%
April 2012- Most-Watched Ever 14%
March 2012- Most-Watched Ever 28%
February 2012- Most-Watched Ever 19%
Golf Channel also has excelled with news coverage during the biggest weeks on the golf calendar, which normally provide golf with the best opportunities of the year to attract casual fans to the sport.
Tournament % Increase vs. 2011
Masters Week 2012 - Most-Watched Ever 40%
PLAYERS Week 2012- Most-Watched Ever 42%
U.S. Open Week 2012 - Most-Watched Ever 31%
Golf Channel’s coverage of the Open Championship, the season’s third major from Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England, begins on July 16.
Since becoming part of the NBC Sports Group in January 2011, a sampling of Golf Channel achievements include:
- 2011 was the most-watched year in Golf Channel’s 17-year history.
- Three of six quarters have been “most-watched.”
- There have been seven most-watched months.
- Highest-rated and most-watched Opening Day of the PGA TOUR ever.
- Most-watched PGA TOUR round ever on Golf Channel (final round of AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am).