Tee Time For Golf Channel HD
After Sharing Space With Versus, Channel Draws Dedicated HD Feed
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 12/6/2008 5:00:00 PM
After sharing channel space with Comcast Corp.-owned Versus, Golf Channel will tee off alone in high-definition Dec. 8.
With commitments from its parent, as well as DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox Communications, Verizon's FiOS TV and Cablevision Systems Corp., Golf Channel HD is expected to be in 12.5 million homes by January. Officials for the service said other operator deals are pending that could add another 3 million homes to that total.
Under the shared channel arrangement, Golf’s HD presentation had been limited to daytime hours, with Versus events in primetime. Now, those who missed live tournament action will be able to see it and other programming at night and throughout the programming day on Golf Channel HD.
The service figures to provide brilliant vistas with its four-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s first three 2009 stops: the Mercedes-Benz Championship from Kapalua’s picturesque Plantation Course on Maui, Hawaii, the Sony Open in Hawaii, and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic from Palm Springs, Calif.
All told, Golf plans to offer 750 hours in native HD during 2009, showcasing not only the PGA, but some LPGA and European Tour action, plus original productions. Those include upcoming series Golf in America and the highly anticipated show, Project Barkley with Hank Haney, in which the former NBAer gets much-needed swing help from Tiger Woods's current swing coach Hank Haney.
Factoring in encores, Golf has a minimum of 2,100 HD hours lined up for 209 a total that could grow as the network transitions its news coverage, topped by its Golf Central franchise, to the enhanced format by the close of next year.
Viewers checking out the improved picture-quality aside, Golf Channel will spread the HD gospel as part of its annual 2009 PGA Tour Kick-Off affiliate local ad sales initiative. To date, systems reaching 54 million homes are on board with the LAS effort, requiring that participants run taggable cross-channel spots touting the men’s tour and the network’s high-def presentation of the same. Moreover, there are taggable Golf Channel- themed product spots, trumpeting operators’ HD, high-speed, DVR and other advanced services.
The network, which counts some 82 million standard-definition subscribers, has also embarked on a PGA campaign that highlights its HD coverage, under an “Epic Drama” theme, with executions in print, TV and online.
-
Golf Channel had primetime coverage on the shared channel on Thurday and Friday nights.
Rob Tyska - 12/8/2008 8:10:00 AM EST
No related content found.
Featured Company
-
Telestream
Telestream products are used by the world's leading media and entertainment companies and corporations for transcoding and workflow automation. Telestream helps customers transform their media for multiplatform distribution to web, mobile, DVD, cable VOD, podcast and broadcast pl..more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
