This in from the NBC Sports Group, Golf Channel will produce a live pregame show for NBC that will a half-hour prior to the third and final rounds of the Tour Championship, the year-ending tournament that will “crown” a winner of the PGA Tour’s playoffs that no one really understands or gets.
In any event, Golf Channel and NBC will have the next three tournaments under the FedEx Cup and coverage will be integrated among the two entities that are part of the NBC Sports Group. Let’s see what the press release says about the whole thing.
GOLF CHANNEL TO PRODUCE NBC PRE-GAME SHOW AS NETWORKS CONTINUE INTEGRATION DURING PGA TOUR PLAYOFFS
‘Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship’ to air Prior to NBC Coverage
Fifth Edition of ‘Golf Talk Live’ with Golf Channel and NBC Personalities to Follow the Final Round of the TOUR ChampionshipORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2011) – NBC will air Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship preceding NBC’s Saturday and Sunday coverage of the 3rd and final rounds of the TOUR Championship. The announcement was made today by Golf Channel President Mike McCarley.
The half-hour pre-game shows will be a first for golf coverage on broadcast television and will air Sept. 24-25. Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship will be produced by Golf Channel and will originate from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The shows will feature Golf Channel and “Golf Channel on NBC” personalities Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Steve Sands.
“The integration between NBC and Golf Channel is creating more coverage of golf and more choices for fans of the game. These shows will allow us the opportunity to tell more of the notable stories that surround the TOUR Championship just as the leaders begin their final rounds,” McCarley said. “We look forward to covering the TOUR Championship with an unprecedented approach to a golf pre-game show on NBC.”
The Golf Central Live From the TOUR Championship shows on NBC not only will tell the stories of the TOUR Championship and the season-long points race that determines who wins the FedExCup and its $10 million payday, but also allows viewers to be introduced to the history of East Lake Golf Club, the home course of legendary golfer Bobby Jones, and the incredible story of the revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood which, through the works of visionary philanthropist Tom Cousins, has been transformed from one of the nation’s worst public housing projects into a thriving community.
NBC Sports Group the TOUR Championship TV Coverage (all times ET):
Thurs., Sept. 22
Tournament 1-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Tournament 7 p.m.-Midnight (replay) Golf ChannelFri., Sept. 23
Tournament 1-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Tournament 7-10 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelSat. Sept. 24
Tournament 1-2 p.m. Golf Channel
Golf Central 1:30-2 p.m. NBC
Tournament 2-6 p.m. NBC
Tournament 10 p.m.- Midnight (replay) Golf ChannelSun. Sept. 25
Tournament Noon-1:30 p.m. Golf Channel
Golf Central 1-1:30 p.m. NBC
Tournament 1:30-6 p.m. NBC
Tournament 10 p.m.-Midnight (replay) Golf Channel
Golf Talk Live Following Final Round Golf ChannelProduction plans for the TOUR Championship also include a fifth edition of Golf Talk Live, a roundtable show featuring Golf Channel and “Golf Channel on NBC” personalities discussing current issues inside the world of golf. The live show will air on Golf Channel following NBC’s coverage of the final round of the TOUR Championship.
Further utilizing the Golf Channel brand on NBC marks yet another step to integrate Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ golf coverage. Earlier this year, all golf coverage on NBC was re-branded as “Golf Channel on NBC.” The coverage incorporates the Golf Channel look throughout every telecast, down to the logo on the NBC Sports commentators’ apparel. Golf Channel’s tournament graphics are showcased throughout all coverage, which now includes a custom-made Golf Channel-NBC peacock combination logo.
As Golf Channel continues its coverage of the PGA TOUR Playoffs this week, plans for NBC to air pre-game shows signals the next phase of the network’s integration with the NBC Sports Group. With Dustin Johnson’s victory at The Barclays this past weekend – the first of four Playoff events – the NBC Sports Group this week will take over coverage of the remaining three tournaments, beginning this week with the Deutsche Bank Championship, which has a special Monday finish due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. Golf Channel will carry early-round coverage on Friday and Saturday, with NBC taking over for the final two rounds on Sunday and Monday.
NBC Sports Group PGA TOUR Playoffs Tournament Coverage (all times ET):
Deutsche Bank Championship
Fri., Sept. 2
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelSat., Sept. 3
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelSun., Sept. 4
1-3 p.m. Golf Channel
3-6 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelMon., Sept. 5
Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel
2-6 p.m. NBC
8-10 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelBMW Championship
Thurs., Sept. 15
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelFri., Sept. 16
3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
8:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelSat., Sept. 17
10 a.m.-Noon Golf Channel
Noon-3:30 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf ChannelSun., Sept. 18
Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel
2-6 p.m. NBC
9:30-11:30 p.m. (replay) Golf Channel
And that will end the posts for tonight.
