FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

NBC AND GOLF CHANNEL ROLL OUT COVERAGE FIT FOR ‘THE KING’ AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

More than 40 Live Hours of News and Tournament Coverage on Tap This Week from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando

Golf Channel’s ‘Spotlight’ Coverage Returns This Weekend to Complement NBC’s Live Coverage

Pro Am Special Airs Wednesday; ‘School of Golf’ Produced on Site at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 19, 2013) – The next stop on the PGA TOUR is Orlando, Fla., home of Golf Channel’s studio headquarters and site of co-founder Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, where this week a stellar field will compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. The NBC Sports Group will dedicate nearly 80 total hours of news and tournament action, which includes 22 live hours of tournament coverage on NBC and Golf Channel.

22 HOURS OF LIVE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: Combined, live tournament coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard on NBC and Golf Channel will be unprecedented. Golf Channel will showcase a one-hour, pro-am special on Wednesday; six total hours of early rounds on Thursday and Friday; four total hours of coverage leading into NBC’s coverage on the weekend; and five hours of Spotlight coverage that will complement NBC’s weekend coverage. NBC will deliver a combined seven hours of live tournament coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC’s 18th tower broadcast teams will include Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo (Golf Channel), and Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller (NBC). For telecasts on both networks, Gary Koch and Peter Jacobsen will report from tower positions, while Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Notah Begay will walk with the players on the course. Steve Sands will conduct player interviews. Jimmy Roberts’ signature essays will be highlighted during weekend coverage.

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Air Times (all times Eastern):

Thursday- Friday 3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Saturday-Sunday 12:30-2:30 p.m. Golf Channel
2:30-6 p.m. NBC

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE AT BAY HILL: Golf Central will air in front of a live audience all week from Bay Hill. Golf Central will preview tournament week, and will lead in and out of live tournament coverage on Golf Channel. Golf Central also will air on NBC at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday prior to the network’s live coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Golf Central on-air team will include Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, Tim Rosaforte, Todd Lewis, Ryan Burr, Lara Baldesarra and Tripp Isenhour.

Live player news conferences from Bay Hill will air Wednesday afternoon.

PRO-AM SPECIAL: The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Pro-Am special will air Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET. Golf Channel reporters will roam Bay Hill during pro-am day, talking with pros in a more relaxing environment about their on-course preparations for tournament play and getting a tip or two along the way. Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo will host the pro-am show, with Steve Sands, Gary Koch and newcomer Ahmad Rashad talking with players on the course.

SPOTLIGHT COVERAGE RETURNS: While NBC delivers its award-winning coverage on the weekend, Golf Channel also will be on the air live with its exclusive Spotlight coverage, which will feature one of the best finishing three-hole stretches in golf – holes 16-18 at Bay Hill. The 18th hole, with its kidney-shaped green fronted by rocks and water, has proved one of the most treacherous approaches in the game for those who go pin hunting. Calling the action for Spotlight coverage will be Brian Hammons, joined by analyst Curt Byrum. Phil Parkin will be in a tower position and Phil Blackmar will report from the golf course. Todd Lewis will conduct post-round interviews.

Spotlight Air Times:

Saturday-Sunday 2:30-5 p.m. ET Golf Channel

INSTRUCTION: Golf Channel’s signature instructional programs, The Golf Fix and School of Golf focus this week on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Last night, Michael Breed visited Bay Hill to show viewers how to play the pivotal closing holes on The Golf Fix. School of Golf hosts Martin Hall and Holly Sonders will celebrate the swing of Arnold Palmer on Wednesday’s episode (7 p.m. ET), showing viewers what they can learn from Palmer’s unique swing, putting stroke and style of play. On the Range (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET) will take viewers to the driving range at Bay Hill to get an inside look and interviews about the practice routines and other preparations players will be making for tournament play.

MORNING DRIVE: An extensive list of players competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and other notable guests from the world of golf will appear on Morning Drive every day this week airing at 7 a.m. ET. Morning Drive will extend to 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and will air from 7-9 a.m. ET Thursday-Sunday.