FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

NBC Sports Group to Air Nearly 100 Hours of Live Programming Around THE PLAYERS Championship

33 Hours of Live Tournament Coverage on Golf Channel, NBC

Weekend Spotlight Coverage to Showcase Dramatic Closing Stretch of Holes 16-18

ORLANDO, Fla., (May 6, 2014) – NBC Sports Group will dedicate nearly 100 hours to live programming surrounding THE PLAYERS Championship this week, including 33 hours of live tournament coverage on Golf Channel and NBC. Golf Channel’s Live From THE PLAYERS will include 43 hours of live comprehensive news coverage and tournament analysis both on-site at TPC Sawgrass and from Golf Channel’s studios throughout the week. Morning Drive, the network’s daily news and lifestyle show, also will dedicate 20 hours of live news coverage around the tournament.

PGA TOUR

THE PLAYERS Championship
Dates: May 8-11

Venue: TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         1-7 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Friday              1-7 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Saturday          12:30-2 p.m. (Live) / 2-6 p.m. (Live, Spotlight Coverage)

Sunday            12:30-2 p.m. (Live) / 2-6 p.m. (Live, Spotlight Coverage)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday          2-7 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            2-7 p.m. (Live)

Live from THE PLAYERS Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Tuesday           7-9 p.m. (Live)

Wednesday     9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Live)

Thursday         9 a.m.-1 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Live)

Friday              9 a.m.-1 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Live)

Saturday          9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Nearly 100 Hours of Live Programming around THE PLAYERS: Golf Channel and NBC will combine to provide 33 hours of live tournament coverage Thursday-Sunday. Golf Channel’s Live From THE PLAYERS will include 43 hours of live news and tournament analysis from TPC Sawgrass and from Golf Channel’s studios. Morning Drive will offer early news coverage to kick off each day, and recap the biggest storylines from the previous day.

Unique Production Elements: Golf Channel and NBC will focus on every conceivable angle of the famous par-3 17th island-green, utilizing a total of nine high-definition cameras, including a microscope lens embedded along the lip of the small pot bunker that fronts the green. The popular “Actioncam” also returns, offering versatile angles courtesy of a cable-suspended camera system moving back-and-forth across the lake between the 16th and 17th greens. Golf Channel and NBC also will feature a number of specially-manned camera positions, including a lifted crane set 150 feet in the air providing overhead camera shots of the 16th, 17th and 18th holes. A camera operator also will be positioned on the small island near the 17th green, capturing player reactions from across the lake.

Spotlight Coverage Returns to Showcase Holes 16-18: Golf Channel’s weekend Spotlight coverage returns this week, focusing on the closing three-hole stretch at TPC Sawgrass (holes 16-18). Coverage will be highlighted by special production elements, including ProTracer, which uses graphics to track the flight of the ball in real time; and TrackMan, a technology that measures club-head speed, ball speed and carry distance.

Enhanced Viewer Engagement: Golf Channel viewers will be invited to take part in a special second-screen experience, premiering for the first time this week during  Live From THE PLAYERS. The network will incorporate a polling technology called iPowow into live segments, giving fans an opportunity to actively participate in Golf Channel programming through a computer or mobile device. Only Internet access is required, making the process simple for anyone to use. Viewers will be invited by Golf Channel on-air personalities to answer poll questions on a variety of topics, which they can then track second-by-second at GolfChannel.com/vote.

Special Features Airing within Live From THE PLAYERS:

  • Sergio – One year after a controversial and disappointing PLAYERS Championship appearance, Sergio Garcia discusses his subsequent personal journey. Rich Lerner explores how close Garcia (at 34 years old) has become to the golfer and the star the golf world thought he could be 15 years ago.
  • Bubba’s Victor Tour – After capturing his second green jacket, Masters Champion Bubba Watson takes Golf Channel on an exclusive, all-access trip to his alma mater – University of Georgia – his hometown and his high school, among other stops along the way.
  • Norman’s Epic Round – It’s the 20th anniversary of Norman’s record-breaking round at TPC Sawgrass that won him THE PLAYERS Championship by eight strokes. Norman and then playing partner Fuzzy Zoeller remember the day and what it was like conquering Pete Dye’s architectural masterpiece.
  • Diving 17 – Thousands of golf balls drown in the water surrounding TPC Sawgrass’ famous 17th green every year, and Matt Ginella takes a dive to discover how these gems are retrieved.
  • The Fifth Major? – It’s a question asked every year – should THE PLAYERS Championship be declared a major championship? This feature examines what constitutes a major and talks to players about their views on this event.

Headlining the Field: Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker.

Golf Channel / NBC Sports Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)

Analyst: Nick Faldo (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)

Tower: Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen

On Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing / Phil Parkin

Interviews: Steve Sands

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

Golf Channel Spotlight Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Randy Moss

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: Craig Perks

On Course: Scott McCarron

Live from THE PLAYERS Broadcast Team:

On-site

Host : Rich Lerner / Kelly Tilghman / Ryan Burr

Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Frank Nobilo / Brad Faxon / Mark Rolfing / Nick Faldo

Reporter: Tim Rosaforte / Todd Lewis / Steve Burkowski / Rex Hoggard / John Feinstein

In-studio

Host: George Savaricas / Lisa Cornwell

Analyst: Steve Flesch / Tripp Isenhour

-NBC Sports Group-