PGAT ratings.....

[Titleist99]

I'm sure there's a thread for this subject, but I'm too lazy to research it..... 

 

This article sheds some light on media rights and ratings. The NBA is going through the same thing as the PGAT, only on a much larger scale. The PGAT is giving the Networks a bargain even though they received a 400% raise in 2022. The PGAT does not have to merge with anyone, but they choose to out of greed or out of responsibility to the membership—that's debatable.

 

Ratings don't matter, their contract is valid until 2030 unless the PGAT has an out clause. Not even the stupidest negotiator would give the Networks an outclause. IMO

 

Do Sagging NBA Ratings Really Matter?

[bcjim]

3 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

I'm sure there's a thread for this subject, but I'm too lazy to research it..... 

 

This article sheds some light on media rights and ratings. The NBA is going through the same thing as the PGAT, only on a much larger scale. The PGAT is giving the Networks a bargain even though they received a 400% raise in 2022. The PGAT does not have to merge with anyone, but they choose to out of greed or out of responsibility to the membership—that's debatable.

 

Ratings don't matter, their contract is valid until 2030 unless the PGAT has an out clause. Not even the stupidest negotiator would give the Networks an outclause. IMO

 

Do Sagging NBA Ratings Really Matter?

There is speculation the tour could move to produce more of its own content.  They just hired Azinger to be the lead analyst for the senior tour. He'll be doing it from the media center at PGATour HQ. Won't even be at the site of the event,  cost cutting, streamlining...  If the Tour already does the production (for senior events) and now has the announcing done by employees,  the only thing they need a network for is market access. If they can get their own channel on enough screens, they don't need a network partner. They can sell the ads and keep all the money.  

 

 

[Chunkitgood]

Apres nous, le deluge.

[StoutKing]

6 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

I'm sure there's a thread for this subject, but I'm too lazy to research it..... 

 

This article sheds some light on media rights and ratings. The NBA is going through the same thing as the PGAT, only on a much larger scale. The PGAT is giving the Networks a bargain even though they received a 400% raise in 2022. The PGAT does not have to merge with anyone, but they choose to out of greed or out of responsibility to the membership—that's debatable.

 

Ratings don't matter, their contract is valid until 2030 unless the PGAT has an out clause. Not even the stupidest negotiator would give the Networks an outclause. IMO

 

Do Sagging NBA Ratings Really Matter?

I personally enjoy watching golf and I have nothing against the tour.  It's certainly better than LIV.  That being said I think the modern style of golf has evolved to be boring.  Bring back well rounded games, a variety of irons into par fours and shotmaking.  I'm talking flair like the Seve days.  Also rolling the equipment back would allow them to play some better courses.  I'm just not tuning in for a tournament on a TPC unless it's at Sawgrass.  Best of luck to the tour.

 

Edit: I'll throw in that the tournaments I'm most looking forward to watching on TV next year are at Oakmont, Royal Portrush, Augusta National and Cypress Point.  Take note!

Edited November 13, 2024 by StoutKing

[Titleist99]

3 hours ago, bcjim said:

There is speculation the tour could move to produce more of its own content.  They just hired Azinger to be the lead analyst for the senior tour. He'll be doing it from the media center at PGATour HQ. Won't even be at the site of the event,  cost cutting, streamlining...  If the Tour already does the production (for senior events) and now has the announcing done by employees,  the only thing they need a network for is market access. If they can get their own channel on enough screens, they don't need a network partner. They can sell the ads and keep all the money.  

 

 

If true, hiring Azinger to replace Lanny is a great move.  You may have a point regarding a network, seeing as the PGAT has its own sponsors.

[Titleist99]

1 hour ago, StoutKing said:

I personally enjoy watching golf and I have nothing against the tour.  It's certainly better than LIV.  That being said I think the modern style of golf has evolved to be boring.  Bring back well rounded games, a variety of irons into par fours and shotmaking.  I'm talking flair like the Seve days.  Also rolling the equipment back would allow them to play some better courses.  I'm just not tuning in for a tournament on a TPC unless it's at Sawgrass.  Best of luck to the tour.

 

Edit: I'll throw in that the tournaments I'm most looking forward to watching on TV next year are at Oakmont, Royal Portrush, Augusta National and Cypress Point.  Take note!

Each to his own but, I find PGAT golf just fine. players still have to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible. Players hitting woods into par fours should be saved for the LPGA. IMO🙂 

Edited November 13, 2024 by Titleist99

[bcjim]

17 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

If true, hiring Azinger to replace Lanny is a great move.  You may have a point regarding a network, seeing as the PGAT has its own sponsors.

Lanny is retiring apparently.

 

The networks need content to remain relevant so they need to pay a premium.  The Tour can become a broadcast company faster than NBC or CBS can field a golf team and stage events.  I don't think its without risk though. You'll really find out who your fans are when you need each one paying to watch. 

[StoutKing]

41 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

Each to his own but, I find PGAT golf just fine. players still have to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible. Players hitting woods into par fours should be saved for the LPGA. IMO🙂 

I didn't say that.  Not sure why you are so sensitive.  I'm trying to tell you why a lot of people are tuning out.  I want the tour to put out a good product again.  No reason to lose viewers to youtube.

[bcjim]

Golf is suffering the same viewer fragmentation that many sports are seeing.  It's not a poor product.  People just consume it in different ways now.

 

  Nobody is tuning out because they can't see Coery Pavin hitting 255yd drives.

[StoutKing]

13 minutes ago, bcjim said:

Golf is suffering the same viewer fragmentation that many sports are seeing.  It's not a poor product.  People just consume it in different ways now.

 

  Nobody is tuning out because they can't see Coery Pavin hitting 255yd drives.

People are tuning out.  The reason can be debated for sure.  Double digit friends and acquaintances of mine watch much less than before, and that's just in my close circle.  They are spending more time playing and less time watching.

 

Edit: for the younger generation they are watching youtube golf.  That is your competitor in the future.

Edited November 13, 2024 by StoutKing

[Mr.Cleeks]

9 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I personally enjoy watching golf and I have nothing against the tour.  It's certainly better than LIV.  That being said I think the modern style of golf has evolved to be boring.  Bring back well rounded games, a variety of irons into par fours and shotmaking.  I'm talking flair like the Seve days.  Also rolling the equipment back would allow them to play some better courses.  I'm just not tuning in for a tournament on a TPC unless it's at Sawgrass.  Best of luck to the tour.

 

Edit: I'll throw in that the tournaments I'm most looking forward to watching on TV next year are at Oakmont, Royal Portrush, Augusta National and Cypress Point.  Take note!

100% agree something needs to be done about the equipment. I remember watching the 3M the week after the Open at Troon and it flat out sucked. 

[Ferguson]

7 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

Each to his own but, I find PGAT golf just fine. players still have to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible. Players hitting woods into par fours should be saved for the LPGA. IMO🙂 

 

6 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I didn't say that.  Not sure why you are so sensitive.  I'm trying to tell you why a lot of people are tuning out.  I want the tour to put out a good product again.  No reason to lose viewers to youtube.

 

If the networks want a real barometer as a metric, just ask most non-golfers or part-time golfers about watching golf on TV.  You hear the same over and over:  "It's very boring except for that one with the green coat."

 

Let's face it, golfers live in a bubble. We assume everyone knows how and when to hit a cut shot or why a player might toe a slippery downhill putt.  Most part-time golfers and TV viewers are pulled in by hype, controversy or the exceptional (or Tiger). 

 

Presently, the tour boasts long straight drives, splashing in cool terms such as smash factor or spin rate. The players are boring, the data is unrelatable, the commentators are uninteresting and the results show fewer regular viewers.   

 

From a contract point of view, yes, ratings don't matter.  From a viewership point of view, there are currently more and better choices on TV. 

 

 

 

[Sixcat]

In my opinion, golf on Youtube is better than golf on TV. I would even go so far as to say it's really not even close. With TV golf, the commercial load is unbearable. The puff pieces and talking heads have lost sight of why viewers tune in....to see golf shots. They pay little to no attention to the cut line, which I find dramatic and interesting. 

 

Outside of the majors, I didn't watch another PGA Tour tournament all season. I did watch a handful of DP World Tour events. Mostly the National Opens (Irish, French, Scottish). Which are a significantly better TV product. But that's just me.

[Ferguson]

2 minutes ago, Sixcat said:

In my opinion, golf on Youtube is better than golf on TV. I would even go so far as to say it's really not even close. With TV golf, the commercial load is unbearable. The puff pieces and talking heads have lost sight of why viewers tune in....to see golf shots. They pay little to no attention to the cut line, which I find dramatic and interesting. 

 

Outside of the majors, I didn't watch another PGA Tour tournament all season. I did watch a handful of DP World Tour events. Mostly the National Opens (Irish, French, Scottish). Which are a significantly better TV product. But that's just me.

 

Don't forget The Qatar Masters.  

The truest of all Masters. 

 

[Titleist99]

2 hours ago, Ferguson said:

From a contract point of view, yes, ratings don't matter.  From a viewership point of view, there are currently more and better choices on TV. 

 

Well, like the article states.......They paid the PGAT $7Billion, "somebody's watching"🤣

[Titleist99]

9 hours ago, bcjim said:

Golf is suffering the same viewer fragmentation that many sports are seeing.  It's not a poor product.  People just consume it in different ways now.

 

  Nobody is tuning out because they can't see Coery Pavin hitting 255yd drives.

Of course, you're right, 100%. Does anyone think that 20% across the board just stop watching golf and NBA basketball simultaneously? Streaming and other means of watching sports are the future of sports viewership.

 

A perfect example is the Masters. 20-25% decrease from 2023, really!?! Limited commercial interruption, limited commentary, and a legendary venue. So, that couldn't be the reason.

 

~Amazon and Netflix have entered the arena. PGAT may want to renegotiate their media deals. 🙂

[GoGoErky]

27 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

Of course, you're right, 100%. Does anyone think that 20% across the board just stop watching golf and NBA basketball simultaneously? Streaming and other means of watching sports are the future of sports viewership.

 

A perfect example is the Masters. 20-25% decrease from 2023, really!?! Limited commercial interruption, limited commentary, and a legendary venue. So, that couldn't be the reason.

 

~Amazon and Netflix have entered the arena. PGAT may want to renegotiate their media deals. 🙂

Streaming is the future. Hard to account for that in the ratings 

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, GoGoErky said:

Streaming is the future. Hard to account for that in the ratings 

I have a subscription for Golf Channel / NBC Sports.  Most of the time the streaming on NBC Sports doesn't even work on their website so I don't even bother with the tour.  Back when Golf Channel streamed on their website it used to work just fine.

[Duct Tape]

15 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I personally enjoy watching golf and I have nothing against the tour.  It's certainly better than LIV.  That being said I think the modern style of golf has evolved to be boring.  Bring back well rounded games, a variety of irons into par fours and shotmaking.  I'm talking flair like the Seve days.  Also rolling the equipment back would allow them to play some better courses.  I'm just not tuning in for a tournament on a TPC unless it's at Sawgrass.  Best of luck to the tour.

 

Edit: I'll throw in that the tournaments I'm most looking forward to watching on TV next year are at Oakmont, Royal Portrush, Augusta National and Cypress Point.  Take note!

Cypress Point next year?  Did I miss that?  If so, fantastic!

[StoutKing]

1 minute ago, Duct Tape said:

Cypress Point next year?  Did I miss that?  If so, fantastic!

Walker Cup...

[Duct Tape]

6 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Walker Cup...

My favorite course but those young bombers are going to eat it up, particularly the inland holes. I’m guessing they’ll still have plenty of challenge on #16 😀. Good thing it’s match play. 

 

But this perhaps supports the point of others here, and in another link I won’t venture into anymore. When great courses like Cypress, Merion, Seminole, National, maybe even (god forbid) Shinnecock, are inadequate to challenge today’s longer professional and top amateur hitters without trickery and green tomfoolery (or by taking driver out of players hands which neither players nor fans like), then golf is the worse for it.  
 

Perhaps add Pebble to the list. Or controversially consider the Old Course without wind. 

 

Par may be an artificial construct but everyone seems to discuss it when the leaders are at -28.  Certainly the USGA has or will take courses with such scores out of the rota, or give them the ol’ USGA “fix”, to the loss of all golf fans who love great courses. 
 

You can only watch so many TPC etc courses without switching over for Seinfeld reruns. 

[gvogel]

LIV has partially ruined pro golf for me.  Because of LIV, the Tour constructed the limited field events, which has significantly lessened the importance of the non-limited field events.  And then, all the talk of $$$ is a turn-off for someone like me at my income level.  But I still watch the LPGA, hoping the tempo runs off, and of course the majors and the other tournaments in Scotland and Ireland.  I'm sure I'll watch as much of the Walker Cup as I can.

 

I played hockey through college, and coached my children's youth teams.  AFter my son graduated from college, I completely lost interest in the game.  Of course, I was spoiled by season tickets to the French Connection.  So if I watch 15 minutes of the Sabres from week to week, that's a lot.

 

Football?  I don't miss a Bills game.

[GoGoErky]

2 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I have a subscription for Golf Channel / NBC Sports.  Most of the time the streaming on NBC Sports doesn't even work on their website so I don't even bother with the tour.  Back when Golf Channel streamed on their website it used to work just fine.

Ok but what does that have to do with how hard it is to tracking tv ratings when there are streaming services.

 

or are you trying to say that streaming isn’t the future because of your bad personal experience 

[StoutKing]

46 minutes ago, GoGoErky said:

Ok but what does that have to do with how hard it is to tracking tv ratings when there are streaming services.

 

or are you trying to say that streaming isn’t the future because of your bad personal experience 

I'm not referencing ratings, only that NBC Sports streaming of golf hasn't worked for me.  The error - something is wrong on our side always pops up.  When Golf Channel streamed from their site I had no issues.

[GoGoErky]

1 hour ago, StoutKing said:

I'm not referencing ratings, only that NBC Sports streaming of golf hasn't worked for me.  The error - something is wrong on our side always pops up.  When Golf Channel streamed from their site I had no issues.

So going off topic. 
 

I’m not interested in discussing anything not on topic

[gato_plomo]

Stopped caring about these guys after LIV.

[Titleist99]

Speaking of ratings, Nielson will have to find a better way to track programming accurately in the future. I just purchased a new television set, and it comes with streaming apps. The only requirement is an internet connection. No cable or satellite connection is needed. An antenna for local channels is optional.

 

~PS/ Jay Monahan mentioned that he was in talks with Nielson regarding this very subject.

[TobesSC]

20 hours ago, gvogel said:

LIV has partially ruined pro golf for me.  Because of LIV, the Tour constructed the limited field events, which has significantly lessened the importance of the non-limited field events.  And then, all the talk of $$$ is a turn-off for someone like me at my income level.  But I still watch the LPGA, hoping the tempo runs off, and of course the majors and the other tournaments in Scotland and Ireland.  I'm sure I'll watch as much of the Walker Cup as I can.

 

I played hockey through college, and coached my children's youth teams.  AFter my son graduated from college, I completely lost interest in the game.  Of course, I was spoiled by season tickets to the French Connection.  So if I watch 15 minutes of the Sabres from week to week, that's a lot.

 

Football?  I don't miss a Bills game.

Limited field events really that different than WGC's?

[GoGoErky]

10 minutes ago, TobesSC said:

Limited field events really that different than WGC's?

Nope

[bcjim]

27 minutes ago, TobesSC said:

Limited field events really that different than WGC's?

And what happened to them?

 

They got stale.

 

Tiger was already way better than the full field. Put him up against half a field, some of whose only qualifications were "being from somewhere else" and the result was entirely predictable.