Golf Channel Acquires Cable Telecast Rights for Friday’s Matches, a Milestone in Network History
26.5 Total Hours of Live Coverage across Golf Channel on Friday, and NBC on Saturday and Sunday, Represents Most Ever for European-Based Ryder Cup
STAMFORD, Conn. & ORLANDO, Fla. (March 25, 2014) – NBC Sports Group announced today that both NBC and Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the 2014 Ryder Cup from Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, making it the first European-based event to be televised live in its entirety in the United States. Additionally, Golf Channel has acquired the exclusive Ryder Cup telecast rights for Friday’s matches, which will be the first time the network has provided live coverage of this event. This combined effort will showcase NBC Sports Group’s live coverage from the opening tee shot through the final putt when the United States and European teams meet for this biennial event between Friday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept 28.
“It is exciting to expand our partnership with the PGA of America through NBC Sports Group’s exclusive coverage of the 2014 Ryder Cup, one of the most prestigious events in all of sports,” said NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus. “Today’s announcement of providing complete coverage with the great addition of Golf Channel’s exclusive Friday coverage, bolsters our ability to bring this spectacular event to an ever-growing audience. We value and look to continue to grow our PGA of America partnership.”
“For the first time when played on European soil, fans in the United States will be treated to watching the Ryder Cup live in its entirety, and we’re thrilled that NBC Sports Group will deliver the drama and passion of this unparalleled event, as it unfolds,” said PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua. “Beginning with Golf Channel, the daily television voice of the golf community, and continuing through the weekend on NBC, audiences will be able to experience all of the breathtaking moments that define the Ryder Cup. By showcasing one of sport’s most exciting events live, on a global stage, the PGA of America is furthering our commitment to growing the game through our partnership with NBC Sports.”
NBC Sports Group’s 26.5 combined live hours of the 2014 Ryder Cup will be the most ever for a European-based event. This will include NBC’s live coverage of Saturday’s matches, which previously were tape delayed at events in Europe. Additionally, all of NBC and Golf Channel’s live coverage will be available for authenticated streaming via NBC Sports Live Extra and Golf Live Extra.
NBC Sports Group 2014 Ryder Cup Air Times (all times Eastern)
Sept. 26 Day One 2:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Golf Channel
Sept. 27 Day Two 3 a.m.-1 p.m. NBC
Sept. 28 Final Day 7 a.m.-1 p.m. NBC
Since joining the NBC Sports Group, Golf Channel has posted its most-watched year ever for the past three years consecutively, and the addition of live event coverage of the Ryder Cup will bolster the network’s continued growth. Golf Channel’s Friday coverage is part of a trade that includes an exchange of highlight rights and other considerations with ESPN. And after NBC Sports Group and the PGA of America’s new partnership agreement takes effect, Golf Channel will continue as the exclusive cable home of the Ryder Cup through 2030 as part of this deal, which is the longest national TV rights agreement in professional sports.
The tremendous growth of the Ryder Cup, which was first televised by NBC in 1991, is evident with nearly one-half billion households around the world watching the 2012 event from Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago, Ill. NBC Sports Group will continue building upon this success with a wave of new programming and special coverage of the Ryder Cup including: regular Ryder Cup preview shows, vignettes, features, reports and points updates on NBC and Golf Channel news and media outlets; live coverage of the Ryder Cup’s Opening and Closing Ceremonies; as well as Ryder Cup highlight programming on various NBCUniversal networks including Telemundo and Mun2 to expand Hispanic viewership opportunities.
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