PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA of America, PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions and Golf Channel announced today a partnership for expanded coverage of the annual PGA Merchandise Show. Starting in 2014, “Morning Drive” will provide live broadcasts from the PGA Merchandise Show floor Wednesday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 24, as well as remote live segments from the PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
More than 40,000 industry leaders, manufacturers, PGA Professionals and golf retailers from nearly 80 countries converge annually in Orlando for the PGA Merchandise Show, an industry-only global gathering for all things golf. “Morning Drive’s” live presence at the PGA Merchandise Show represents the most ambitious remote broadcast to date for Golf Channel’s daily morning show and will complement Golf Channel’s daily news coverage, including regular segments on “Golf Central” and content on GolfChannel.com all week. In addition, Golf Channel’s coverage from the PGA Merchandise Show will be available via Golf Live Extra, which provides live, authenticated streaming of Golf Channel programming 24/7.
“The PGA of America is proud to have a valued partner in Golf Channel, which serves as the daily broadcast voice of golf and shares our mission of growing the game and promoting PGA Professionals,” said PGA Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua. “The addition of Golf Channel’s ‘Morning Drive’ live programming greatly enhances PGA Show Week, highlighting our members as the leaders in the game. There’s no better place to be during PGA Show Week than in Orlando, and millions of viewers can now experience the pulse of our vibrant industry through Golf Channel’s expanded coverage.”
Mike McCarley, president of Golf Channel, added, “Golf Channel’s viewers possess a deep passion for the game and our increased presence at the PGA Merchandise Show, including beginning each day with ‘Morning Drive’ live from the show floor, will provide a new look at a unique aspect of the game. Our partnership with The PGA of America continues to strengthen and we look forward to identifying more opportunities to work together to further connect the world to golf.”
Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, “Morning Drive” will broadcast from 7- 9 a.m. at the PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, which will feature new equipment, training aids and golf accessories from leading golf brands within 200-plus hitting bays and practice greens at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, through Friday, Jan. 24, “Morning Drive” will be located in the heart of the PGA Merchandise Show floor for an extended three-hour special edition of the show from 7-10 a.m. Coverage on “Morning Drive” and “Golf Central” will highlight the merchandise generating the most buzz among jam-packed exhibit aisles of the massive Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Additionally, Golf Channel will feature interviews with the industry’s newsmakers, touring professionals and celebrities making appearances at the show throughout the week.
About Golf Channel Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Golf Channel, co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of the NBC Sports Group, is available in more than 120 million homes and 83 countries worldwide. Exclusive partnerships with the world’s top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, as well as a programming schedule distinguished by golf’s highest-quality news, instruction and original programming. Customers of participating cable, satellite, telco and other video subscription services, are able to enjoy 24/7 streaming of live Golf Channel content through GolfChannel.com and Golf Channel’s mobile application, Golf Live Extra. Golf Channel’s digital platforms are the leading golf destinations on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that connect the world to golf.
About the PGA Merchandise Show The 61st PGA Merchandise Show, held January 21-24, 2014, in Orlando, Fla., will welcome some 1,000 top golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The PGA Merchandise Show features a new day pattern in 2014 with the PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Orange County National Golf Center. During PGA Show days, Wednesday – Friday, Jan. 22-24, at the Orange County Convention Center, PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders will uncover the latest trends, source the newest golf merchandise, test the latest equipment, learn proven business best practices, network among peers and move forward the business of the game. The new hours of the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show are: Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The PGA Merchandise Show is organized in partnership with The PGA of America as a trade-only event. Learn more about the event at www.PGAShow.com