Golf Channel’s Enhanced ‘Spotlight’ Coverage Complements NBC’s Live Coverage
‘Golf Central’ to Feature ‘Book of Arnie’ Historical Features Throughout the Week, Celebrating Palmer’s Impact on the Sport
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 14, 2014)
– 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 next week a stellar field will compete in
the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.
The NBC Sports Group will dedicate more than 40 total hours of news and
tournament action, which includes 23 live hours of combined tournament
coverage on NBC and Golf Channel.
23 HOURS OF LIVE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: Combined, live tournament coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard on NBC and Golf Channel will be more than ever before. Golf Channel will showcase a one-hour, pro-am special on Wednesday; six total hours of early rounds on Thursday and Friday; three total hours of coverage leading into NBC’s coverage on Saturday and Sunday; and six hours of Spotlight coverage that will complement NBC’s weekend coverage. NBC will deliver a combined eight 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 and Todd Lewis 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 p.m. Golf Channel 2-6 p.m. NBC
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. Spotlight coverage is enhanced graphically for 2014, featuring a reverse-L on-screen graphic displaying continuous stats and player updates, Trackman technology offering player driving stats and Pro-Tracer technology to allow viewers to key-in on the flight of the ball once it leaves the clubface. 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 Randy Moss, joined by analyst Curt Byrum. Craig Perks will be in a tower position and Scott McCarron will report from the golf course. Todd Lewis will conduct post-round interviews.
Spotlight Air Times (all times Eastern): Saturday-Sunday 2-5 p.m. Golf Channel
GOLF CENTRAL LIVE AT BAY HILL: Golf Central will be produced from a custom set on the driving range at Bay Hill and in front of a live audience throughout the week. Golf Central will preview the news and storylines leading into the tournament and will lead in and out of live tournament coverage on Golf Channel. Lisa Cornwell and Tripp Isenhour will lead Golf Central’s coverage Monday-Wednesday, with Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee and Arron Oberholser anchoring weekend coverage. Live player news conferences from Bay Hill will air on Wednesday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET.
‘BOOK OF ARNIE’ SPECIAL FEATURES – Throughout the week, Golf Central will air special features highlighting Arnold Palmer’s life and career on and off the golf course, celebrating his accomplishments and how he has influenced and impacted the game. These Golf Central features kick off Golf Channel’s celebration of the life of Arnold Palmer, which will be chronicled in Arnie, a three-part documentary film airing on Golf Channel, April 13-15.
ARNIE Video Trailer
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 next week airing at 7 a.m. ET. Morning Drive will extend to 11 a.m. ET Tuesday and Wednesday to include live news conferences from Bay Hill. Thursday and Friday, Morning Drive will extend to 10 a.m. ET, and on Saturday and Sunday, Morning Drive will air from 8:30-10:30 a.m. ET.
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 and Notah Begay talking with players on the course.
INSTRUCTION: Golf Channel’s instructional program, The Golf Fix will take place on-site at the driving range at Bay Hill on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. PGA TOUR professionals competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational are scheduled to join host Michael Breed for instruction during the hour-long episode.
