Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502070017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
So, why not The Golf Channel?
It's the world's only 24-hour network devoted exclusively to golf. More than three years in the planning and with Arnold Palmer as one of the financial backers (co-founder and chairman), the Golf Channel started to pay for itself this week after two preview - that's free - weeks to subscribers.
The schedule already has included two Fred Couples victories in foreign tournaments with starry fields. There's a SportsCenter-like show called ``Golf Central,'' and don't tune in there to see Shaq or Sir Charles dunking through highlights. You might see someone missing the cut in Keokuk, however.
You want scores? You want instruction? You want the Nike Tour? The European PGA? The B.C. Open? You want interviews with names from Paul Azinger to Kermit Zarley? You want the most LPGA Tour coverage (10 tournaments) of any network? You want more USGA and NCAA play?
Well, there are no cable systems in Virginia offering the Golf Channel yet. It's available via satellite and DirecTV. The cost is $6.95 per month. The Golf Channel's goal is to have one million subscribers by this time next year.
``We're telling people to call their cable system if they want us,'' said TGC communications manager Tom Stine. ``How fast we grow depends on whether we get tiered by how many cable systems. If we get tiered, we could grow faster.''
It's obviously not a network for everyone, but then, neither is MTV. The network operates from a renovated, 44,000-square foot building in Orlando, Fla. And if the Golf Channel does nothing else, it's going to up the ante for tournament rights around the globe. If Greg Norman has another idea on how to start an elite pro circuit like his proposed World Tour, the Golf Channel will make sure no other network will get it cheap.
You ask how much more televised golf can TV handle? Good question. The answer is the tube will air as much as advertisers will buy and that number keeps climbing. Golf has the kind of demographics advertisers love. That's why it prospers despite consistently mediocre ratings. A decade ago, there were 168 hours of pro golf on network television. This year, the hours will approach 1,000 - and that doesn't include The Golf Channel.
Palmer and Joseph Gibbs, an Alabama cable TV entrepreneur, have an $80 million gamble on their hands. Surveys tell them the support and potential viewership is there, however.
If that's true, there must be a bunch of viewers teed off they can't see the Golf Channel yet.
PIGSKIN PICKUP: Raycom Sports, which has marketed and televised college football's Pigskin Classic, is nearing an agreement for this year's Virginia-Michigan game at Ann Arbor, Mich. Raycom executive vice president Ken Haines said the Aug. 26 game likely will have a noon kickoff and Raycom wants to place it on a network, probably ABC. A firm decision is expected within two weeks.
WOMEN JUMP: ABC's regional ACC basketball telecast Sunday (1:30 p.m., WSET) is unique. It's Virginia at North Carolina in the first women's game televised on a volunteer basis by one of the over-the-air networks. The women's regular-season telecasts on CBS in recent seasons have been required by the NCAA contract.
Robin Roberts of ESPN and longtime women's hoop analyst Ann Meyers will call the game, which was pushed to ABC by Raycom and the conference. Raycom buys airtime on ABC for the network's entire college hoops package, which has ACC team appearances in nine of the 11 time slots during the season.
AROUND THE DIAL: The NFL's Pro Bowl moves from ESPN to ABC Sunday (6 p.m., WSET) in hopes of luring more viewers. If anyone cares, the conferences have split the past 10 Pro Bowls. ... The Winston Cup racing season begins next Sunday with the CBS live telecast of the Busch Clash (noon, WDBJ) at Daytona International Speedway. The network also will air the Twin 125s (taped) on Saturday, Feb. 18, the eve of the Daytona 500 (noon, WDBJ), which airs live in a four-hour telecast. The Daytona 500 announcing team will include all-time Winston Cup victories king Richard Petty. ... The ACC basketball TV package has the North Carolina-Maryland men's battle for first place in the league Tuesday (9 p.m., WDBJ). ... ESPN2, the home of 38 NHL games even in an abbreviated season, begins its ``NHL 2Night'' studio show Tuesday. The half-hour program will air five nights weekly, usually at 11:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday. ... ESPN and ESPN2 have signed to air the ATP Tour championship series - the Super 9 - as part of its tennis package. The first event is next month, the Newsweek Cup in Indian Wells, Calif. ... Pacific-10 basketball won't have a future on ESPN. The league, refusing to schedule late-night tipoffs in the Pacific time zone, has signed a contract with Liberty Sports, which owns Prime Sports. ESPN and ESPN2 offered $3 million over four years and a spot replacing the Big West on the network's ``Big Monday'' package.
by CNB