Following the news that Golf Channel will air at least two NHL first-round playoff games, we learn that the NBC Sports network will also expand its signature brand of “Golf Central” into its daytime programming as well as online. But unlike ESPN’s SportsCenter, it won’t be with repeated airings of “Golf Central.”
What this means is that starting this week, Golf Channel will insert “Golf Central” updates into various programming. In addition, Golf Central will be seen on various online platforms like GolfChannel.com, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter.
Golf Channel executive producer Molly Solomon tells Sports Business Journal that it was time for Golf Central to be seen during other parts of the day besides its nightly 6 p.m. ET time slot.
“Now is the time to evolve a nightly news program to a daylong news platform,” Solomon said. “We came up with a mission statement that says, ‘Reimagine and modernize for mobile lifestyle.’ For us, that means using ‘Golf Central’ in daylong updates whenever golf news breaks.
… “It was fortuitous timing,” she said. “We realized that we had been waiting until ‘Golf Central’ at 6 p.m. to report the news. We need to be where our fans are. We also needed to put a team in place that’s going to be ready to go from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.””
The Facebook update will preview the 6 p.m. Golf Central show. And rather than run golf highlights, the updates will depend more on news and analysis, plus reports from Golf Channel insiders.
But even with the expanded presence both on television and online, don’t expect to see any changes to Golf Central at 6 p.m. Solomon says the look of the 6 p.m. edition will remain the same, so there won’t be any radical changes.
Overall, Golf Channel wants to meet the needs of its mobile audience, plus provide more news during the day. The network hopes that by providing updates from its “Morning Drive” show all the way through 7 p.m., Golf Channel will give its viewers plenty of news and information.
