With TV ratings falling and Tiger Woods out of golf for the foreseeable future, the PGA Tour is at a crossroads after riding a popularity wave around the turn of the century. Now the PGA Tour is hoping to attract a new audience by developing a new online network called “Skratch TV.”
Now you won’t see any live tournament action there, but there will be videos that show PGA golfers at home and off the course as well as some of the behind-the-scenes machinations on tour.
In addition, Skratch TV will utilize GoPro cameras to bring viewers closer to the action by mounting them not only to golfers, but drones flying about the courses as well.
The network is being launched as a joint venture by the PGA Tour and Bedrocket, an online media company founded by Brian Bedol, the man behind Classic Sports (now known as ESPN Classic) and CSTV (a.k.a. CBS Sports Network). Bedrocket is behind a digital network that focuses on action sports and MLS’ Kick TV.
The PGA wants to reach out to younger fans because according to the New York Times, the sport’s fans skew older and just 20% of TV golf viewers are millennials. By creating Skratch TV, the PGA Tour hopes to turn the lower percentages while also bringing new fans to the game.
We’ll see if this works or if the PGA will have to find other ways to attract millennials to golf.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.