Dedicated Sky Sports golf channel

[GreiginFife]

That's the only point I was trying to make. There's stuff they don't have already that would cost.

So if I'm getting this

They could get extra shows, at a reduced rate.
They have advertising backed up that 'might' cover the costs without additional subscriptions.
Extra channel for it on EPG would be minimal costs.

So what was the reason why they wouldn't do this again ? Did I miss something ?

OK, as a program director you should get that there has to be a justifiable reason to move something wholesale across a platform. Yes the cost for the EPG space would be minimal but what would it provide from a business sense that they do not have already across 4 channels. The business case would have to provide a justifiable RoI to commit the resource, the technology costs and the programme costs (does your business undertake all internal programs of work FOC?) and for what gain? Some additional programming such as Feherty's show? Renegotiate contracts for what RoI? Additional advertising for Sky is not a case of "might" there is a queue of advertisers that simply cannot be accommodated due to lack of available air time.
The business case simply does not stack up. The Customer case/demand "might" be there, UK viewing figures for the Golf Channel UK were very low, hence why TGC UK did not renew their CA contract for platform access (just checked with the platform guys to see if they knew and one did). So Sky looks at low viewing figures across the channel, would your business invest in a project to change something under these circumstances? I certainly hope the answer is no.

 

[GreiginFife]

Some interesting insights and much appreciated. As a concept though, especially in the winter months when there is little or no live golf, wouldn't there still be a place for a magazine type show, hosted by some of the golfing presenters. I know Sky has Euro Tour Weekly and Inside the PGA which are made and licensed by Euro tour productions and the USPGA and there is also Golfing World which I think is independantly made. However these tend to focus solely on the main tours and a magazine concept give so much more scope. Visits to clubs, player interviews, coaching, in depth discussions (woods to win more majors than Jack etc). The list is endless. Surely an itch for golfers suffering winter withdrawal blues without the need for a stand alone channel and with a degree of cost effectiveness.

Good point about winter Homer but this is more and more becoming less of an issue as there is more investment in Mid/Far East evens that take place over the winter. No Majors certainly (yet) but I checked the broadcast figures for golf for Oct - Jan 2011/2012 and the hours for broadcast in October were only 10% down on Sept, then Nov/Dec was 3% down on Oct and Jan actually increased by 10% on Nov/Dec and then returned to normal in February. Peak broadcast hours are in April, May, June and July.

 

[User 105]

OK, as a program director you should get that there has to be a justifiable reason to move something wholesale across a platform. Yes the cost for the EPG space would be minimal but what would it provide from a business sense that they do not have already across 4 channels. The business case would have to provide a justifiable RoI to commit the resource, the technology costs and the programme costs (does your business undertake all internal programs of work FOC?) and for what gain? Some additional programming such as Feherty's show? Renegotiate contracts for what RoI? Additional advertising for Sky is not a case of "might" there is a queue of advertisers that simply cannot be accommodated due to lack of available air time.
The business case simply does not stack up. The Customer case/demand "might" be there, UK viewing figures for the Golf Channel UK were very low, hence why TGC UK did not renew their CA contract for platform access (just checked with the platform guys to see if they knew and one did). So Sky looks at low viewing figures across the channel, would your business invest in a project to change something under these circumstances? I certainly hope the answer is no.

Hi Greg, think you answered this one already. Other internal costs.

Just my programme director nature to keep digging as the info in the thread didn't add up. But now you've explained there were other cost factors in play it makes sense

 

[GreiginFife]

It's frustrating for a golfer to accept, especially with the personal want of the channel vs the professional aspect approach conflict.
It would be great if one of the Flextech networks (they own things like Dave, Home and The Food Network UK) picked up the US Golf Channel as a rebrand/rebroadcast like they do with the Food Network which is just the US programming in a UK Advertising shell.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Some interesting insights and much appreciated. As a concept though, especially in the winter months when there is little or no live golf, wouldn't there still be a place for a magazine type show, hosted by some of the golfing presenters. I know Sky has Euro Tour Weekly and Inside the PGA which are made and licensed by Euro tour productions and the USPGA and there is also Golfing World which I think is independantly made. However these tend to focus solely on the main tours and a magazine concept give so much more scope. Visits to clubs, player interviews, coaching, in depth discussions (woods to win more majors than Jack etc). The list is endless. Surely an itch for golfers suffering winter withdrawal blues without the need for a stand alone channel and with a degree of cost effectiveness.

Good point about winter Homer but this is more and more becoming less of an issue as there is more investment in Mid/Far East evens that take place over the winter. No Majors certainly (yet) but I checked the broadcast figures for golf for Oct - Jan 2011/2012 and the hours for broadcast in October were only 10% down on Sept, then Nov/Dec was 3% down on Oct and Jan actually increased by 10% on Nov/Dec and then returned to normal in February. Peak broadcast hours are in April, May, June and July.

I understand that the season doesn't stop per se and there is the African swing at the start of January and then the early season Asian events. Hower, there are a lot of sports (RL, Premiership RU, cricket etc) that dominate the schedules, cricket in particular with all the one day formats. I know Sky show all the test series (not just England) and so this not only give the cricket fans a fillip but fills the airwaves. My point is that there isn't quite the live sport coverage in the winter, and a dedicated golf magazine show (fronted by Rob Lee/Sarah Stirk etc) wouldn't be a huge cost (Sky Golf studio already in place), would be a gateway for addtional advertisers and would and could actually become a regular bolt on to their main coverage.

There are so many things that could be covered. Lessons with Dennis Pugh or Simon Holmes, one to one in depth interviews with the players (flimed during the season). In the bag features, close ups on the work of caddiers. Heck even a behind the scenes look at how Sky do their coverage. The page is blank and could be filled with novel and interesting features on top of an in depth discussion on hot topics (belly putters etc). A two hour slot with the usual ad break every 18 minutes or so would give plenty of room to do each topic justice and give so much opportunity to advertisers. Low production + advertising income. Seems a logical step to me

 

[Gazboy]

If Sky had a dedicated Golf channel in the same manner as the F1 I hope they would have the cameras rolling while there are balls in play and not in a piggy back style where Sky take the feed of another broadcaster and cut to the studio when the host broadcaster goes to adverts or we have 1-2 hours of waffling in a studio while there are players already coming to the end of their rounds. Last time I checked the playing schedule of one of the majors last year it did not colerate with my Sky EPG - some of the Brits were already back in the club house before SS3 had aired a single minute of coverage from America.

This isn't unique to Golf, Sky's coverage of Indycar & NASCAR follows the same format and is a marked difference from the Formula One.

 

[GreiginFife]

If Sky had a dedicated Golf channel in the same manner as the F1 I hope they would have the cameras rolling while there are balls in play and not in a piggy back style where Sky take the feed of another broadcaster and cut to the studio when the host broadcaster goes to adverts or we have 1-2 hours of waffling in a studio while there are players already coming to the end of their rounds. Last time I checked the playing schedule of one of the majors last year it did not colerate with my Sky EPG - some of the Brits were already back in the club house before SS3 had aired a single minute of coverage from America.

This isn't unique to Golf, Sky's coverage of Indycar & NASCAR follows the same format and is a marked difference from the Formula One.

It's because the USPGA own the feeds and they probably always will do as it's their main revenue stream. What you will see is what they film and broadcast regardless of how it's relayed in the UK (a dedicated channel or not).
In some event's the USPGA do not allow broadcast of live feed until after 7PM (GMT).

 

[Gazboy]

It's because the USPGA own the feeds and they probably always will do as it's their main revenue stream. What you will see is what they film and broadcast regardless of how it's relayed in the UK (a dedicated channel or not).
In some event's the USPGA do not allow broadcast of live feed until after 7PM (GMT).

Thank you Greg, that is a shame though & would need to be adressed before I would subscribe to a Golf channel

 

[GreiginFife]

Thank you Greg, that is a shame though & would need to be adressed before I would subscribe to a Golf channel

Wishful thinking I'm afraid mate. The Americans will never allow foreign broadcasters to film independent coverage of any sport. All American sports seem to have a corporate like ruling body (USPGA, NBA, NCAA, NFL etc) that rule the roost for their sport.

 

[Mark_G]

I cant help thinking if Sky did get a dedicated channel it would end up a cross between WWE wrestling, with each golfer having a theme tune to come out to the first tee, Power Snooker, where the game is butchered to make it more exciting to a "new audience", and Football where old players watch each group and report on it to Jeff Stelling, punctuated by 18 advertising breaks. Heaven forbid.

 

[GTO NEMESIS]

The only thing I watch on Skysports 1-4 (or how ever many there are these days) is golf.
I'd welcome a Golf Channel and I like what they have done with the F1 channel.