By Ryan Berenz
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Golf Channel Has the U.S. Open Covered
Nearly 50 Hours of Live News Coverage from Congressional Morning Drive Special Editions Monday-Sunday
David Feherty Joins Live From Team as Contributing Analyst Wall-to-Wall Coverage on All-New GolfChannel.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 12, 2011) – Golf Channel is primed to deliver nearly 50 hours of comprehensive news coverage of this week’s U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., featuring live news reports, inside analysis, player interviews, special guest appearances and compelling features of the men’s second major championship of 2011.
Nearly 50 Hours of On-Site Coverage: Golf Channel’s news coverage will begin Monday with live news reports and updates throughout the day from Congressional, leading into an hour-long Golf Central at 6 p.m. ET. Tuesday and Wednesday, Live From the U.S. Open will begin with pre-tournament news conference shows, followed by two-hour shows in prime time each evening. Thursday-Sunday, Live From the U.S. Open will deliver wrap-around news coverage before and after tournament play. Morning Drive, the network’s live, weekday morning show, will air bonus shows and expand to seven days next week, featuring daily special guests from Congressional. The Grey Goose 19th Hole will broadcast live from Congressional, Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET, featuring PGA TOUR Professional Steve Flesch as a guest panelist, and Monday at 7 p.m. ET, Michael Breed will host a special The Golf Fix from the Congressional driving range.
News Conferences: Golf Channel coverage of the pre-tournament news conferences will begin Monday with a special hour-long Morning Drive at 11 a.m. ET. Golf Channel will break into scheduled programming with live news conferences and updates throughout the day. News conference shows will air Tuesday from noon-4 p.m. ET, and on Wednesday from noon-2 p.m. ET.
Live From the U.S. Open: Headlining Golf Channel’s coverage will be the network’s franchise news program, Live From the U.S. Open, originating from two sets at Congressional – the main stage overlooking No. 18 and a round-table stage on the driving range. Beginning Tuesday, Live From the U.S. Open will provide more than 25 hours of news coverage of the U.S. Open during the week, including player interviews, analysis, early highlights, up-to-the-minute leader board updates and daily features from Golf Channel’s team of anchors, reporters and contributors. (Complete airtimes appear at the end of the release)
New Camera Angles: Golf Channel will utilize a series of new cameras and camera positions at the U.S. Open, including:
- Action Cam – An overhead action camera angle made popular in sports broadcasts, the Action Cam will make its golf debut at the U.S. Open on Golf Channel on Thursday. The Action Cam will be shared by Golf Channel and NBC Sports, and will be featured during Live From the U.S. Open news coverage Thursday-Sunday.
- Robotic Cam – A robotic camera will be positioned behind No. 18 green for vantage points and views of the 18th green and fairway, as well as the 10th green.
- Range Cam – A stationary camera position for views of the players preparing for their rounds of play each day.
Golf Talk Live: Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. ET within Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel will air Golf Talk Live, where Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC on-air personalities will discuss the hot topics in golf. Moderated by Rich Lerner, the show will feature panelists David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee and Mark Rolfing.
Live From the U.S. Open Broadcast Team: David Feherty will join Golf Channel’s Live From coverage as a contributing analyst throughout the week on-site at Congressional. Joining Feherty on the broadcast team will include Kelly Tilghman, Rich Lerner, Kraig Kann, Steve Sands, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Charlie Rymer, Mark Lye, Mark Rolfing, John Feinstein, Alex Miceli, Todd Lewis, Ken Schofield, Tim Rosaforte, Jason Sobel, Rex Hoggard, Jay Coffin, Randall Mell and John Hawkins. Golf Channel on NBC analysts Dottie Pepper, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch also will join Live From throughout the week, and Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller will join for weekend news coverage.
Live From the U.S. Open Scheduled Features:
- Nobilo Takes on Congressional: Golf Channel analyst Frank Nobilo scouts the holes at Congressional prior to the start of the tournament in segments that will air throughout the week.
- Ben Crane Newest Video World Premiere – Tuesday night on Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel will premiere the latest installment of Ben Crane’s entertaining videos. Crane, Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson will join the show live for the premiere of their original music video.
- Ken Venturi Recalls 1964 U.S. Open Win – Rich Lerner visits with Ken Venturi to reflect on his U.S. Open victory in 1964 at Congressional.
- Don Cheadle Voices U.S. Open Moments – Academy-award nominee Don Cheadle will voice a number of “U.S. Open Moments” that will air throughout the week.
Morning Drive Expands to Seven Days: Kicking off Golf Channel’s U.S. Open coverage will be Morning Drive, hosted by Erik Kuselias and Gary Williams. Golf Channel’s popular weekday morning show will expand to seven days during U.S. Open week and will include special expanded bonus coverage throughout the week, featuring live guests from Congressional, daily. (Complete airtimes appear at the end of the release)
Wall-to-Wall Coverage on GolfChannel.com: GolfChannel.com will feature expanded editorial content and interactive capabilities with fans timed to the U.S. Open next week, including:
Blogs & Live Chats
- Jason Sobel will blog each day of the competition to keep fans up to date as the action unfolds.
- Golf Channel personalities Kelly Tilghman and Steve Sands will host live chats Saturday and Sunday. Golf Channel contributor John Hawkins also will host live chats Thursday and Friday.
- World-renowned swing coach Hank Haney’s twitter updates during play on Thursday and Friday will be fed directly to GolfChannel.com.
Editorial Coverage
Jason Sobel, Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell, Jay Coffin and Ryan Ballengee will contribute to the newly formed GolfTalkCentral blog, along with daily columns, news articles, features and breaking news on GolfChannel.com.
Exclusive Online Video Content
- Morning and evening updates from Golf Channel’s Live From the U.S. Open team will be available each day.
- “Tee to Green” features with Frank Nobilo as seen on Live From also will be available.
Live From the U.S. Open Programming (all times ET)
Monday, June 13
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Morning Drive 11 a.m.-noon
Golf Central 6-7 p.m.
The Golf Fix 7-8 p.m.
**Golf Central will break into programming throughout the day for live news updates and news conferences
Tuesday, June 14
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open noon-4 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From the U.S. Open 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 15
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Grey Goose 19th Hole 6-7 p.m.
Live From the U.S. Open noon-2 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From the U.S. Open 7-9 p.m. (Golf Talk Live, 8-9 p.m.)
Thursday and Friday, June 16-17
Live From the U.S. Open 6-8 a.m.
Morning Drive 8-10 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open 7-9 p.m.
Saturday, June 18
Morning Drive 8-11 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open 11 a.m.-1 pm.
Morning Drive 1-2 p.m.
Live From the U.S. Open 8-10 p.m.
Sunday, June 19
Morning Drive 8-10:30 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Morning Drive 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Live From the U.S. Open 7:30-9:30 p.m.