ORLANDO, Fla. (October 8, 2013) – Golf Channel’s momentum in 2013 continues to roll as third quarter secures the most-watched third quarter in network history. This is after marking first quarter as the most-watched quarter ever and second quarter posting the most-watched second quarter ever. These increased viewership numbers have Golf Channel positioned to set a most-watched year ever for the third consecutive year.
Golf Channel averaged 112,000 viewers per minute, which represents a +10% year-over-year increase compared to third quarter 2012, +32% vs. third quarter 2011 and +51% vs. third quarter 2010, according to data released by the Nielsen Company (24-hour Total Day 6AM-6AM).
Third quarter drew nearly 26 million unique viewers. Additionally, August set a most-watched August record (138,000 average viewers per minute), which was +59% year over year. July and September both set their month’s second most-watched mark (95,000 and 105,000 average viewers per minute, respectively).
As the 2013 PGA TOUR season wrapped in the third quarter with the FedExCup Playoffs, the 2013/2014 season begins this week at the Frys.com Open. Golf Channel will be the exclusive home of the PGA TOUR, as well as the conclusion of the LPGA Tour and Champions Tour seasons for the remainder of 2013.
The record numbers throughout 2013 are built off Golf Channel’s viewership momentum in 2012, which drove Golf Channel’s status as the fastest-growing network on U.S. television since joining the NBC Sports Group (among networks serving 80 million or more homes throughout that span).
HIGHLIGHTS FROM GOLF CHANNEL’S THIRD QUARTER:
·Most-watched Open Championship week since the event was moved to exclusively cable coverage in 2010
·Most-watched PGA Championship week ever
·PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs leads to second most-viewed Playoffs’ coverage on Golf Channel with 12.4 million unique viewers
·The new Web.com Tour Finals delivered 167,000 average viewers (+97% year over year) vs. comparable events on 2012 Web.com Tour
·With first-ever telecast of Scottish Open on GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC in July, European Tour coverage is pacing to deliver its most-watched year ever
·Second most-viewed LPGA Tour’s Solheim Cup with more than 5.4 million unique viewers
·MORNING DRIVE is +48% vs. third quarter 2012 and +15% year-over-year
·GOLF CENTRAL is +15% vs. third quarter 2012 and +11% year-over-year
·Golf Channel’s instruction series, led by SCHOOL OF GOLF WITH MARTIN HALL, GOLF CHANNEL ACADEMY, and THE GOLF FIX WITH MICHAEL BREED, are +22% vs. third quarter 2012 and +13% year-over-year
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