NBC Hinting At Something In Delineating Between East Coast U.S. Open Vs. West Coast U.S. Open?

When they make the press release distinction of an East Coast U.S. Open while highlighting ratings, one has to wonder if...

A) The network whose contract is up in 2014 is suggesting they would like to play fewer  East Coast U.S. Opens compared to those in the dreaded West where the weather is better and prime time viewing across much of the land boosts the numbers, or...

B) The network whose contract is up in 2014 is suggesting they should pay less for East Coast U.S. Opens compared to those in the dreaded West where the weather is better and prime time viewing across much of the land boosts the numbers.

There are only two West Coast U.S. Opens on the current docket from 2014 to 2020.

Anyway, just a thought.

The final 2013 East Coast U.S. Open ratings...For Immediate Release:

MOST-VIEWED EAST COAST U.S. OPEN FOR GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC IN SIX YEARS
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 20, 2013) – GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s tournament coverage and Golf Channel’s news programming scored record audiences for the USGA’s U.S. Open, America’s National Golf Championship, which was held last week at the historic Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia.  GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s weekend tournament coverage was the most-watched East Coast U.S. Open in six years (since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club), while Golf Channel posted the network’s most-watched U.S. Open Week ever for an East Coast event (second most-watched U.S. Open Week of all-time behind last year’s event at The Olympic Club in San Francisco), according to data released today by The Nielsen Company.
 
“With this year’s U.S. Open, the USGA created a complete test of golf, as well as reintroduced the historic Merion Golf Club to fans worldwide,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “Our marketing and promotional teams, combined with Tommy Roy and our exceptional production team, throughout the week on Golf Channel and NBC gave fans a great viewing experience of our national championship.”
 
NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive coverage of the U.S. Open was highlighted by:
 
GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC Weekend Coverage:
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s final round coverage on Sunday delivered 8.4 million average viewers (5.4 rating), making it the best East Coast final round at the U.S. Open since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club and +14% more than 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club (4.5).
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s final round coverage peaked with 13.7 million average viewers (8.4 rating) on Sunday from 7-7:30 p.m. ET.
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s Weekend Coverage delivered 6.8 million average viewers, making it the most-watched East Coast U.S. Open since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club.
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s Weekend Coverage reached 31 million viewers.
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s third round coverage on Saturday delivered 5.4 million average viewers (3.7 rating), which was the best East Coast U.S. Open third round since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club and was +17% over 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club (3.1).
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s early round coverage on Thursday from 3-5 p.m. ET delivered 2.45 million average viewers (1.8 rating).  This was +34% more than 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club and was the most-watched Thursday East Coast U.S. Open coverage since 2005 at Pinehurst.
·         GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC’s early round coverage on Friday from 3-5 p.m. ET delivered 2.79 million average viewers (2.0 rating).  This was +52% more than 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club and was the most-watched Friday East Coast U.S. Open coverage since 2009 at Bethpage Black.
 
Golf Channel LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN Week:
·         LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN drove Golf Channel to its second most-watched U.S. Open Week of all time, behind last year’s event at The Olympic Club. This also represents the most-watched U.S. Open Week for Golf Channel from any East Coast venue.
·         Golf Channel reached 9.1 million viewers across last week, +24% vs. 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club.
·         LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN programming reached more than 7 million total viewers for the week (+15% vs. 2011).
·         MORNING DRIVE content reached almost 2 million viewers (1.9mil) – setting a new weekly high for the daily morning show in 2013.
·         LEE TREVINO: AN AMERICAN CHAMPION, which showcased the 1971 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, has reached 1.4 million viewers to date with premieres on NBC on Sunday, June 9 and Golf Channel on Monday, June 17, making it the most-viewed Golf Channel-produced documentary in 2013.
 
GolfChannel.com’s and Golf Channel Mobile’s Coverage of U.S. Open:
·         GolfChannel.com scored its most-clicked week ever for page views (14.98 million, +56% YOY), unique visitors (2.37 million, +12% YOY), and video starts (2.84 million, +358% YOY).
·         Golf Channel Mobile scored its second most-clicked week ever for page views (10.17 million, +35% YOY) and unique visitors (440K, +36% YOY).

Comments

[Gabe]

"Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it up
Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side
Cause you and I know it's tha best side..." - T. Shakur

[Jordan]

And Geoff, don't forget about earthquakes. LOL. Remember when David Fay worried about them.

[Jeremy]

3 of the last 6 opens were on the west coast, and 2 of the next 7 are. Seems about right given the relative number of venues that can host the tournament on each coast.

[highside]

Tree lined courses are boring, but make for better TV, as the fairway is clearly defined for the viewing audience. St. Andrews, Royal Melbourne, Kiawah, etc. look bland on screen, but are obviously superior in the flesh. The solution? Throw your television out the window, and go play golf.

[OldManPar]

So there's a chance I can watch the 2015 US Open without the pesky task of muting the arrogant ramblings of Johnny "my 63 is the best round in the history of golf and let me tell you why" Miller?

[Andy]

It's the national open, it seems very obvious that they should move it around to different parts of the country. They are beyond overdue for an Open in the midwest. I know they have Erin Hills coming up but it's been way too long since Olympia Fields. The only location that seems out is the deep south (due to heat) but otherwise everything else should be considered.

[Hawkeye]

West coast majors s**k for us in Europe. I had to stay up until 4 AM last year just to see Jim Furyk lose by snap-hooking a 3-wood from the ladies' tee.

[Ted B. (Charging Rhino)]

There's definitely a difference in the potential viewing-audience between an US Open on the East Coast that finished at 730pm EDT / 330pm WDT---and an US Open on the West Coast that can finish on TV at 1000pm or even 1100pm EDT / 700pm WDT with extensive evening Prime Time viewing hours. Plus you're three additional hours clearer of other sporting events during Sunday afternoons on the East Coast.

[B]

How many architecturally interesting sites are there on the west coast? Torrey is a snooze fest. Hope they never go back there again.