92nd PGA Championship loads up with HD, online, mobile and 3D video this weekend
Just in case you haven't already been spending the day following Tiger Woods up and down the course in Whistling Straights, between PGA.com and TNT, there's plenty of ways to watch the PGA Championship this weekend. 3D coverage kicks off shortly, broadcast from holes 12 and 17 between 3 and 7 p.m. today and tomorrow on Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable, plus a Silverlight online stream for properly equipped PC viewers. That's on top of PGA.com's 2D streams following marquee groups like the aforementioned Woods/Singh/Yang trio, an iPhone / iPad app (free, but live video streaming is a $1.99 purchase and 20 hours of coverage on TNT. With just two holes, this is much more of a trial run than some of the events we've seen lately, but until there's more 3D on it's probably worth setting the DVR for.%Gallery-99297%
Show full PR text
Turner Sports and The PGA to Offer 3D Coverage of the 92nd PGA Championship Through PGA.com and TNT's Television Distributors
Vince Cellini to host coverage alongside 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem
Turner Sports and The PGA of America announced today they will offer coverage of the 92nd PGA Championship in 3D on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13, on PGA.com and through TNT's television distributors Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, and Time Warner Cable. The 3D coverage will focus on the par-3 12th and 17th holes at Whistling Straits from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET each day. Host Vince Cellini who will be joined by 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem will provide commentary and analysis on the holes. Beem also will provide analysis throughout the weekend during PGA.com's extensive 2D online offerings.
The 3D production will utilize eight cameras produced specifically for 3D that will provide a unique look at course action and give fans a one-of-a-kind visual experience to watch the world's best golfers play the course's challenging par-3s. In order to experience
the event in 3D, viewers will need a 3D TV or PC display with matching 3D glasses. Fans can visit http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2010/3d to get more information about the hardware and software used to view the 3D production online.
In addition to 3D coverage, Turner Sports will also offer 20 hours of television coverage on TNT, live 2D coverage on PGA.com and on mobile devices, with additional details to be announced at a later date.
"At Turner Sports we continually look to provide the fan with an innovative viewing experience through our ability to test and explore new opportunities," said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports EVP and COO. "The PGA Championship has always been a platform for forward thinking and interactive technology. During previous PGA Championship coverage on TNT and PGA.com, we have introduced our marquee follow coverage, live streaming action through mobile apps and included social networking within our linear broadcast. Introducing 3D coverage to this crown jewel event allows us another opportunity to better serve our audience and add to our multitude of platforms."
"The PGA Championship has perennially been the source of many of the game's most special moments," said PGA of America Director of Broadcast & New Media Casey Morton. "The addition of 3D television and online technology unfolding at Whistling Straits, a spectacular venue for viewers, is yet another new level of excitement for fans to follow the world's premier players. We anticipate that the addition of this bonus for viewers opens another chapter in PGA Championship tradition."
Each year during the PGA Championship, Turner provides fans with an exclusive and interactive viewing experience combining television, online and mobile. Through TNT's four days of coverage, the ability to follow marquee groups live on PGA.com and instant player alerts and notifications on the PGA Championship iPhone app, fans get an all-access pass for all the tournament action.
About PGA.com
PGA.com is the official online destination for The PGA of America and is home to the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, The PGA Grand Slam of Golf and The Ryder Cup. Beginning in 2002, Turner Sports and the PGA formed a multi-year alliance with a mission to serve the golfing public, PGA Professionals and the golf industry with products and services to grow the game of golf. The two organizations recently expanded the deal through 2019 to include licensing with Turner's Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) serving as the PGA's licensing agent in the youth marketplace. As a leader and innovator in broadband golf coverage, PGA.com continues to gain success for its PGA.com LIVE video presentation of PGA's premier events. In 2007 PGA.com Pipeline LIVE was nominated for an Emmy® by the National Television Academy. In 2009, PGA.com's on air, online and mobile coverage of the PGA Championship was nominated for an Emmy® by the National Television Academy and was awarded a CommArts Interactive award for the PGA Championship LIVE video and the PGA Championship iPhone app.
About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS, TNT and truTV, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports' diverse portfolio also offers a collection of mobile Web sites and apps featuring NBA, NASCAR and professional golf content, along with Turner Sports' first branded consumer product, SportsNOW. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAUGE.com and WNBA.com.
Turner Sports Tees Up Multiplatform Coverage of 92nd PGA Championship from Aug. 12-15
Extensive Television, Online and Mobile Coverage Provides Fans All-Access Pass to Year's Final Major
Turner Sports will provide extensive multiplatform coverage for all four rounds of the 92nd PGA Championship, live from Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. from Aug. 12-15, with television, online and mobile access to the year's final major championship. TNT will televise 20 hours of exclusive television coverage, the most the network has ever aired for the event, including seven hours each for rounds one and two (1 – 8 p.m. ET), along with early coverage of the third and final rounds (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET). TNT's announcing team will feature two-time Emmy® award-winning host Ernie Johnson (play-by-play) who will joined by Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Billy Kratzert (analyst) and Jim Huber (interviewer/essayist) in calling the Championship. This is the 20th consecutive year, and 12th straight on TNT, that Turner Sports will air the event.
Advertising sponsors for this year's coverage include ING, Mercedes-Benz, Northwestern Mutual, RBC and Viagra. Mercedes-Benz and RBC both will expand on-air brand awareness with an extensive presence on PGA.com, the official site of The PGA of America, joining other online sponsors, American Airlines and Westin® Hotels & Resorts, throughout the championship coverage.
PGA Championship LIVE will once again return to the newly-redesigned PGA.com with extensive bonus coverage of the major championship from the course via three broadband channels. For the first two rounds, PGA.com will follow the threesome of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and defending champion of the 2009 PGA Championship Y.E. Yang (Tee times: R1, 9:20 a.m. ET/R2 2:35 p.m. ET) and the group of 2010 major champions Phil Mickelson (Masters), Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open) and Louis Oosthuizen (Open Championship) (Tee times: R1, 2:35 p.m. ET, R2, 9:20 a.m. ET). PGA.com will also feature two marquee groups during the final two rounds. 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem will provide commentary and analysis throughout the weekend during PGA.com's live coverage. This year's field includes a record 73 international players, among 99 of the top 100 players in the latest Official World Golf Rankings and 28 major champions competing.
In addition, PGA.com's award-winning mobile coverage will return with the PGA Championship App to provide live coverage to fans. This year's PGA Championship App, available in the App Store, will provide live scoring and instant updates to golf fans at no charge during the 2010 PGA Championship from Aug. 12-15. The PGA Championship app also offers in-app purchase for $1.99 where users can upgrade to exclusive access of live video for the marquee groups on all four days of play including live video streaming of the par-3 holes at Whistling Straits. The PGA Championship App utilizes advanced push notifications to help fans keep track of their favorite players without having the app open and different push notifications utilize specific sounds, which highlight the nature of the alert. The PGA Championship App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, and iPod touch or from http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pga-championship/id325462190?mt=8.
As previously announced, Turner Sports and The PGA of America will offer coverage of the PGA Championship in 3D on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13, on PGA.com and through TNT's television distributors Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable. The 3D coverage will focus on the par-3 12th and 17th holes at Whistling Straits from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (ET) each day. Host Vince Cellini will be joined by Beem to provide commentary and analysis on the holes.
"The PGA Championship is a marquee event both for the sport of golf and for Turner Sports and each year we strive to offer the most comprehensive, multiplatform coverage to fans, allowing them to follow the event on television, online or through mobile devices," said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. "With the addition of 3D coverage added to the already robust, interactive offerings, we are thrilled to once again serve as trail blazers in our live event coverage."
In its fifth consecutive year of providing live video coverage, PGA.com will host three channels of PGA Championship content on an HD quality video player that features picture-in-picture for fans to watch multiple streams at once. The PGA Championship LIVE streams will include:
Marquee Groups – During all four rounds PGA.com will follow select groups during their rounds. PGA.com announcers will include Marc Fein (play-by-play), Michael Breed (analyst) and Brian Katrek and Craig Sager (reporters).
Par 3 – Watch the world's best golfers play the challenging Par 3's as PGA.com isolates holes 3, 7, 12 and 17 throughout the tournament.
Strait Advice – PGA Professional Michael Breed will be joined by Jim Richerson, PGA, General Manager & Group Director of Golf for Kohler Co. to give hole-by-hole analysis of how players must play the course in order to win the Wanamaker Trophy.
The PGA Championship LIVE experience will also feature integrated content such as live reports and insights from PGA Professionals who will provide Twitter updates as they follow the action on the course, the ability to connect with friends on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace while watching the live footage online and a leaderboard and player scorecards which can be added to the video player page to follow all the action at once.
92nd PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: TNT AND PGA.COM SCHEDULE
TNT SCHEDULE
Show Title: PGA Championship on TNT
Thursday (8/12): 1-8 p.m. (ET)
Friday (8/13): 1-8 p.m. (ET)
Saturday (8/14): 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (ET)
Sunday (8/15): 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. (ET)
PGA.COM SCHEDULE
Show Title: Marquee Groups
Thursday (8/12): 9a.m.-8p.m. (ET)
Friday (8/13): 9a.m.-8p.m. (ET)
Saturday (8/14): 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (ET)
Sunday (8/15): 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. (ET)
Show Title: Par 3's
Thursday (8/12): 1-8 p.m. (ET)
Friday (8/13): 1-8 p.m. (ET)
Saturday (8/14): 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. (ET)
Sunday (8/15): 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. (ET)
TNT & PGA.COM 3D SCHEDULE
Show Title: 3D Coverage
Thursday (8/12): 3-7 p.m. (ET)
Friday (8/13): 3-7 p.m. (ET)
Saturday (8/14): N/A
Sunday (8/15): N/A
TNT's 2009 PGA Championship coverage earned significant television ratings increases on each of its four days of coverage, averaging a 1.4 US HH rating, a 75% increase over 2008. In addition, the event led PGA.com to its highest four-days in-site history for its traffic, page views and video streams, marking the most successful four days in PGA.com's four-year history of providing live video streaming for the PGA Championship. The site saw 1.4 million average daily uniques, a 94% increase from 2008, and 206 million total page views, a 68% increase from 2008. In addition, Turner Sports' 2009 online golf portfolio, which included PGA.com and Yahoo!, delivered a total of 3.4 million video streams, including a record 2.4 million live player streams, a 204% increase from 2008. Turner Sports was nominated for an Emmy® Award for its 2009 PGA Championship multiplatform coverage.
TNT, one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama. Available in 99.6 million households, the network is home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Men of a Certain Age, with Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott; the upcoming Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Memphis Beat, with Jason Lee; Southland, from Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (ER); and Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, CSI: NY and Numb3rs; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. The NCAA men's basketball tournament will appear on TNT beginning in 2011. TNT is available in high-definition.
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS, TNT and truTV, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com. Turner Sports' diverse portfolio also offers a collection of mobile Web sites and apps featuring NBA, NASCAR and professional golf content, along with Turner Sports' first branded consumer product, SportsNOW. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAUGE.com and WNBA.com.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
-30-
