TV Coverage (Or Lack Thereof) Part 2
Hello. Well, today is the 1st round of the 1st LPGA major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, celebrating its 35th year. Right now Lorena Ochoa is -10, 5 ahead of 2nd place Michelle Wie.
Where is it on TV? Well in 35 minutes it will be on ESPN2. TSN and Sportsnet are not covering it in Canada. TSN has the PGA events, so it's covering the Bell South Classic, this week's stop which no one but the immediate residents, the players playing and their families care about. All PGA golf fans are focused on the Masters. Sportsnet is covering a poker tournament.
What is going on here?
The LPGA has star quality galore these days. Distinct personalities. Incredible stories. And finally a date for the Kraft Nabisco not competing with the Players Championship.
Would you like to be watching Michelle Wie now? Whatever she does, it's a story. How about Annika Sorenstam going for the career records in wins and majors, and possibly a Grand Slam? Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel,... the list is seemly endless. The LPGA should be the talk of the golf world, maybe even the sports world today.
Instead it's on ESPN2 for 2 hours for 3 days, then on CBS for 3 hours Sunday. Even CBS will have a backup crew, as their main teams will be going from NCAA March Madness to the Masters.
9 measly hours of coverage. How much more obscure can it be?
If I were Rogers Sportsnet, I would be buying LPGA rights in a second. There's a goldmine there to be had for minimal cost. Let TSN have the PGA tournaments, where over half of them don't have Tiger Woods, so significantly less interest. With the LPGA you have a story every week, for years to come. At least start with the LPGA majors.
The LPGA has never had a better time than right now. Let's hope we get to see it.
Regards,
Steve
Where is it on TV? Well in 35 minutes it will be on ESPN2. TSN and Sportsnet are not covering it in Canada. TSN has the PGA events, so it's covering the Bell South Classic, this week's stop which no one but the immediate residents, the players playing and their families care about. All PGA golf fans are focused on the Masters. Sportsnet is covering a poker tournament.
What is going on here?
The LPGA has star quality galore these days. Distinct personalities. Incredible stories. And finally a date for the Kraft Nabisco not competing with the Players Championship.
Would you like to be watching Michelle Wie now? Whatever she does, it's a story. How about Annika Sorenstam going for the career records in wins and majors, and possibly a Grand Slam? Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel,... the list is seemly endless. The LPGA should be the talk of the golf world, maybe even the sports world today.
Instead it's on ESPN2 for 2 hours for 3 days, then on CBS for 3 hours Sunday. Even CBS will have a backup crew, as their main teams will be going from NCAA March Madness to the Masters.
9 measly hours of coverage. How much more obscure can it be?
If I were Rogers Sportsnet, I would be buying LPGA rights in a second. There's a goldmine there to be had for minimal cost. Let TSN have the PGA tournaments, where over half of them don't have Tiger Woods, so significantly less interest. With the LPGA you have a story every week, for years to come. At least start with the LPGA majors.
The LPGA has never had a better time than right now. Let's hope we get to see it.
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 1:14 PM
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