Golf Channel Matches Highest-Rated Year Ever In 2015

Golf Channel encourages more golfers to play golf through portfolio of lifestyle brands, highlighted by 15.2 million rounds booked via GolfNow.

In 2015, Golf Channel matched its highest-rated year ever (.11 HH Cvg Rtg, 24-hour Total Day 6AM-6AM) for the second consecutive year, according to data released by The Nielsen Company. Additionally, viewership growth was driven in part by millennials with impressions for Persons 25-34 increasing +50 percent in Total Day, +17 percent in Primetime and +22 percent for PGA Tour coverage. Since joining NBC Sports Group in 2011, Golf Channel has scored its five best years ever and has increased ratings +57 percent and viewership +43 percent over that span. Also in 2015, Golf Channel continued as the No. 1 most-affluent ad-supported television network in both total day and primetime for the second consecutive year.

"Golf Channel’s success in 2015 was fueled by the most live coverage ever, which featured a young crop of players making names for themselves as the future stars of the game. In 2016, we will build on this momentum with the addition of an exciting 12-week span that includes The Open, Olympics, FedExCup Playoffs and Ryder Cup," said Mike McCarley, president of Golf Channel. "Additionally, we are carrying that momentum beyond traditional TV with millions of our loyal viewers engaging with us daily across our portfolio of digital and golf lifestyle brands."

73 Million Consume Live Golf Via NBC Sports Group

In 2015, NBC Sports Group reached more than 73 million unique viewers via Golf Channel on NBC broadcasts and Golf Channel, which provided more live tournament golf coverage than all other U.S. television networks combined. Golf Channel televised 128 events that reached more than 500k viewers (+133 percent vs. 2010, +14 percent vs. 2014) and 13 events that reached more than 1 million viewers (+117 percent vs. 2010, +225 percent vs. 2014). This led to Golf Channel posting its second most-watched year (99,000 average viewers, 24-hour Total Day 6AM-6AM, 1 percent vs. 2014), surpassed only by 2013.

105 Million Visits to Golf Channel Digital

Golf Channel’s success extended across all platforms, including more than 105 million visits to Golf Channel Digital, which again saw best-ever results in key metrics for GolfChannel.com traffic, live streaming consumption, mobile app usage and social media followers. Golf Channel also helped connect more golfers to the game via its portfolio of digital lifestyle brands, including GolfNow, which utilizes technology to encourage more golfers to play more golf and helped golf course partners book more than 15.2 million rounds of golf in 2015, a 13 percent increase vs. 2014.