-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
All golf all the time?
- Thread starter vibe
- Start date
A
ARK AFL
Guest
Golf on radio. Sounds exhilarating.
Up until a couple years ago PGA TOUR Radio produced syndicated golf programming for radio and the internet. Their programming included not only some weekly golf magazine-type shows, but also live play-by-play coverage of tournaments on the weekends. It was actually pretty decent programming, and their announcers were less stodgy than the TV guys. The PGA TOUR apparently decided to move the programming from radio to XM; I've heard it, and it's not up to par with the former radio product.
"All Golf Radio"?!
How about tennis on the radio? In stereo!!
(I have wondered about having hockey broadcast in stereo...how would that go over?)
How about tennis on the radio? In stereo!!
(I have wondered about having hockey broadcast in stereo...how would that go over?)
Hopefully not off topic but while driving on I-95 in South Carolina on Sunday happened to listen to the carolina Panthers-Cinci Bengals on 100.1 or 100.3 (can't remember) out of Florence SC. During the timeouts there were no commercials, what you got was the crowd and PA announcer stuff. Quite interesting..
Golf on the radio? That is what got me interested in the business in the 50s. I was 12 when my dad took me to a golf tournament. The sport bored me to tears at the time - but I was fascinated by the fact that both hometown radio stations had set up tents and were broadcasting play-by-play and scores continuioulsy though the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday rounds (PGA tournaments were three rounds in those days). I spent the three days watching the drama unfold from the radio tents!
Stations borrowed field radios from the National Guard and had reporters all over the course - much like television does today! It was riviting!
Doubt it would work today except as a service limited to the course like the PGA did for several years.
Stations borrowed field radios from the National Guard and had reporters all over the course - much like television does today! It was riviting!
Doubt it would work today except as a service limited to the course like the PGA did for several years.
Sports involve a certain degree of controversy and very few media follow the PGA Tour on a full time basis. It's like baseball in the 1940's 1950's, a lot of things that could have made the newspapers or broadcast on the radio stayed in the locker room. I just went to a golf tournament and watching it in person was boring as opposed to playing the game itself. I thought that a station that broadcasts in an area that has a lot of golf course/golf intrest could make a go of it, somewhat like The Golf Channel where they can get the network feed for live tournaments and do talk shows and other features. But I'm probably wrong.
Take an area like Myrtle Beach SC with hundreds of golf courses. Would have to make deals with hotels and rental agents to have the station on in each room. Sell advertising to golf courses, restaurants, bars, strip clubs, golf shops, etc.
I could see a format clock like an all news station with a 20 or 30 minute cycle - weather, course conditions, golf tips, restaurant reviews. Some real news and sports (golfers do care about world issues).
In addition to spot advertising, you could sell features on new courses, area attractions, etc.
Problem presented is the seasonal nature of the sport in most locales. Even a golf meca has an off season. Advertiising pricing would have to be structured to encourage year-round advertising.
It could work - in limited areas.
I could see a format clock like an all news station with a 20 or 30 minute cycle - weather, course conditions, golf tips, restaurant reviews. Some real news and sports (golfers do care about world issues).
In addition to spot advertising, you could sell features on new courses, area attractions, etc.
Problem presented is the seasonal nature of the sport in most locales. Even a golf meca has an off season. Advertiising pricing would have to be structured to encourage year-round advertising.
It could work - in limited areas.
Or some type of a "snowbird" radio system where 2 stations, one up north w/ a lot of retirees as listeners (who play golf) and another station down down south. Both stations have a main format(golf)for their audience half the year and a secondary format for when the snowbirds are out of town.
That would work if whole towns flocked to another town, but it doesn't work that way. Station would just have to plan for the lean months like the rest of us do! Higher rates in peak season, lower rates in off season. Better yet, get golf courses and resorts to commit for a whole year at a decent average rate.
Up north, the golfing season is limited to 7-8 months )die hards) and 3-4 month for the fair weather ones. In SW Fla for example one can obviously play year round but the locals have the run of things from mid Apr to mid Nov. There was a golf talk show in Venice but the format changed from sports to geezer.
It is all about advertiser support - and that requires listeners in significant numbers. It would be a tough sell, but with the right marketing, it could be a success. Would take a long time to be a business success and the investors would have to be mighty patient. Would only work in a high traffic golfing area. Forget up north - season is way too short above the North Carolina/Virginia line.
Could work in places like Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, Hilton Head and points south and along the RTJ Golf Trail. Maybe a network of stations programmed from a central location with golf tips and news, and a few local segments as mentioned before.
The network concert would more likely attract advertising from the makers of clubs and other golf equipment. Would also possibly attract destination advertising.
Still, it would be mighty tough to sustain a 24/7 format.
Could work in places like Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, Hilton Head and points south and along the RTJ Golf Trail. Maybe a network of stations programmed from a central location with golf tips and news, and a few local segments as mentioned before.
The network concert would more likely attract advertising from the makers of clubs and other golf equipment. Would also possibly attract destination advertising.
Still, it would be mighty tough to sustain a 24/7 format.
A station aimed at golfers would not necessarily be all golf all the time. Evenings would be very important. Few golfers listen while they are playing, but those visiting golf resort areas like Myrtle Beach would be on the lookout for evening activities - and in the evening, would be interested in hearing about golf deals tomorrow, and the weather.
Such a station would requre a great deal of help from the local visitors bureau and chamber of commerce to get started and begin the process of building a customer base. I still think it could be done.
Such a station would requre a great deal of help from the local visitors bureau and chamber of commerce to get started and begin the process of building a customer base. I still think it could be done.
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.