Dissecting news from the CW, NBC and CBS. Plus, GQ's Netflix doc story, Love is back (again), the 2031 Ryder Cup favorite, Stallings gets his invite, golf auction news and a bunch of Reads.
For what it’s worth consider ordering Geoff’s new book through an independent local bookstore if there’s one in your area. It’s typically the case that they have websites that are as easy to use as Amazon. Preorders are important for authors for a number of reasons wherever you do them.
How did I live 74 years on this planet, earn a college degree, and have a successful 40-year career writing and editing and not come across the work “candidature?” I feel so unworthy.
Hey Geoff-- my office used to be across the hall from the CW's corporate offices (here in D.C.), and I got to know a few of their sales executives pretty well during their last ownership transition just before the pandemic hit. CW was hemorrhaging viewers and was struggling to sell adds due to both the lack of content and the age of their audience. They made a big deal of launching a weekday talk show with Arsenio Hall and that lasted maybe one season before it was cancelled, and other than the "Jane The Virgin" series (not exactly a pro-golf demographic watching that show), you would be hard pressed to name a single show on the network. So, unless things have dramatically turned around the last three year, it's pretty much a desperation play with LIV. But I think you knew that already.
TV deal or no TV deal, LIV is still just a small group of highly paid well known players plus another group of hardly known players playing for buckets of cash in events that really have no significance. You might turn it on for a few minutes as a novelty, but sit and watch for several hours? I don't see that happening, not in great numbers anyway.
Looking forward to the new book. With all your influence Geoff, could you please move the release date up to Feb/Mar? Could use a good golf book when courses closed in Canada. Or consider flipping a late draft to a friend in exchange for say a dozen arctic ice cubes in the shape of Greg Norman. They don’t speak, and just slowly melt away. Now that’s a good deal.
The PGAT and the USGA should take notice that visually special course along the coasts or Great Lakes come across best on television. In the post Tiger age tree lined country clubs with no weather become putting contests. Sorry Baltusroll and even a Pinehurst are just not that attractive. Time to make golf more entertaining and long rounds and just raising already obscene purses is clearly not the answer. Time to move on from Jay Monahan.
Looking forward to the book, Geoff. Any idea if there will be an audible (my preferred method in LA traffic)? Or is it image heavy and far more worthy of a physical read? Thanks as always.
The Smallville theme song was playing in my head as I learned of the broadcast deal between The CW and LIV. I wonder if we'll see LIV players on the KTLA Morning News.
Jokes aside, The CW appears in a lot more households than does Golf Channel. And, without familiar faces Gary Koch/Roger Maltbie/Sir Nick, I'm not rushing to watch the other guys.
Geoff, thanks for the redirect to bookshop.org. I am joining you and David Jones in East Lothian. Will you join the Walker Cup afterwards ? Love to connect at Augusta (Friday) this year and say hello if you avoid Atlanta on your way there.
Annika the Ice Queen certainly didn't do herself or the LPGA any favors with her quote “It’s unfortunate that that story is kind of being discussed.” regarding the lack of female locker room facilities. Along with the brownnosing she (and her 11-year-old son!) showed at the PNC, it seems clear that she could care less about the plebians. Don't rock the boat, keep the sponsors happy. Must have her sights set on bigger things
Wow, I would not have guessed about the viewership. I don't know the numbers here in D.C., but it's a non-factor as far as reach in this area.
For what it’s worth consider ordering Geoff’s new book through an independent local bookstore if there’s one in your area. It’s typically the case that they have websites that are as easy to use as Amazon. Preorders are important for authors for a number of reasons wherever you do them.
How did I live 74 years on this planet, earn a college degree, and have a successful 40-year career writing and editing and not come across the work “candidature?” I feel so unworthy.
Hey Geoff-- my office used to be across the hall from the CW's corporate offices (here in D.C.), and I got to know a few of their sales executives pretty well during their last ownership transition just before the pandemic hit. CW was hemorrhaging viewers and was struggling to sell adds due to both the lack of content and the age of their audience. They made a big deal of launching a weekday talk show with Arsenio Hall and that lasted maybe one season before it was cancelled, and other than the "Jane The Virgin" series (not exactly a pro-golf demographic watching that show), you would be hard pressed to name a single show on the network. So, unless things have dramatically turned around the last three year, it's pretty much a desperation play with LIV. But I think you knew that already.
TV deal or no TV deal, LIV is still just a small group of highly paid well known players plus another group of hardly known players playing for buckets of cash in events that really have no significance. You might turn it on for a few minutes as a novelty, but sit and watch for several hours? I don't see that happening, not in great numbers anyway.
Golf Architecture for Normal People is ordered. Hope to meet you on your book tour.
Looking forward to the new book. With all your influence Geoff, could you please move the release date up to Feb/Mar? Could use a good golf book when courses closed in Canada. Or consider flipping a late draft to a friend in exchange for say a dozen arctic ice cubes in the shape of Greg Norman. They don’t speak, and just slowly melt away. Now that’s a good deal.
The PGAT and the USGA should take notice that visually special course along the coasts or Great Lakes come across best on television. In the post Tiger age tree lined country clubs with no weather become putting contests. Sorry Baltusroll and even a Pinehurst are just not that attractive. Time to make golf more entertaining and long rounds and just raising already obscene purses is clearly not the answer. Time to move on from Jay Monahan.
Looking forward to the book, Geoff. Any idea if there will be an audible (my preferred method in LA traffic)? Or is it image heavy and far more worthy of a physical read? Thanks as always.
The Smallville theme song was playing in my head as I learned of the broadcast deal between The CW and LIV. I wonder if we'll see LIV players on the KTLA Morning News.
Jokes aside, The CW appears in a lot more households than does Golf Channel. And, without familiar faces Gary Koch/Roger Maltbie/Sir Nick, I'm not rushing to watch the other guys.
Geoff, thanks for the redirect to bookshop.org. I am joining you and David Jones in East Lothian. Will you join the Walker Cup afterwards ? Love to connect at Augusta (Friday) this year and say hello if you avoid Atlanta on your way there.
Annika the Ice Queen certainly didn't do herself or the LPGA any favors with her quote “It’s unfortunate that that story is kind of being discussed.” regarding the lack of female locker room facilities. Along with the brownnosing she (and her 11-year-old son!) showed at the PNC, it seems clear that she could care less about the plebians. Don't rock the boat, keep the sponsors happy. Must have her sights set on bigger things