“I’m on it” – USGA CEO Mike Whan responds to NBC regarding US Open commercial outrage on social media
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Mike Whan
Saturday after NBS’s broadcast from the U.S Open sent golf Twitter into a frenzy as the USGA CEO Mike Whan started responding right back on Sunday morning. Responding to hundreds of posts from fans who complained that the U.S Open Broadcast showed too many commercials, USGA CEO Mike Whan commented, “I’m on it!”. “We have the best sports production team in the world here with our partner NBC Sports (Olympics, Super Bowl, etc.) and if the amount (number) of interruptions are problematic, we will work with our partner to do better.”
His response made a surprise break from the norm as the governing bodies rarely address criticisms of golf’s television product. Whan posted his response on Sunday morning, hours after NBC’s third-round broadcast came off the air. It is Mike Whan’s first U.S Open acting as its head of the USGA. He commented, “More TV people here than the Super Bowl (true!) so we/the USGA will work to free them up to do what they do better than anyone,”. “This has been a great U.S. Open and we will work to make 2023 at LACC even better!”
Mike Whan responds back to the fans via social media
According to golf.com, there was a meeting on Saturday with the stakeholders from both NBC and the USGA to specifically address the social media backlash of the broadcast with emphasis on the commercial hold. In 2022, NBC underwent the 2nd year of its adopted agreement with the USGA, an agreement that was formed after the network bought out the 2nd half of FOX’s gargantuan USGA deal.
It is believed that with the NBC and USGA deal, NBC had to pay the $93 million per year rate negotiated by the FOX, which in turn marks a shortfall from the economics of a “normal” golf broadcast. It means that the network has to sell more advertisements than a typical week just to break it even. On top of it, U.S Open commands more advertiser interest in any USGA event.
Its known to all how a commercial can distract a fan from enjoying their favorite sport, especially at golf’s biggest events causing frustration among the viewers. Though it’s a relief that their voice was heard and both parties are looking for a solution to provide the golf fans with better broadcast in the years to come. Because as per tradition, Rolex will sponsor the final hour of Sunday’s broadcast, which will air for fans commercial-free.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
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