Golf Channel Posts Record Viewership for Ryder Cup Day 1

(RELEASE) - With coverage of Ryder Cup Day 1 from 8 a.m. - 6:56 p.m. ET, Golf Channel posted its most-watched Friday telecast in history, since the network was founded by Arnold Palmer more than 21 years ago, averaging 1.3 million viewers per minute and posting a 0.94 U.S. HH rating across the nearly 11 hours of coverage, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.  The afternoon session (1:30 - 6:56 p.m. ET) delivered 1.5 million average viewers, second only to the Masters on cable on a Friday afternoon in 2016. This is the first time Golf Channel has provided coverage of the Ryder Cup from the United States as part of NBC Sports partnership with the PGA of America through 2030.

Additional highlights include:
· Coverage peaked at 1.678 million viewers and 1.21 US HH rating from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. ET.
· Full day coverage is +30% vs. cable coverage Friday at the 2016 U.S. Open on FS1 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET; 999,000 average viewers, 0.73 U.S. HH rating).
· Afternoon session (1:30-6:56 p.m. ET, 1.5 million average viewers) is +13% vs. Friday at 2016 PGA Championship on TNT (1-7:30 p.m. ET; 1.320 million average viewers, 0.95 U.S. HH rating)
· Golf Channel’s coverage also was the network’s most-streamed day ever in both minutes (18.4 million) and unique devices (280k).
· Golf Channel's comprehensive coverage of Day 1 at the Ryder Cup, including the live coverage (8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET) and the primetime replay (9 p.m.-2 a.m. ET), garnered a 1.62 combined overnight rating. National ratings for this aggregate audience will be available on Monday evening. Overnight ratings indicate that Day 1 of the Ryder Cup on Golf Channel was +51% vs. 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland on Golf Channel (1.07), EVEN vs. 2012 at Medinah in Chicago on ESPN (1.62) and +38% vs. 2008 at Valhalla in Louisville on ESPN (1.17).

On Day 1 of the Ryder Cup, Team USA took a 5 to 3 lead over Team Europe. Day 2 saw Team USA extend that lead to 9 ½ to 6 ½ lead. On Sunday, 12 points will be on the line as all 12 members of each team square off in singles match play.  NBC Sports has complete coverage with Golf Channel’s Morning Drive from 7 - 9 a.m. ET; Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup from 9 a.m. – Noon ET and then live coverage of the matches starting on NBC at Noon ET.  Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup will continue on Golf Channel from Noon – 2 p.m. ET as players continue to warm up on the range for their matches.