ARNIE Finishes as Most-Watched Original in Golf Channel History

1.75 Million Unique Viewers Tune Into Arnie: #Arnie Trends on Twitter with Fans and Pros During All Three Premieres

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Arnie, Golf Channel’s three-night, primetime television event about the life and legacy of Arnold Palmer, became the most-watched original production in Golf Channel history, according to Nielsen viewership data.  From April 13 through15, 1.75 million unique viewers tuned into all or part of Arnie.  Additionally, #Arnie trended nationally on Twitter during all three premieres.

Each installment of Arnie was Golf Channel’s most-watched program of the day and each bested its previous year’s timeslot by no less than 100 percent and up to 295 percent.

Arnie & His Army: April 13
The first installment of Arnie garnered 471,000 viewers, which nearly doubled (+95%) Golf Channel’s previous most-watched original film, War By The Shore (241,000 viewers – September 2012), which featured the epic 1991 Ryder Cup and was produced by 51-time Emmy Award-winner and former HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg.  It also represented the most-watched premiere of any Golf Channel original program on record.

Arnie & His Majors: April 14
Arnie’s second hour also delivered, with 341,000 average viewers contributing to Golf Channel’s most-watched Monday after the Masters and besting its previous year’s time slot by 124 percent.

Arnie & His Legacy: April 15
The final hour of Arnie attracted 320,000 averge viewers, representing Golf Channel’s most-watched program on a Tuesday in more than two years (Big Break Ireland, Feb. 22, 2011 – 351,000).  It also topped its 2013 timeslot by 295 percent.
                 
GOLF CHANNEL’S #ARNIE ENGAGES ARNIE’S ARMY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA:
After trending nationally on Twitter on Sunday Night, #Arnie is how Arnold Palmer fans have been expressing their reaction on social media to the entire three-night event, including posts by many professional tour players:

To harness this momentum, GolfChannel.com has launched a Social Hub to collect stories, photos, videos and memories about Arnold Palmer and sponsored by Callaway Golf.  At www.golfchannel.com/arnie-and-me, posts across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that use the hashtag #Arnie are being featured, as well as submissions accepted via arnie@golfchannel.com.  Every great story deserves to be told, so this collection of interactions between Arnold Palmer and his fan base, affectionately known as Arnie’s Army, will be featured on Golf Channel in the future.