Golf Channel UK closing down ?

MisterAnarchy

The Golf Channel UK (Sky 423) is showing as "Programmes are no longer available" from 6am on New Years Day.
Anyone know if it's closing down ?
It will be scandalous if this channel ceases operations.
Its ratings in recent weeks have been higher than Setanta Golf and its one of the best free to air channels around among the myriad of junk channels.

golfnuts

Checked it today...Its already been taken off the EPG ????
Golf channel UK will be a huge loss as its taught me to improve my game over the last 2 years.

Dromcill

Found this announcement on another site. Bad news for golf fans I'm afraid.

I can confirm that The Golf Channel UK will cease broadcasting today.

After 4 very happy years we had to take the commercial decision based upon a number of factors.

1) Cost of "good" quality programming. Yes we could have got cheaper programming but not without denigrating the viewer experience

2) Lack of availability of good programming and rights.

3) The commercial revenues that were projected over the coming years.

I'd like to thank all those viewers who have supported the channel since 2003 I believe we created a great channel with programmes that golfers wanted to watch. We also managed to cater for a wide range of golf tastes so if a particular show wasn't for you another certainly would be just right.

The Shopping channel continues as does the US version of the Golf Channel.

corkandproud

Is the US version available on satellite?

Adiaga 2

Saw this thread on monday and didn't think much of it - thought just that the schedules weren't updated on sky. Couldn't believe it yesterday that it's actually gone! Never watched it religously but enjoyed having it and there was some good instructional bits. Despite the annoying ads and infomercials it was a great channel for anyone into golf and it was free. My other half will be delighted but not me.

scout353

Really sorry that this has closed. The content was never fantastic but it had a few things that were worth watching.

Enjoyed Golf Central every morning and liked the way it looped from 7am to 10am so you could catch all of it even if you turned on mid programme.

Enjoyed Big Break and some of the Golf Travel programmes....and yes I did like The Nathalie Gulbis show too!!!

Pity

stockdam

Sad loss. Some of the teaching programmes were good and I liked the Round With The Pros.

There's Setanta Golf but you have to pay for it.

madds

Don't have SKY, so only got to see the Golf Channel when over in my parents house. My father will cry great big salty tears when I tell him the channel is gone for good. He's been praying that its just been a technical glitch.

copacetic

thats a pity, i have setanta golf and it is a fair bit better as it has tourneys too, but still a pity to see a channel go. there was no way they could compete with setanta withoutlive action though..

martinbrendan@e

It is typical of these pay per view channels,taking over the airwaves :mad:,you now have the European tour on Sky and the USPGA on Setanta,carving up the pie similar to the Premiership and have you noticed Sky advertising the Ryder cup already !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BunkerBob

No Golf Channel UK?! A great pitty. I thoroughly enjoyed all the instructional programmes from the likes of Rick Smith, Leadbetter etc. And the Big Break series were always fun to watch. Sky won't be the same now! I bought Sky a few years back mainly for the golf, when you got the European Tour, the US Tour and the Golf Channel. First the US Tour went to Setanta - now the Golf Channel has gone. Now what are we left with? I feel as though I am being ripped off here. :mad: Anyone know of the most cost effective way of getting the golf?... I'm not a big football fan.

PhilipMarlowe

I'm not going to get setanta for the US tour... not much interested in the usual fayre over there...
Sky has the WGC events, ryder cup.... european tour, BBC has the open, wentworth etc....
Even though I don't watch football, going to stick with sky...

Mister Sifter

sad to see it go!

pd101

Its sad to see it gone. It was the only channel with up to date scores and news. Sky sports news hardly give golf a look in.

scout353

BunkerBob wrote: »

I bought Sky a few years back mainly for the golf, when you got the European Tour, the US Tour and the Golf Channel. First the US Tour went to Setanta - now the Golf Channel has gone. Now what are we left with? I feel as though I am being ripped off here. :mad: Anyone know of the most cost effective way of getting the golf?... I'm not a big football fan.

I had Setanta earlier in the year because of their Golf Channel but they were generally taking the US feed which meant there were more breaks than golf so I just let it go and to be honest I haven't missed it. I also found myself just tuning in on Sunday nights for the last day's play and even then some of the golf was just boring.

Between Sky and the BBC we will see every major event anyway so it's no great loss.

The Golf Channel UK was a great free channel and it is such a pity it's gone.

Adiaga 2

I wouldn't be surprised to see setanta golf broadcast a lot more of the golf channel stuff now that GC UK is gone. It makes sense really as their live pga tour coverage comes mainly from the golf channel anyway. I also heard they have been showing a load of jjb ads recently and they were/are the owners of the golf channel uk. Also, apart from their live golf, the programme content on setanta golf is pretty poor. I still wouldn't fork out for setanta golf though..

brousuka

yeah! agree with ya all, the 423 golf channell on sky was a bit cheesy, but still came in very handy for tips and clips. F**k setanta golf i'm not paying for it, murdoch can go and sh**e!

slumped

brousuka wrote: »

yeah! agree with ya all, the 423 golf channell on sky was a bit cheesy, but still came in very handy for tips and clips. F**k setanta golf i'm not paying for it, murdoch can go and sh**e!

Murdoch owns Sky - not Setanta.

Setanta is an Irish owned operation.

S