ORLAND, Fla. -- The Golf Channel and PGA Golf Exhibitions announced their renewed partnership for the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show following last year's successful extended live television coverage from the Show floor.
Once again, golfers around the country will have an exclusive inside view to the world’s largest and most influential golf industry marketplace in Orlando, Fla. As a Show media partner, The Golf Channel will provide live media coverage of the first three days of the Show, Jan. 26-28, with a daily two-hour broadcast from a 15-foot tall broadcast tower on the Show floor within the Orange County Convention Center. Coverage will conclude with a marathon replay of programming on Sunday, Jan. 29. Additionally, a special one-hour highlight show capturing the best of the day's coverage will air in prime time each evening, Jan. 26 -28.
"We had a lot of fun bringing our viewers 'inside the ropes' at a major golf industry event that not many people around the world can ever hope to see in person," said Gene Pizzolato, The Golf Channel’s executive vice president of advertising sales and new media. "We're looking forward to enhancing our broadcast of the PGA Merchandise Show in 2006."
The 54th PGA Merchandise Show provides a preview to the new season's equipment, apparel and accessories from the game's leading brands and is open exclusively to industry professionals. With its coverage, The Golf Channel will give viewers a chance to catch the first glimpse of golf's latest merchandise, hear from industry trend setters and see what's new from companies such as Callaway Golf, Nike, Ben Hogan, Top-Flite, Ashworth, Sport-Haley, Antigua, AHEAD and many others. Viewers also will get "behind the scenes" at the Show's outdoor equipment Demo Day, apparel fashion shows and the world's largest indoor Equipment Test Center.
"It is exciting for the viewers of The Golf Channel to have the opportunity once again to peer into the infrastructure of the golf industry and see the direction the business of golf is heading," said PGA President Roger Warren.
"We are very happy to partner with The Golf Channel again this year to bring the PGA Merchandise Show, its exhibitors and industry leaders directly to golfers throughout the country," added PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President and Show Manager Ed Several. "We anticipate another successful broadcast and have exciting plans to showcase the golf industry in new ways to enthusiastic Golf Channel viewers."
Organized in partnership with The PGA of America, the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 26-29, will host more than 45,000 PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders to preview the products and services of more than 1,200 golf-related exhibitors within 500,000 net square feet of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Some 4,000 PGA Professionals, invited key buyers and media will kick off the industry gathering by field-testing products of some 60 exhibitors at the annual Golf Demo Day, Jan. 25, at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend the annual expansive education conference offering more than 75 industry seminars. An unparalleled industry gathering, the PGA Merchandise Show also offers daily fashion shows, the world’s largest indoor equipment test center, The PGA Business of Golf Conference, New Product Centers, a Golf Memorabilia Display and Appraisal area, specialty exhibitor pavilions, The PGA Employment Center, a Pro-Pro Tournament Series, and the annual PGA Awards Night. For more information or to register, please call 1.800.PGA.EXPO or visit www.pgaexpo.com.
The Golf Channel (www.thegolfchannel.com), co-founded by Arnold Palmer, is available in more than 69 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. It features a programming schedule that includes more live golf coverage than any other network - an extensive blend of golf competition from around the world - as well as news, instruction and original productions, such as the popular The Big Break. In addition to being the exclusive television home of the Nationwide Tour, European Tour and Canadian Tour, The Golf Channel is the exclusive cable home of the Champions Tour and televises other competition from the LPGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour of Southern Africa.
