Golf Channel and NBC have a new host and a new program.
On Tuesday the network announced the hiring of Shane Bacon, who will serve as a co-host for a new, live daily show, Golf Today. Fellow hosts are Damon Hack, Anna Whiteley and Jimmy Roberts. Bacon will also be a member of Golf Central Live From and will provide play-by-play commentary and reports during live tournament coverage.
The announcement bookends what has been an up-and-down year for the network. In May, NBC and Golf Channel on-air personalities took voluntary pay cuts amid the pandemic. In June, major layoffs were announced for its Orlando-based staff after February’s news of Golf Channel moving its offices from Florida to Stamford, Connecticut, as part of a corporate consolidation.
A week later, the USGA announced the media rights for its championships had moved from Fox Sports to NBCUniversal. Bacon was the former host of Fox’s golf coverage and currently hosts a podcast with PGA Tour pro Max Homa.
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“Golf Today represents a natural progression in our daily studio programming. At midday, we can lead the daily golf conversation with access to newsmakers in all time zones, Tour players on the range preparing for upcoming tournaments and live press conferences.” said Golf Channel executive producer Molly Solomon via a press release. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Shane Bacon as a co-host of Golf Today. Shane has developed an avid fan base with his fresh and insightful approach across his work on golf broadcasts, social media and podcasts, and he’ll be a great fit with the Golf Today, Live From and tournament teams.”
Golf Today was the original name of the network’s live tournament pre-game show and will replace it’s current morning show, Morning Drive. The show debuts on Monday, January 4.
“I’m excited to be joining the GOLF Channel and NBC family – it’s where golf happens, and I’m a golfer,” said Bacon. “The fact that I get to work with the top of the top in terms of analysts, play-by-play voices, and behind-the-scenes folks is a dream come true. I’ve known Damon for a long time and he’s the cream of the crop when it comes to golf journalism. Being a part of a new show will allow us to be creative and collaborative, lean on those ideas that we like, and build a great team together.”
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