Arnie, Golf Channel's three-part docuseries about Arnold Palmer (reviewed here), a legend of the sport and co-founder of the network, is the network's highest-viewed original production.
The first installment, Arnie & His Army, on Sunday, April 13, drew 471,000 viewers, which nearly doubled Golf Channel’s previous most-watched original film, War By The Shore (241,000 viewers in September 2012), which was about the the epic 1991 Ryder Cup and was produced by former HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg. It also was the most-watched premiere of any Golf Channel original program on record.
Part two, Arnie & His Majors, on Monday, April 14, drew 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%. Part three, Arnie & His Legacy, on Tuesday, April 15, drew 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 viewers). It bettered the same timeslot in 2013 by 295%, the NBCUniversal-owned channel said.
In all, the short series drew 1.75 million unique viewers, according to the channel.
On social media, the program also drew tweets from notable golfers, including Jordan Spieth, the 20-year-old who finished tied for second at the Masters on Sunday after leading on the final day. "Are you kidding me?! #Arnie flew his own plane tourney to tourney? How cool is this guy. Couldn't do what we love in pro golf without him!" he tweeted from @JordanSpieth.
GolfChannel.com has launched a social hub to collect stories, photos, videos and memories about Arnold Palmer, 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.
