Editing Golf Channel (section)

=== Acquisition by Comcast ===
In 2001, Fox sold its 30.9% stake in Golf Channel, as well as its stake in [[NBCSN|Outdoor Life Network]], to minority owner [[Comcast]] as part of a larger transaction by Fox to acquire Comcast's stake in [[Speedvision]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In December 2003, Comcast acquired the remaining 8.6% stake of Golf Channel it did not already own from the [[Tribune Company]], giving it full ownership.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{Cite web|title=Golf Channel swings into the big time|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golf-channel-swings-big-time-128418|access-date=June 29, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 20, 2007 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=December 12, 2003|title=Company News; Comcast Buys Tribune's Stake in Golf Channel|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/12/business/company-news-comcast-buys-tribune-s-stake-in-golf-channel.html|access-date=June 29, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In January 2007, Golf Channel became the exclusive cable broadcaster of the PGA Tour as part of a new 15-year contract, replacing [[Golf on ESPN|ESPN]] and [[USA Network]]. The contract included early-round coverage of all official money events, and 13 events per-season carried exclusively by the network. By then, Golf Channel had carriage in 75 million homes.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com"/> It also simplified its branding, dropping the [[Article (grammar)|article]] ''The'' from its on-air name.<ref name=ttupera>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HJNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OCUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6392%2C1831940 |newspaper=Times-News |location=Hendersonville, NC |agency=Cox News Service |last=Awtrey |first=Stan |title=Tour tees up era on Golf Channel |date=January 10, 2007 |page=5E }}</ref>

Concurrently, Comcast also launched '''Versus/Golf HD''', a [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high definition]] channel featuring programming from Golf Channel and sister network [[NBCSN|Versus]]. Golf Channel programming was broadcast during the daytime hours, and Versus programming was broadcast during the evening and primetime hours. This arrangement ended in December 2008, when both networks launched their own 24-hour high-definition simulcasts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moss|first=Linda|title=Comcast To Launch Three HD Nets, Including E!|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/133676-Comcast_To_Launch_Three_HD_Nets_Including_E_.php|access-date=August 20, 2011|publisher=Multichannel News}}</ref>

In March 2008, Comcast acquired the online golf reservation platform [[GolfNow]]. It was re-located to Golf Channel's headquarters in Orlando.<ref name=businessinsider-golfnow>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/3/comcast-buying-golfnow-com| title=Comcast Buying GolfNow.com| author=Peter Kafka| date=March 3, 2008| publisher=Business Insider| access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name=areadevelop>{{cite web| url=http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/7-31-2013/golf-channel-world-headquarters-expansion-orlando-florida348922.shtml |title=Golf Channel Invests $1.9 Million To Expand Its Orlando, Florida, Headquarters| date=July 31, 2013| publisher=Area Development| access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref>