Golf Channel Launches Arledge-Inspired Editorial Research Unit

Golf Channel has created a new Editorial Research Unit modeled after the Olympic Research Unit model first created by Roone Arledge at ABC Sports in 1967 and used over the past two decades by NBC as the foundation of its Olympic storytelling.

Much in the same way that personalizing Olympic athletes from around the world through storytelling creates more compelling and entertaining Olympic programming, the golf research unit is designed to strengthen and ensure quality of editorial content across all platforms, including broadcast and cable television, and all digital offerings.

“By mining the best stories in golf, our research unit will give us a consistent editorial voice and strengthen the quality of our on-air product across all of our platforms,” says Geoff Russell, Executive Editor, Golf Channel, who will oversee the group. “The NBC Olympic research team has long been credited with helping viewers connect with its coverage and now is a key part of the Olympic broadcast. Our motivation was to apply that same concept to make Golf Channel even better.”

The Golf Channel Editorial Research Unit will be led by Gil Capps, a long-time Emmy Award winning producer for NBC Sports golf telecasts, who will serve as Managing Editor. The research unit will support Golf Channel and NBC production teams, including news, tournaments and original productions, as well as GolfChannel.com.

Capps, who will relocate from North Carolina to Golf Channel Studios in Orlando, has provided statistics and editorial direction in the main announcer tower for Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Dick Enberg for more than 15 years. Capps will continue to work tournaments as part of his new responsibilities for Golf Channel and NBC.

Reed Burton, a former CBS golf researcher who has been a member of the Golf Channel team since 2006 working on such shows as Golf Central, Morning Drive and the network’s Live From franchise at golf’s major events, will be research editor.