PGA Tour Announces New TV Deals
Wednesday January 11, 2006
Concluding months of intense negotiations, the PGA Tour announced a new television contract on Wednesday that puts all PGA Tour events on just two broadcast networks and one cable network.
With details of the television contract, which starts in 2007, worked out, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a teleconference that the much-anticipated reconfigured tournament schedule that begins in 2007 would be announced likely within the next week. But it was announced today that The Players Championship will be moving to May.
CBS, NBC and particularly The Golf Channel are the big winners in the deal announced today; ABC, ESPN, TNT and USA Network will no longer be broadcasting PGA Tour events. Here's how the PGA Tour's television landscape will look beginning in 2007:
CBS
The number of broadcasts on CBS goes from 16 to 19. Included in that number will be the majority of West Coast tournaments, plus a strong slate in the spring and summer months. The WGC Bridgestone Invitational and the first event of the new season-ending four-event Championship Series will be on CBS.
NBC
NBC doubles its number of PGA Tour broadcasts, from five to 10, and will broadcast the final three tournaments of the four-event Championship Series that will end the FedEx Cup season. NBC will also televise two World Golf Championships - the World Match Play Championship, plus the CA Championship that will be played in March at Doral.
NBC and CBS are the only two broadcast networks offering PGA Tour coverage beginning in 2007, and running through the 6-year duration of the new contracts. And the only cable network broadcasting the PGA Tour will be ...
The Golf Channel
Under a 15-year-agreement, The Golf Channel is the exclusive cable TV partner of the PGA Tour. The Golf Channel will provide early-round coverage of all official-money events on the Tour, as well as full coverage of the first three events each year. The Golf Channel will also offer full coverage of all events in the Fall Series following the Tour Championship. The Golf Channel also continues its coverage of the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
The Players Championship
Meanwhile, the other big announcement on Wednesday was the official move of The Players Championship to a May date from its current March date. Beginning in 2007, The Players Championship will take place the second week of May, and the broadcast will be modeled on the limited-commercial-interruption approach taken at The Masters.
With details of the television contract, which starts in 2007, worked out, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a teleconference that the much-anticipated reconfigured tournament schedule that begins in 2007 would be announced likely within the next week. But it was announced today that The Players Championship will be moving to May.
CBS, NBC and particularly The Golf Channel are the big winners in the deal announced today; ABC, ESPN, TNT and USA Network will no longer be broadcasting PGA Tour events. Here's how the PGA Tour's television landscape will look beginning in 2007:
CBS
The number of broadcasts on CBS goes from 16 to 19. Included in that number will be the majority of West Coast tournaments, plus a strong slate in the spring and summer months. The WGC Bridgestone Invitational and the first event of the new season-ending four-event Championship Series will be on CBS.
NBC
NBC doubles its number of PGA Tour broadcasts, from five to 10, and will broadcast the final three tournaments of the four-event Championship Series that will end the FedEx Cup season. NBC will also televise two World Golf Championships - the World Match Play Championship, plus the CA Championship that will be played in March at Doral.
NBC and CBS are the only two broadcast networks offering PGA Tour coverage beginning in 2007, and running through the 6-year duration of the new contracts. And the only cable network broadcasting the PGA Tour will be ...
The Golf Channel
Under a 15-year-agreement, The Golf Channel is the exclusive cable TV partner of the PGA Tour. The Golf Channel will provide early-round coverage of all official-money events on the Tour, as well as full coverage of the first three events each year. The Golf Channel will also offer full coverage of all events in the Fall Series following the Tour Championship. The Golf Channel also continues its coverage of the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
The Players Championship
Meanwhile, the other big announcement on Wednesday was the official move of The Players Championship to a May date from its current March date. Beginning in 2007, The Players Championship will take place the second week of May, and the broadcast will be modeled on the limited-commercial-interruption approach taken at The Masters.
Comments
I wonder why the move from March to May? Less chance of rain?
What were the financial deals were with CBS, NBC, TGC?