PGA Announces New Agreements With CBS, NBC
By Jon Lafayette
The PGA Tour on Wednesday announced new six-year television agreements with CBS and NBC and a 15-year partnership with The Golf Channel that makes The Golf Channel the PGA's exclusive cable partner. ABC, ESPN and USA Network will not carry PGA matches under the new arrangement, which begins with the 2007 season. Sources said rights fees did not increase from the previous deal, which averaged $220 million per year over four years.
CBS will carry the most events on weekends, increasing its schedule to 20 events from the 16 under the old deal. Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, said the deal was "fiscally responsible," adding that "in a world where we're all competing for ad dollars, having only two networks out there will be good for the network, good for the tour and good for advertisers."
NBC doubles its commitment, with 10 events, including the Players Championship, which will take place in May and air later in the day and feature limited commercial interruptions. "We're thrilled with the upscale nature of the events we've picked up," said NBC Universal Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol.
In addition to weekday coverage, The Golf Channel will cover three matches in their entirety. The deal "reinforces The Golf Channel's position as golf's home," said David Manougian, president of The Golf Channel. In the event of conflicts, The Golf Channel can move programming to other Comcast-owned channels, including OLN, he said.
By Jon Lafayette
The PGA Tour on Wednesday announced new six-year television agreements with CBS and NBC and a 15-year partnership with The Golf Channel that makes The Golf Channel the PGA's exclusive cable partner. ABC, ESPN and USA Network will not carry PGA matches under the new arrangement, which begins with the 2007 season. Sources said rights fees did not increase from the previous deal, which averaged $220 million per year over four years.
CBS will carry the most events on weekends, increasing its schedule to 20 events from the 16 under the old deal. Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, said the deal was "fiscally responsible," adding that "in a world where we're all competing for ad dollars, having only two networks out there will be good for the network, good for the tour and good for advertisers."
NBC doubles its commitment, with 10 events, including the Players Championship, which will take place in May and air later in the day and feature limited commercial interruptions. "We're thrilled with the upscale nature of the events we've picked up," said NBC Universal Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol.
In addition to weekday coverage, The Golf Channel will cover three matches in their entirety. The deal "reinforces The Golf Channel's position as golf's home," said David Manougian, president of The Golf Channel. In the event of conflicts, The Golf Channel can move programming to other Comcast-owned channels, including OLN, he said.
