NORTON, MASS. -- The key elements of the nine-year contract extension between the PGA Tour and CBS and NBC for network TV rights were the length of the deal and the flexibility to expand digital products. And the crucial component the tour brought to the bargaining table was the stability of its sponsorship base through the depths of the recession. The innovative nature of the deal gives the tour and all its TV partners the opportunity to explore new forms of media together.
The deal, announced Thursday at the Deutsche Bank Championship by commissioner Tim Finchem and via conference call with CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus, runs through the 2021 season. The tour's 15-year deal with Golf Channel also expires after the 2021 season. Now that NBC and Golf Channel are both owned by Comcast, there will be increased cross-programming and simultaneous programming involving those two operations.
"Over the last five years, the quality of our television partners, CBS, NBC and the Golf Channel, and their performance both in the quality of the product and their performance in the marketplace has been a home run for our players, our tournaments, our sponsors and our charities," Finchem said. "So we are absolutely delighted to announce these new long-term agreements with two terrific broadcast partners in CBS and NBC, which secure our television rights for the next decade. Our partnership with all our broadcast partners will provide continuity for our fans throughout the regular season and Playoffs."
Financial terms of the deal were not revealed, but Finchem did say that the yearly revenue the tour receives will increase. CBS and NBC will retain pretty much the same programming schedule they had under the current deal -- about 20 events for CBS and 10 for NBC -- and the deal ensures that the Players, the tour's flagship event, will remain in May at TPC Sawgrass.
Read More: golfdigest.com
No comments:
Post a Comment