Looks Like ABC is Finally Wising Up

mattb · January 5, 2006

I can't understand how these networks negotiate these huge contracts with sports when they know they will most likely lose money. If I did that in my job I'd be out on my rear. Actually, I don't have a job where I have that kind of responsibility but you get the point.

Well ABC has come to their senses. They say they have been losing money for the last 5 years on golf - yikes! They decided to walk away from negotiations even with the new, revamped and much ballyhooed golf scheduled coming out in 2007.

Maybe this will send a signal to the pros that they should support their tour a little more - hear that Tiger and Phil? You can read more about it at USA Today

Golf Times

http://golftimes.blogspot.com/

ur1down · January 7, 2006

Not all programming on tv can make money but networks have to air something at certain times so they look to sign deals even when they know it will be a loss. Minimizing their losses is the goal in negotiations.

This is why the NBA and PGA Tour are on TV. They will most likely lose money but they have the potential to have some high ratings if the stars align. Very few sports contracts make the networks money, however they count on those few to carry the financial burden.

golfernut78 · January 7, 2006

i wondering about ABC right now. they've given up monday night football, the BCS and now golf. i got to be honest, i though mike tirico, faldo, azinger and north were good. i agree that they were losing money, but what do you in lieu of the golf? plus, whats the pga going to do? cbs and nbc are going to have problems televising everything starting in september. cbs has sec football on saturdays and nfl on sundays. nbc (or should i say norte dame broadcasting company) is still going to be limited. fox (don't even know if they are in the mix) has baseball and football. abc seems like the most practical choice because you get the thursday friday coverage on espn. i think the pga is full of themselves.

MarLin · January 8, 2006

I think you might start to see The Golf Channel bottom feeding on some of the lesser PGA events that might have been on a non-network channel like TNT or ESPN. This is probably what they've been waiting for - the market to sag a little, but would be a huge bump in their ratings.

nikemike · January 9, 2006

It would be nice for The Golf Channel to actually show some PGA golf.

Ascan · January 9, 2006

I think you might start to see The Golf Channel bottom feeding on some of the lesser PGA events that might have been on a non-network channel like TNT or ESPN. This is probably what they've been waiting for - the market to sag a little, but would be a huge bump in their ratings.

I doubt it; that would interfere with their constant re-running of the current Big Break series. :birthday: :birthday:

slicer365 · January 9, 2006

Honestly, unless the tourney is like it was yesterday, you will have an uninterested audience. Jim Nantz's voice is enough to put a child high on caffine and chocolate to sleep. I live for highlights on the Golf Channel. I think the event should be a spectators sport. I went to the Houston Open a couple of year's back and it was awesome.

Football=Good t.v.

Basketball=Good t.v.

Baseball=only in the playoffs Good t.v.

Hockey=Sux unless there's a fight

ce_me_golf · January 11, 2006

i wondering about ABC right now. they've given up monday night football, the BCS and now golf. i got to be honest, i though mike tirico, faldo, azinger and north were good. i agree that they were losing money, but what do you in lieu of the golf? plus, whats the pga going to do? cbs and nbc are going to have problems televising everything starting in september. cbs has sec football on saturdays and nfl on sundays. nbc (or should i say norte dame broadcasting company) is still going to be limited. fox (don't even know if they are in the mix) has baseball and football. abc seems like the most practical choice because you get the thursday friday coverage on espn. i think the pga is full of themselves.

The masterminds as Disney the parent company of ABC and ESPN have made the decision that ABC will be primarily an "Entertainment Network" and ESPN will carry the bulk of the sports content. Since cable is designed by it's very nature to focus on specific viewer demographics it allows them high viewship ratings on ESPN by funneling most of the sports broadcasting that way. Also NBC only has Sunday night football starting in 2007 so their Saturday and Sunday afternoon schedule is going to be open as far as sports broadcasting. The only other football they carry is Notre Dame games.

The real interesting part of the deal is that the Golf Channel gets a significant increase in PGA Tour coverage by getting the Thursday and Friday coverage of PGA Tournaments and a significant amount of late season coverage when the major networks want to concentrate on football.

The reality is that golf is NOT a mainstream sport in terms if fan interest the way football, and baseball are. It has a core fan base of people who either play the game themselves or enjoy watching it play well. In the future you are likely to see even more golf coverage on cable channels and less on the major networks.