At the Tournament of Players Championships, New Orleans
radio exec Warren Elliott and former Atlanta ad exec Robin
Goodfellow will formally announce the PGA Tour Radio
Network, according to Gary Caruso of the ATLANTA BUSINESS
CHRONICLE. The Atlanta-based network has retained Cohn &
Wolfe to promote the venture. Plans call for a national
radio network of around 400 stations that will carry
broadcasts of PGA Tour events, as well as tour updates and a
weekly magazine show. Fans attending PGA Tour events will
also be able to obtain radios with headphones on site "so
they can listen to what's happening around the course"
(ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 3/24 issue).
EYE ON GOLF: GOLFWEEK's Dave Shedloski writes that CBS
Sports President Sean McManus "might consider trying to
include new media ventures" such as CBS.Sportsline.com in
the upcoming discussions on PGA Tour TV rights, although
McManus said "that would be a little like the tail wagging
the dog." McManus: "TV negotiations to us are so critical
that we wouldn't want to complicate them further." PGA Tour
VP/TV, Productions & New Media Donna Orender: "In the scope
of discussions, anything can be on the table, but I'm not
sure Internet rights fall under broadcasting" (GOLFWEEK,
3/22 issue)....The Golf Channel CEO Joseph Gibbs announced
that TGC is planning an April 1 launch in the Philippines
and a January '98 entry into Taiwan and will be available on
basic service in both markets (GOLFWEEK, 3/22).
