PGA Tour Radio, which reaches 17 of the top 50 U.S.
radio markets, is "redefining itself and its approach to
covering the game," according to Dale Gardner of GOLFWEEK.
While CEO Warren Elliott say the changes are a result of
"baptism by fire," GOLFWEEK's Gardner writes, "They're also
survival tactics." The Atlanta-based company has "pulled"
its mobile studio and production truck "off" the Tour. Live
tournament coverage, which used to be produced from the site
of the event, will now be done from its Atlanta studio using
TV feeds and "natural sound" feeds (GOLFWEEK, 3/21).
AD RATES DROP: PGA Tour Radio has "cut its advertising
rates in an effort to make itself competitive with other
media," and corporate sponsor packages which used to cost
$50,000 will now sell for $20,000 a week. During
programming, the net splits the ad time with the affil. PGA
Tour Radio airs 36 events over the year, and Gardner writes
that stations in 17 markets "included the play-by-play
weekend shows for most of the events," while 28 others
broadcast play-by-play for 12 to 15 events. Gardner adds
that most of the network's 208 affiliates "opt not to carry
the play-by-play, choosing instead to participate in other
programming offered by the company" (GOLFWEEK, 3/21 issue).
