PGA Of America Signs Four-Year Content Deal With Golf Channel

By Jon Show, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

The PGA of America has signed a four-year agreement with Golf Channel to air coverage of some of its events, including one-hour specials featuring taped coverage of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, the Junior PGA Championship, the Junior Ryder Cup and PGA Cup, as well as a previously-aired special on the PGA Championship. The deal also includes coverage of the Senior PGA Championship, pre- and post-round coverage of the PGA Championship and ad inventory. The PGA said a rights fee was involved but would not say how much. The PGA already has deals with TNT and CBS to air coverage of the PGA Championship, and TNT airs the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The TNT, CBS and Golf Channel contracts run through 2011, at which time PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka said, “I think it will be a good time to look at the packaging of all of our rights and partners that we’re going to have.” Golf Channel figures to be one of the bidders. “There’s a lot of exciting golf out there and we’re always interested in acquiring it,” said Golf Channel President Page Thompson, who looked at acquiring cable rights to The Masters late last year. NBC and ESPN have rights to the Ryder Cup through 2014.