CBS on Thursday announced that it has signed a multiyear extension with the Big Ten to carry the conference’s basketball games through the '16-17 season. The agreement, beginning next season, calls for a minimum of 24 appearances on CBS by Big Ten teams. CBS Sports will continue to air the conference’s men’s basketball tournament semifinal and championship games. The network also will broadcast various women’s basketball games (CBS).
A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH? CNBC’s Darren Rovell said that he believes the PGA Tour is “going to try to wait until” Tiger Woods wins a tournament again before it begins to “commence negotiations for the TV contracts beyond 2012.” Rovell: “I know the PGA Tour doesn’t want me saying this, but I’m pretty solid on this.” Golf Channel’s Erik Kuselias: “Think about that -- one guy winning determines the TV contracts. … That’s how much the tail is wagging the dog at certain points in this sport.” Golf Channel’s Gary Williams: “There’s no doubt he moves the needle more than anybody ever has in the modern era of the game” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 6/17).
KEEP 'EM HOOKED: In Houston, David Barron reports ESPN flew Univ. of Texas men's basketball coach Rick Barnes and Heisman Trophy-winning UT RB Ricky Williams "to Chicago this week to schmooze with cable operators and take in a game at Wrigley Field during the national cable show in support of the Longhorn Network, which signs on Aug. 26" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/17).
ISN'T IT IRONIC, DON'T YOU THINK? In St. Louis, Dan Caesar reports Monday episode of PBS' "The Charlie Rose Show" devoted a "considerable amount" of Monday's show to discussing how Baseball HOFer Stan Musial "has been overlooked nationally for all his accomplishments." However, St. Louis' KETC-PBS pre-empted the show "for fund-raising programming, relegating it to the wee hours of the next day." KETC will broadcast the episode "at more convenient times" this coming Monday, at 1:30pm CT and 11:30pm (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/17).
