Technological advances in TV sports production generally do not stay exclusive to any TV network for long. When one TV network rolls out new bells and whistles around a telecast, it typically takes a few weeks for other networks to follow suit. It came as little surprise, then, that CBS Sports’ coverage of the PGA Championship had many of the same technical elements that Fox Sports used on its U.S. Open coverage, including expanded audio that captured golfers’ reactions and on-course conversations. "We really put an extra emphasis on technology,” CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said in an interview conducted just minutes after CBS’ coverage went off the air yesterday. "Part of that is because Fox came into the sport this year and put a lot of emphasis on technology. That really motivated us to double down and try to make sure that we really were second to none in the area of technology.” To account for the added audio elements, CBS Sports kept its cameras on golfers longer than usual to hear the post-shot reactions. "The viewer at home just loves that,” he said. McManus said he was proud of CBS’ use of enhanced computerized golf tracks, Swing Vision, its Pro Tracer technology and its use of drones over Lake Michigan, adjacent to the course.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Filled with relief and pride following its PGA Championship coverage, McManus said all TV networks produce golf well. "I know viewers love to nitpick and criticize, and some of those criticisms are valid,” he said. “But the job CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox do covering golf -- often for nine or 10 hours a day -- is extraordinary. The winner is the viewer. And the winner is the sport of golf.” The way for a network’s golf coverage to stand out is through on-air talent and storylines. McManus thought CBS did well on both counts over the weekend, pursuing storylines around Jason Day’s near misses at previous majors to Jordan Spieth’s attempt to win his third major tournament of the year. CBS pushed those storylines with a crew that brought unique voices to the tournament -- nobody would confuse David Feherty with Nick Faldo or Gary McCord with Ian Baker-Finch. "That’s one of the things that distinguishes our golf: Each of our commentators is so different and is so distinctive,” McManus said. "When you hear one of them talking, you know exactly who it is. Each one has a different personality and a different perspective."
