The PGA Tour is "confident that it will complete its next media rights deals by the end of this year even though its current agreements with CBS and NBC run through" '21, according to Ourand & Lombardo of SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. In the coming weeks, the Tour will "invite media companies to deliver formal pitches" with the "goal of having new deals in place by January -- two years before its current ones end." All of the Tour’s U.S. rights are "up for bid, including its broadcast TV deals with CBS and NBC, its 15-year deal with the NBC-owned Golf Channel and its PGA Tour Live." The Tour has been "holding informal talks on its media rights for the past several months." Its "aggressive timing on new media rights pacts comes as a surprise since the tour still has two years to go on its current deals." If the Tour "signs new deals with CBS and NBC, it will be able to add new features two years early." If it "moves on from CBS and NBC, the tour believes that it will need those two years to develop a new channel and digital presence." Another reason for the Tour to "move early is to take advantage of an overheated media rights market before the NFL comes in and takes over a sizable piece." However, the Tour "feels timing and increased appetite for live rights are in its favor." PGA Tour Exec VP/Global Media Rick Anderson will "lead the negotiations, with Commissioner Jay Monahan involved" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/29 issue).
