Here's a sign of the times. For the first time since it started in 1999, the Cox Classic golf tournament in Omaha won't be on Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA [1]) owned Golf Channel this year, which, even though they're not saying it, has to have the Cox folks a little teed off at their cable brethren.
The blackout is the result of a combination of non-Cox-related issues that include a 12 percent dip in last year's tournament sponsorship dollars and a nearly 50 percent drop in TV ratings because the weekend rounds were tape delayed. The biggest mitigating factor is cost. Last year The Golf Channel charged the tournament $240,000 for coverage (tape delayed as it was). This year it wanted $280,000 and the tournament, already having financial problems, declined.
"It's a decision that hurts," tournament director Chad Mardesen told the Omaha World-Herald. "It's like downsizing your house or selling your car. You know you have to do it, but it's not a decision that you enjoy making."
For more:
- see this story [2]
Related articles:
PGA Championship to be broadcast in 3D; NBC Universal brings aboard Jeff Fleeher [3]
Sports Illustrated, Turner Sports form digital partnership [4]
AT&T tees up three-screen Masters golf coverage [5]
Links:
[1] http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=CMCSA
[2] http://www.omaha.com/article/20100729/NEWS01/707299839
[3] http://www.fiercecable.com/story/3d-pga-coming-living-rooms-jeff-fleeher-joins-nbc-universal/2010-07-29
[4] http://www.fierceonlinevideo.com/story/sports-illustrated-turner-sports-form-digital-partnership/2010-07-12
[5] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/t-tees-three-screen-masters-golf-coverage/2010-04-06