Fox Sports Plans "Things that maybe haven't been done before."
/Of course, we'll have to wait two years to find out what those things are, but The Hollywood Reporters' Alex Ben Block talks to Eric Shanks of Fox Sports about bringing innovation to their USGA telecasts.
Fox Sports is planning a new spin on golf coverage. When the division's new 12-year, $1 billion deal with the U.S. Golf Association begins in 2015, viewers can expect "the Fox attitude, energy, enthusiasm and toughness," says Eric Shanks, co-president of the Fox Sports Media Group. "We'll work hand in hand with the USGA to tell the stories through technology and interesting on-air personalities."
And he seems to be asking rhetorically…
"Can we do things that maybe haven't been done before," adds Shanks, "things fans can appreciate that bring the sport into their living rooms in a way that is a bit more compelling?"
Meanwhile Fox Sports 1, where most of the USGA coverage will be buried, looks to be near signing distribution deals with Time Warner and DirecTV, two of the biggest holdouts today. Jon Weisman reports.