McManus On New PGA Tour Media Deal And Removing Broadcast Clutter

Adam Schupak files a lengthy Q&A with CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus upon the network’s signing of a 9-year deal with the PGA Tour.

The chat covers a lot of ground, but McManus addresses a key question many have had regarding the deal. Specifically, whether viewers will suffer to pay for it. McManus says the opposite is the case.

Q.  With CBS having to pay significantly more in rights fees, should viewers be concerned that you’re going to have to add additional sponsorship and promotional elements to make up that difference?

SM: Definitely not. In fact, we have regular conversations with the Tour about eliminating some of the clutter, so I would say if anything you’re going to see fewer interruptions than more. We’re going to continue to try to do more CBS Eye on the Course, the double box, so you don’t miss live golf action. We and NBC, although sometimes we get criticized, we and NBC run basically the same commercial load. You will not see that expanding in this deal, and if anything we’re going to try to reduce the clutter a little bit. We’ve already reduced the amount of on‑air promotions we do for other programs, and I think we and the Tour are really cognizant of the fact that you want to show as much golf as you possibly can, and the two box is one way to do that, and less clutter is another way to do it. But no, there’s not going to be increased sponsorship or increased commercial inventory in the new deal.