CBS Returns With Dedicated Rules Official, New Music, Mini-Leaderboard And Drone Coverage

After the last three weeks of minimalist PGA Tour broadcast coverage expect CBS to restore some order at Torrey Pines.

Last year’s Farmers Insurance final round started with CBS started its season also having to address and cover the death of Kobe Bryant, something Bryce Miller recapped for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

As for the broadcast goodies, look for a few new touches and don’t expect to see some of the pandemic-related experimental efforts from last year like Inside the Ropes and players wearing microphones. Carryovers include the live drone and other aerials we’ve also missed out on for a while.

For Immediate Release, with interruptions.

CBS SPORTS CONTINUES LEGACY AS LEADER IN GOLF COVERAGE AS NETWORK TEES OFF 64TH CONSECUTIVE PGA TOUR GOLF SEASON

Most Comprehensive Lineup in Network Television Featuring 20 PGA TOUR Events; Season Begins with Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday, Jan. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 31

Sellers Shy Assumes Role as Lead Producer for GOLF ON CBS 

Network to Debut New Elements for Broadcast Including a Constant Mini-Leaderboard, New Theme Music, Rules Official, and More 

CBS Sports continues its legacy as the leader in golf production as it tees off its 64th consecutive year of PGA TOUR coverage, as once again the network features the most comprehensive lineup in network television with 20 PGA TOUR events. 

Led by new lead producer Sellers Shy – only the third lead producer in CBS Sports’ storied golf history – the network, in collaboration with the PGA TOUR,

At least they didn’t go with “powered by the PGA TOUR”…

will debut new elements to enhance the broadcast, including a constant mini-leaderboard; new theme music; a dedicated PGA TOUR rules official; enhanced capabilities and presentation for SmartCart; live drone coverage, and more. 

Most intriguing will be the prospect full-time PGA Tour rules official dedicated to the telecast. Based on the CBS media call last week, we’ll see them at the SmartCart and hopefully get more use out of that for replays and highlights, ala Sky Sports.

The downside? An independent rules official as all football broadcasts have now might be more inclined to share stronger takes in controversial situations. But, as the release says, this is a collaboration.

As for theme music, I’m not clear who the composer is for those fans of Helmut VonLichten’s oeurve.

CBS Sports begins the season at the Farmers Insurance Open next weekend on Saturday, Jan. 30 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Jan. 31 (3:00-6:30 PM, ET), from Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif.

Jim Nantz anchors CBS Sports’ golf coverage, and is joined by lead analyst Sir Nick Faldo, along with analysts Ian Baker-Finch and Frank Nobilo. Lead on-course reporter Dottie Pepper, with Mark Immelman and Trevor Immelman, and reporter Amanda Balionis, round out the CBS golf announce team. Andrew Catalon and Colt Knost will join select CBS broadcasts as well. 

CBS Sports Network will air ancillary golf programming throughout the season as well, beginning on Monday, Jan. 25 (11:00 PM, ET), with COURSE RECORD WITH MICHAEL BREED featuring renowned golf instructor Michael Breed and co-host Greg DuCharme discussing the latest in the golf world. Additionally, FALDO FORMULA, featuring Sir Nick Faldo, will begin its second season in April. The network also will air classic PGA TOUR telecasts each week leading up to the tournament on CBS.

The CBS Television Network also will broadcast six PGA TOUR Specials and six Korn Ferry Tour Specials, along with multiple COURSE RECORD WITH MICHAEL BREED and FALDO FORMULA episodes, throughout the season leading into live golf coverage. 

Nice upgrade for those two shows to get the network slot.

For all PGA TOUR events this year, CBS Sports’ full coverage will be available to stream live in markets across the U.S. via the CBS All Access subscription service, with additional coverage on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app, and CBS Sports HQ, the 24/7 streaming sports news service. ViacomCBS’ existing subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, CBS All Access, will be rebranded as Paramount+ on March 4. 

I can envision Paramount Plus becoming Jim or Sir Nick'’s go-to for the pre-round voice warm-up. Nothing like alliteration.

Sellers Shy debuts as lead producer, with Steve Milton as director, for CBS Sports' golf coverage. Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Dan Weinberg is Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Executive Vice President, Production, CBS Sports. 

Last year, the PGA TOUR Season on CBS averaged 2.495 million viewers, up +17% vs. 2019 and marking the network’s best viewership average in five years.