FOX Sports CEO Interested in NBA, Golf

[TMC1982]

As long as you get the NBA off of ABC-ESPN (and give it to a network that will actually promote the sport properly and give it a high quality and consistent production), I'll be satisfied:

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2010/03/fox-sports-ceo-interested-in-nba-golf.html

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, FOX Sports CEO David Hill was asked what sport FOX would like to acquire that it does not currently have. Hill mentioned both the NBA and the sport of golf in his reply.

"I think the NBA is starting to make a resurgence," Hill told the Times, "I'm a little interested in golf. Not because of the Tiger [Woods] thing. There are a lot of young hot players coming through now, which is going to give it a lift."

FOX has never had the rights to the NBA or the PGA Tour, though the network went after both during the 1990s.

The NBA is locked into its television deals with ESPN and Turner through the 2016 season.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour's deal with CBS and NBC lasts through 2013. As far as golf's major events go, the U.S. Open will air on NBC and ESPN through 2014, the British Open will air on ESPN through 2018, and the PGA Championship will air on CBS through 2011 (first two rounds on TNT through 2019).

Just two years ago, when asked by Sports Business Daily if he had any interest in having the NBA (or the NHL, Olympics and open wheel racing) air on FOX, Hill flatly said "No."

[SF4Ever]

Fox Sports would have a better chance of acquiring golf, than NBA basketball. Speaking of golf, as in the past, Fox Sports could enter into a mutual agreement with the Golf Channel to televise some golf, namely some celebrity golf matches, but only time will tell how Fox Sports can get golf on its airwaves.

[Burgundy Ranger]

Speaking of golf, as in the past, Fox Sports could enter into a mutual agreement with the Golf Channel to televise some golf, namely some celebrity golf matches, but only time will tell how Fox Sports can get golf on its airwaves.
It would appear that there's a corporate roadblock to that arrangement, since Golf Channel is owned by Comcast, which just went into partnership/merger with NBC Universal.

[Mesousa]

Fox and NBA can't seem to go together to me. Golf yes, but not NBA.

[bigddan11]

For all those saying FOX couldn't get into the NBA, I suppose you're forgetting that FOX, through FSN, happens to be the largest supplier of NBA games. In fact the NBA is much more likely than Golf to come to FOX. Why, you might ask. First off ESPN and ABC are getting tired of the ratings for the Finals on ABC. Second, the NBA has expressed an interest at putting more games on NBA TV. Actually moving the Fridat night games from ESPN to NBA TV would allow them to do so. Third, FOX has no reservations about airing playoff games over regular programming. Many people forget this, but FOX has had to broadcast two games of baseball simultaneously a few times, and they have put one game on FX or FSN while the other is broadcasting on FOX so everyone can view it. Not only that, but FOX already would have NBA teams built into place thanks to those FSN broadcast teams. There's also the little factor that the NBA contract is up before the current golf contracts. Truthfully, the NBA is the one thing FOX needs so they could broadcast sports year round. It wouldn't be that hard for them to broadcast the NFL, NASCAR, NBA, and then MLB with broadcasts happening a couple of times a week. A contract with the NBA would allow them to probably do Saturday night and Sunday afternoon games so they wouldn't interfere with the NFL or NASCAR. The one main reason I'd see the NBA sticking with ABC/ ESPN over FOX though happens to be the NBA on ESPN Radio. Fox Sports doesn't own FSR (Fox Sports Radio). The NBA contract with ESPN Radio allows them to broadcast games basically weeekly with the worlds largest Sports Radio provider. There are more ESPN Radio affiliates than FSR, Sporting News, and Sports Byline affiliates combined.