ESPN and the USGA have reportedly discussed a potential rights deal; Bob Iger reiterates that Disney will keep its linear networks; and more.
ESPN, USGA, have talked about potential rights deal
ESPN has talked with the USGA about a potential U.S. Open rights deal, according to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal. ESPN carried the U.S. Open from 1982-2014 and ABC did so from 1966-1994.
The USGA’s current rights deal expires after next year. The deal was struck with Fox Sports in 2013, but the rights were transferred to NBC in 2020. According to reports at the time, Fox is still paying the majority of the $93 million/year rights fee.
NBC’s exclusive negotiating window to renew its deal has already lapsed, and it is unclear whether Comcast will want to pay a full rights fee for the event after contributing less than half under the 2020 arrangement with Fox.
Per Carpenter, it is not clear whether the USGA will continue to bundle the entirety of its competitions in its media rights deal or potentially sell the U.S. Open separately.
Iger reiterates that Disney will keep linear networks
Disney CEO Bob Iger reiterated on CNBC Wednesday that the company has committed to retaining its linear networks, continuing a lengthy about face after saying two years ago that those networks may not be “core” to the company.
Iger said that after undergoing a “pretty lengthy process internally” and taking a “long look at what these properties could mean to us long-term,” it was decided that the best course of action was to keep the linear networks and “integrate them seamlessly with our streaming business.”
He added that there are still “enough linear television subscribers to generate a significant amount of revenue” and that the pairing of linear and streaming had helped turn the latter business around “from a huge loss to profitability.”
Plus: NFL Today, SEC, Salters
— The CBS NFL pregame show “The NFL Today” will travel to game sites on “select Sundays” during the upcoming season, starting with a trip to Lambeau Field for Lions-Packers in Week 1, the network announced Wednesday. “The NFL Today” went on-site twice last season, to Buffalo for Chiefs-Bills and to Detroit for Bills-Lions.
— ABC is set to carry Alabama-Georgia in primetime again for a second-straight year under the SEC television schedule released Wednesday. The September 27 contest is set for the network’s usual “Saturday Night Football” window. Earlier in the day, ABC has Notre Dame-Arkansas set for a Noon ET start.
— Lead ESPN NBA sideline reporter Lisa Salters will miss Wednesday’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, marking her second-straight absence as she deals with a personal matter. Salters will again be replaced by Jorge Sedano.
