The power of the NFL is such that if the final round of the Masters runs long on Sunday, CBS would hand off the reigns to ABC.
Sports Business Journal reported Thursday that ABC will carry any Masters coverage that runs past 4 PM ET on Sunday, when CBS is scheduled to begin airing its NFL coverage. The conclusion would also air on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com and Masters.com.
ABC has never televised the Masters, though corporate sibling ESPN carries the first and second rounds. [Related: The Masters TV schedule.]
CBS is scheduled to air final round coverage from 10 AM-3 PM ET on Sunday, leaving a full hour between the end of golf and the start of football. It would take a lengthy playoff or weather delay to push the conclusion into the NFL’s coverage window.
This year’s Masters schedule has already been altered due to rain. ESPN will carry the conclusion of the first round Friday morning at 7:30 AM ET. Augusta, Ga., has a 20 percent chance of rain in Sunday’s forecast.
Football has already altered golf’s television presence this year. FOX gave up the remainder of its US Open contract to NBC when it could not find a way to schedule this year’s September edition around its NFL commitments.
Per SBJ, CBS would carry a potential Monday finish. There would (presumably) be no NFL conflict.
[News from Sports Business Daily 11.12]
