We had discussions with the PGA Tour a few years ago and decided not to bid. We're always opportunistic regarding event programming, and the PGA is event programming. ABC, NBC and CBS, along with cable channels, have separate deals with the PGA Tour that were negotiated in 1997 and run from 1999-02. The new deals are expected to be for as much as a few hundred million dollars more, thanks in large part to Woods' enormous popularity. His mere presence can raise a tournament's TV ratings by 50 to 100 percent.
Golf is certainly due for a reasonable increase.
Weigh those factors against a very soft economy and a questionable bidding war. But there could be room on Fox's schedule in July and August between its auto racing and football packages when there are two tour events Woods tends to play. The PGA would have its 'rogue' network that every rights holder wants the guy who doesn't have the property and is looking to get into the negotiations. I'm sure the PGA is trying to craft a schedule that would appeal to Fox to get them involved in the negotiations. Woods' schedule probably is atop the negotiating concerns as the networks deal with the tour.