ESPN Re-Ups With PBA

[DToTheJ]

The network has locked up an extension with the bowling league until 2013, ensuring that they have reasonable filler to air on Sunday afternoons during football season for at least a few more years.

More info:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/458101-ESPN_Strikes_TV_Extension_with_PBA.php

The article states that "terms of the deal were not disclosed." I could guarantee you that the money ESPN is paying for PBA rights is likely 1/16th of what they're committing to a more visible sports entity like NFL, NBA, NCAA et al.

 

[Studio20]

Beats the crap out of the "World Series Of Poker" reruns aired ad-nauseum...

 

[ShawnHill1]

I know this won't happen, but it'll nice to see ESPN farm those PBA events over to ABC...specifically for those affiliates who were complaining about the lack of sports programming post-NBA season.

 

[DToTheJ]

Ironically, didn't ABC used to show bowling events during their "Wide World of Sports" program on Saturdays?

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Ironically, didn't ABC used to show bowling events during their "Wide World of Sports" program on Saturdays?

Actually, ABC's PBA coverage ("Professional Bowlers Tour") was a standalone sports program, with Chris Schenkel on the mike. Miss those days--I'm not much of a bowling person, but I reached a point that I was religiously watching the ABC bowling coverage (it just seemed interesting and fascinating to me back then). Also the fact that it aired usually in the 2-3:30 CT slot on Saturday afternoons, when in the spring there wasn't much on to begin with (including in the latter years of ABC PBA coverage when Fox Saturday baseball didn't start until June).

 

[FreddyE1977]

...and the NHL is too boring for them WHY again??