The new Fox Sports network is already making a splash in televising sporting events. First up is golf.
According to Deadline Fox Sports has reached a 12-year multimedia pact to air the U.S. Open beginning in 2015. The rights also include the Women’s U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and some national amateur championships. The new deal will have Fox Sports deliver 146 hours of USGA golf.
In previous years the U.S. Open has aired ESPN for the first two rounds then on NBC for the final two rounds.
ESPN.com is reporting that the bid was for roughly $100 million per year.
One person who appears to be upset about this new agreement is Johnny Miller, who has been part of the broadcast team for NBC covering the U.S. Open. Miller said, “I feel bad for the USGA in a way that money was more important than a good golf crew.”
The new network, Fox Sports 1, has been trying to gain rights to bolster its sports content, but there weren’t many options due to the increased lengths of sports deals. So this USGA agreement should be a big win for the network.
Fox Sports 1 goes on the air August 17.