Sky’s US PGA blow blamed on agents
SKY SportS losing tV rights for golf’s US pGA Championship to the BBC in a remarkable reversal of fortune has been blamed on agents IMG.
Sky have shown the year’s last major for 10 years and were expecting to extend their deal in straightforward talks with the pGA of America, with whom they had built a strong relationship.
But aggressive IMG representatives demanded up to double the money from Sky, who would not be held to ransom, leading to the BBC picking up a one-year contract for minimal money.
IMG are hoping to somehow recoup the deficit from social media, aided by the BBC’s reach, but that looks a tall order.
the fall-out between Sky and IMG won’t help relations at royal Birkdale, where Sky are host broadcaster for the open and IMG represent the r&A. IMG refused to comment. lSOME
of the R&A blazers are not impressed with chief executive Martin Slumbers paying Open prize money in US dollars for the first time. One called it ‘scandalous’. Slumbers said: ‘In this global business that is golf, dollars is the main currency, so we’re switching to dollars.’ Meanwhile, it was a surprise to see Sky Sports overlord Barney Francis at yesterday’s R&A press conference, where Slumbers described BBC golf coverage as ‘tired and outdated’ and Sky’s as ‘world class’. tHE big surprise in the BBC Sport salaries revealed yesterday was journeyman presenter Jason Mohammad (right) being in the £250,000-£299,999 band when a raft of far superior Beeb broadcasters are paid a lot less.
Improving football pundit Alan Shearer, in the £400,000-£449,999 range, is the second highest sports earner behind Gary Lineker, who is on a ridiculous £1.75million-£1.799m.
Shearer’s predecessor Alan Hansen was on more than £1m, which helps explain why he now lives in a mansion next to royal Birkdale. lDETERIORATING
relations between golfers and the press have prompted the Golf Writers to award a trophy to the player who is most helpful with the media. Justin Rose thoroughly deserved this year’s prize. The Englishman’s eloquent, enthusiastic support for golf in the Olympics, before and after his gold-medal display, was valuable in cementing golf in the Games. Meanwhile, only Gary Player, who was asked to say a few words about the late great Arnold Palmer, could respond by talking about himself.