The British Open was a landmark golf tournament for ESPN and the beginning of a new era in televised sports. But the cable giant didn’t get exactly what it hoped for at St. Andrews.
Louis Oosthuizen, ranked 54th in the world and a 200-1 longshot to win, coasted to a ho-hum, seven- stroke victory Sunday.
While golf purists marveled at Oosthuizen’s expertise during his superb four rounds, ESPN had to be disappointed in the major’s lack of drama — such as a Tiger vs. Phil shootout or a John Daly-type Cinderella story — during the final holes on the legendary course.
A new TV sports era?
This British Open marked the first time ESPN televised one of the four major golf tournaments from start to finish on its own.
And the network’s contract, which includes ancillary coverage, runs for seven more tournaments.
ESPN or other cable outlets usually team with broadcast networks, televising Thursday and Friday rounds of major tournaments.
CBS and NBC then televise the weekend coverage of the Masters and the U.S. Open, respectively.
Until this year, ABC televised the final rounds of the British Open — though ESPN provided all of the production.
The PGA Championship in Kohler, Wis., this year’s final major (Aug. 12-15), will have Thursday and Friday coverage on TNT. CBS will take over on the weekend.
Don’t expect many loud complaints about the lack of broadcast network coverage of the British Open. It’s difficult to imagine any golf fan without access to basic cable. And I know of a couple of sports bars that carry ESPN.
But such exclusivity might produce roars from noncable TV homes during the Bowl Championship Series coverage in January when ESPN’s big cable foot will be heavily imprinted on the postseason college football schedule.
ESPN, armed with a four-year contract signed last year, will have exclusive bowl coverage of the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar as well as the BCS championship game.
ESPN wrestled this important financial contract away from Fox.
Of the traditional high-profile games, only the Rose Bowl will remain on “free” network TV. ABC will again televise the Pasadena, Calif., classic — produced, of course, by ESPN.
Cable long ago invaded the world of televised sports, once dominated by the networks. And that invasion will continue with ESPN as the established goliath.
How long will it be before the Super Bowl, World Series and NBA Finals will be on ESPN or some form of pay television?
Ratings roulette.
Nielsen figures show that television audiences for Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain are up 57 percent over last season.
And based on figures through the first half of the month, July could become the highest-rated month since the network began televising games in 1997.
The Rockies’ 10-8 victory over the Padres on July 9 was the highest-rated game of this season and the seventh-highest in network history. Also, the game was the No. 1 local TV attraction in prime time.
Listen up.
Denver is known nationally as a huge sports town, but a big question remains: Can our area support four radio sports outlets?
KCUV 102.3 FM, a former rock station, enters the battle this week, leading off with a morning show hosted by Vic Lombardi and Gary Miller.
While ad salesmen warm up their commercial pitches, look for a lively game of musical chairs among Denver’s sports-talk talent.
Longtime Denver journalist Dusty Saunders writes about sports media each Monday in The Denver Post. Reach him at tvtime@comcast.net.
Gumbel: James in Ring of Shame
It has been easy to find pointed commentary about NBA star LeBron James’ marquee move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat.
But last Tuesday on HBO’s “Real Sports,” Bryant Gumbel really put the move in perspective.
Noting that James’ decision “is typical of our immediate-gratification era,” Gumbel pointed out that former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino is still the biggest hero in Miami even though he never won an NFL title.
“LeBron James seems to think that he needs a ring to change his life and secure his legacy,” Gumbel said.
“Maybe he’ll get one or maybe he won’t. But it’s probable that no amount of rings will ever remove the stench he wallowed in last week.
“LeBron may yet find that in the court of public opinion, just as putting on a tux can’t make a guy a gentleman, winning a ring can’t make one truly a champion.”
