Networks Face Tiger-Sized Hole

Drop in ad revenue forecast as casual golf fans tune out
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 15, 2009 8:53 AM CST
Networks Face Tiger-Sized Hole
Tiger Woods follows through during the second round of the Accenture Match Play Golf Championship tournament at The Gallery Golf Club in Marana, Ariz., earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Broadcasters covering major golf events are expected to see a lot less green in the coming months because of Tiger Woods' troubles. Events like the Masters and PGA Championship and the US Open, carried by CBS, are likely to see a major drop in viewer numbers and advertising dollars as fans attracted by Woods' presence tune out.

The damage may be short-lived, however, as Woods' eventual return is likely to cause an explosion in viewer numbers. TV execs note that there's already a lot of golf on TV that doesn't feature Woods. "We have a core audience that comes to watch golf no matter who is playing," a Golf Channel spokesman tells the Los Angeles Times. "Tiger didn't play a full schedule in 2008 or 2009, so we've gone through this before." (More Tiger Woods infidelity stories.)

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