The Canadian networks announced new PGA television contracts this week.
TSN won a few and lost some. Global Television increased the number of tournaments it will air on the weekends.
But the prize was the prestigious Presidents Cup, which next September will be at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. That event went to TSN.
The Presidents Cup, held every two years, is a match-play tournament between U.S. players and the rest of the world, excluding Europe. That adds up to star power.
"Arguably this will be the best field ever in Canada for PGA players," TSN president Phil King said. "You've got Tiger Woods, of course. On the international side there's Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, the players from Australia, and Mike Weir. I can't think of a Canadian Open that's had a field like that."
The CBC was among the bidders for the tournament.
But TSN also took some hits in the new PGA agreements.
It no longer owns the Thursday and Friday telecasts of the weekly PGA events. They now belong to The Golf Channel.
And weekend rights to the Canadian Open, starting in 2007 at Angus Glen in Markham, Ont., will be the property of Global. The weekend rounds were previously aired by TSN's parent network, CTV.
Although TSN will pick up the first two rounds of the Open, there will be no domestic coverage. TSN will simulcast The Golf Channel's telecasts. Global will use the CBS weekend broadcast.
The Presidents Cup telecast will be a PGA International production, but King says TSN will provide on-site reporting and additional programming built around the tournament.
The TSN and Global deals are four years in length and will run through 2010.
Highlights:
TSN continues to own the rights, rounds one to four, of three of the four majors: British Open, U.S. Open and PGA Championship. It will also air the first two rounds of the Masters.
Global will continue to carry the final two rounds of the Masters, using the CBS telecasts.
In addition to the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cup is the property of TSN. The network's PGA content also will include the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, the World Golf Championships: CA Championship in March, and the Grand Slam of Golf in November.
TSN's French language channel, RDS, will provide full coverage of the Presidents Cup.
Global picked up the Players Championship, previously carried by TSN. The tournament has been moved to May, which caused a conflict for TSN because of National Hockey League playoff coverage.
Global's PGA Tour content has been increased by five tournaments to 26.
Hockey innovation
TSN will introduce a new play-by-play system for tonight's Buffalo Sabres-Detroit Red Wings telecast.
Announcer Gord Miller will take his usual spot in the broadcast booth at the Joe Louis Arena. But analyst Pierre McGuire will set up at ice level between the two benches. In addition to analyzing the game, he will also report on developments at the benches and on the ice.
Historically, of course, play-by-play teams have worked together, side by side.
"I think it's going to be novel for sure," McGuire said. "It's never been done before in hockey. And in Detroit especially, with the atmosphere at Joe Louis and with the position I'll be in -- I mean, you're right between the two benches and you can basically touch both benches -- it should be really special."
Asked what he thought of this system, another play-by-play announcer said he felt Miller and McGuire will be handicapped by not being able to make hand signals and communicate in other ways. For example, when an announcer makes a mistake, an analyst will sometimes quickly pass him a note.
But McGuire says he doesn't communicate all that much with Miller anyway. And the two have worked together for several years.
"The big thing I've learned from the three-man situation with NBC is that you have to be sure you have the line of communication open between yourself at ice level and the producer and director in the truck," McGuire said.
Hockey v. ALCS
The NHL won the Wednesday night sweeps over baseball, but just barely.
Rogers Sportsnet drew 355,000 viewers for the second game of the American League Championship Series (Detroit Tigers-Oakland A's).
TSN had 381,000 for the Montreal Canadiens-Philadelphia Flyers matchup.
Hockey Night in Canada will air three games tomorrow night.
Calgary Flames-Toronto Maple Leafs will be seen nationally, except in the Ottawa region and Quebec, which will get the Ottawa Senators-Canadiens game.
Bob Cole and Harry Neale will call the Flames-Leafs game.
Don Wittman and Drew Remenda will be in the booth for Sens-Habs.
In the West, it will be Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche, with Jim Hughson and Greg Millen.