CBS Sports boss makes feelings clear on acquiring US Open TV rights as NBC negotiations stall

The future of the U.S. Open on tv screens is uncertain with NBC and the USGA yet to agree a contract extension, and the boss of CBS Sports has made his network’s stance clear

CBS Sports boss David Berson gave a lukewarm response when asked if the network was interested in acquiring the broadcast rights to the U.S. Open.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) is nearing the end of its broadcast contract with NBC, and an exclusive period of negotiations has expired without a new deal being agreed. The agreement expires at the end of the 2026 season, and the USGA is now free to market its rights packages to other parties following the end of exclusive negotiations with NBC.

Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, addressed members of the media on a conference call on Wednesday ahead of next week’s PGA Championship, and he was asked if the organization was eager to strike a deal with the USGA.

However, he made clear that the broadcaster is content with the golf rights it already holds. He said: “Like everyone, we see that they are in the market now. They had conversations with NBC and now they are in the market.

“We love our golf portfolio. We have two-thirds of the main PGA Tour season and two of the majors, so we have a lot of golf and we love our portfolio.

“Obviously, we have tonnes of respect for the USGA and the U.S. Open. We’re thrilled with what we have now as a golf portfolio.”

NBC acquired the rights for the U.S. Open in 2020 after FOX’s agreement with the USGA was ended early. FOX struck a 12-year deal worth around $1 billion with the governing body that started with the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

But the rights did not deliver as FOX had hoped, and the contract was cut short ahead of the COVID-19-affected 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. NBC, whose properties include the Golf Channel, swooped in and, per the Wall Street Journal, is paying around $37 million per year for the rights – a heavily discounted rate thanks to FOX still making payments.

CBS Sports shares the broadcast rights for both The Masters and the PGA Championship with ESPN, as well as flagship PGA Tour events like the Genesis Invitational and this week’s Truist Championship.

NBC Universal holds exclusive rights for The Open Championship in addition to the U.S. Open and a selection of PGA Tour events, including The Players and the FedEx Cup playoffs. The broadcaster could still strike a new agreement with the USGA to keep the U.S. Open on the Comcast-owned network, but it risks other parties stealing in after the end of its exclusivity period.

It is logical to wonder whether NBC’s new mega-money rights agreement with the NBA, which is worth more than $2.4 billion per year for the next 11 years, has squeezed spending on other sports rights.

According to Sports Business Journal, USGA CEO Mike Whan and his lieutenants have enlisted the assistance of expert advisors in the form of CAA Evolution. The agency specializes in media rights negotiations.

This year’s U.S. Open will be held at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania in June, with Bryson DeChambeau defending the title he won in dramatic circumstances at Pinehurst No. 2 11 months ago.