Thursday, April 08, 1999
CBS says Masters keeps coverage down
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The people at CBS are just a little sensitive when you say they only cover the back nine at the Masters.
“That's been inaccurately portrayed,” anchor Jim Nantz said. “We show everything that's available in the time window we're on. This isn't a tournament where we show just the final holes.”
The time window is from 3:30-6 p.m. Saturday and from 4-7 p.m. Sunday. (USA will air the first two rounds today and Friday beginning at 4 p.m.).
The old guard that runs the Masters will not allow CBS a larger time window, but they will allow the network to cover any hole its likes in that window.
“We have cameras on the first tee and all along the way,” coordinating producer Lance Barrow said.
Generally, CBS gets on the air in time to show the last 14 holes or so.
CBS, which is doing its 44th straight Masters, would love to cover the entire final two rounds.
“But that's not our decision,” Barrow said.
The Masters is consistently the highest rated golf telecast of the year.
Ken Venturi, CBS' lead analyst, thinks that's because of the course.
“It's the only major on the same golf course every year,” Venturi said. “You get what you expect. There are no surprises.”
Nantz thinks history is the key. “There's a great respect for the tradition,” he said. “There isn't a place, other than St. Andrews, Scotland, that pays more homage to history than this place.”
This year's Masters, with David Duval on such a roll, is a compelling story. But Duval being such an overwhelming favorite will not affect CBS' coverage.
“I don't think you ever adjust for one player,” Barrow said. “You just hope the stars are there at the end.”
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: ESPN will unveil an improved Bat Track during Sunday's telecast of Anaheim at Texas. The new Bat Track will allow fans to see immediately how fast a hitter's bat travels through the hitting zone. It was delayed last year.
You can tell it's a legitimate stat by last year's top swingers: Mark McGwire (99 mph), Ken Griffey Jr. (97) and Barry Bonds (97).
WHAT ABOUT BOB? The management of WBOB put its on-air people in a tough spot by not paying Reds coach Tom Hume for appearing on The Bob Trumpy Show last season.
Hume called into the Trumpy show five days a week at 8 a.m. — that's 5 a.m. on the West Coast — and was never paid.
As a result, Rob Butcher, publicity director for the Reds, would not issue season credentials to any WBOB employees (they can get daily passes) and players and coaches have been reluctant to appear on BOB's shows.
Hume was scheduled to meet with WBOB General Manager John Rohm to try to get paid.
John Fay covers TV/radio sports for The Enquirer. Call him at 768-8445.
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