Surprised no-one posted on this one yet.

https://www.pba.com/articles/PBA-and-FOX-Sports-Announce-Multi-Year-Multi-Platform-Deal3b-PBA-Returns-to-Broadcast-TV-in-2019

PBA and FOX Sports Announce Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Deal; PBA Returns to Broadcast TV in 2019
by bvint  |  Tuesday, March 20, 7:21 AM

LOS ANGELES and CHICAGO – The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and FOX Sports today announced a multi-year, multi-platform agreement making FOX Sports the new television partner for the Go Bowling! PBA Tour starting in 2019. The package will bring a substantial schedule of live PBA events to television, including prime time events and a new bracket-style, multi-week PBA Playoffs tournament that concludes with a unique PBA championship finale. The announcement was made by PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark and William Wanger, FOX Sports Executive VP of Programming, Live Operations and Research.

“The PBA has been searching for the best possible broadcast partner to serve our fans, players and the bowling industry, and we have determined that partner is FOX Sports,” Clark said. “We are particularly excited that the PBA Tour returns to broadcast television, where it started 56 years ago, with shows on FOX next year.”

In 2019, FOX Sports will televise four PBA Tour shows on FOX and 25 on FS1 in a series of two-hour telecasts. All programs will also be streamed on FOX Sports GO. Details pertaining to the FOX Sports-PBA package regarding PBA Tour locations, dates and times, and the television announcing team will be released at a later date.

“FOX Sports is thrilled to add the highly rated PBA Tour to our extensive lineup, joining other sport partners including the NFL, the FIFA World Cup, MLB, NASCAR, MLS, UFC, NHRA, Supercross, USGA, college football and basketball, and others,” said Wanger. “We believe that adding a FOX Sports look and feel to bowling will help bring the sport to a whole new level.”

The PBA was represented in the transaction by Ed Desser of Desser Sports Media (www.desser.tv).

The agreement between FOX Sports and the PBA extends a non-stop television presence for professional bowling that began in 1962 with ABC Television’s 36 years of continuous coverage of the Pro Bowlers Tour and 38 consecutive years of coverage on ESPN, beginning with ESPN’s formation in 1979.

Both parties plan to supplement the broadcast and cable coverage of the PBA Tour’s premier events with live-streaming of preliminary rounds by PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel as well as extensive use of the FOX Sports and PBA Network outlets including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and their respective websites.

What I don't know is if this means that the PBA and Disney (ESPN/ABC/etc.) are going to let their contract lapse. If so, that ends the combined 74 years of coverage that ESPN and ABC had of bowling. If not, then that means that both ESPN, Fox, and CBS are all going to be covering bowling within the same year, with some being on broadcast TV and not requiring a sports package or digital tier.

Plus... they have already hinted at the return of Rob Stone.

BL.

ESPN is out.

I'd rather have Rob Stone than that old guy that sounds 2 weeks away from death.

Peterson is just being himself. Who else would you want to see in his position?

I think Marshall is a much better commentator than Randy.  His comments and insight are much more on point and not as juvenile and repetitive as Randy's.

+1000. Juvenile is the word.

Marshall is very good. I like Chris Barnes even better when he joins the booth.

What's wrong with the Blue Oil?  How will those who are just casual bowlers understand something that their eyes can't see?

The same way the NFL does for football.   They could use a 3D graphic over the lane to show the pattern.  Viewers don't need to watch (nor do they care about) the progression of the pattern over the course of the telecast.  I have been watching pro bowling on TV for 35 years and couldn't care less about the blue dyed oil on the lane.   I am just happy to see bowling still on TV and think this deal with Fox is a step in the right direction.   Hopefully the PWBA can get a similar deal and get more mainstream exposure.

It's not going to help. Sorry, but bowling on TV is way too boring for 99% plus of the general population and probably 95% of us who actually bowl.

This deal may last the entire year, but it won't be renewed after 2019. I wish this wasn't the case, but we should be honest about it.

It's a four year deal, I believe.

I personally would like CDB be a commentator on the show instead of Randy. Hes a cooook. And as far as blue oil goes, stop the blue oil for this season.