For the first time since 1997, the Professional Bowlers Association Tour will be seen on ABC. ESPN renewed its contract with the PBA that will run through 2013. As part of the new contract, ABC will air the Tournament of Champions and other events. While it won’t be as extensive as it used to be, having ABC back in professional bowling is a nice touch.
Here’s the press release from ESPN.
ESPN Reaches Three-Year Extension with PBATournament of Champions Returns to ABCESPN has reached a three-year extension with the Professional Bowlers Association which will run through 2013. As part of the agreement, the record $1 million PBA Tournament of Champions will air live on ABC Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2:30 p.m. ET from Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas. The event last aired on ABC in 1997.ESPN has a long-standing relationship with the PBA, which dates back to the network’s launch in 1979.The new agreement includes more than 20 telecasts per year on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, including multi-day coverage of the PBA World Championships and the 68th US Open as part of the 2010-11 season. ESPN will also continue to televise the PBA All-Star Shootout.Further details of the 2010-11 PBA Tour season, which will begin Sunday, Nov. 28, on ESPN at 1 p.m., can be found on www.pba.com.
And as an added bonus, here’s the final moments complete with tributes of the last PBA Tour event on ABC from June 21, 1997. The late Chris Schenkel, one of the greatest announcers ever and Nelson Burton, Jr. close it out. ESPN which was taking over ABC Sports at the time decided to put the PBA events solely on cable. Sound familiar?
This is the open from the 1980 Tournament of Champions.
I can’t believe the good condition of this open. From 1968 and a filmed opening sequence with the late Bud Palmer voicing the billboard.
And here’s an open from 1982 complete with a toss from Jim McKay.
Great stuff and you can find more bowling videos from BowlingOldies’ channel on YouTube.
