US pay-television broadcaster ESPN has extended a rights deal with the Professional Bowlers Association, the major sanctioning body of ten-pin bowling in the United States.
The agreement will start with the 2013 World Series of Bowling, which will start on December 1, and will run for five years, until 2018. The deal also covers the PBA League, with the second edition of the competition starting on January 5.
Under the new arrangement, ESPN will show 36 hours of bowling per year – up from 25.2 hours in the previous agreement.
Leading sports media lawyer Len DeLuca of Len DeLuca & Associates advised the PBA during negotiations with ESPN.
“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the PBA, which dates back to 1979, ESPN’s inaugural year,” ESPN senior director of programming Jason Bernstein said. “Bowling makes for compelling television, and with last year’s addition of the PBA League, it has the potential for appealing to a broader audience.”