The agency is claiming breach of contract and alleges that right from the start of negotiations the Tour acted in bad faith. It also claims that a matching rights option on the 2009 rights remains valid, despite the Tour arguing otherwise. During a period of exclusive talks last summer, WSG offered to increase its minimum guarantee to $550,000 for 2009.
But the Tour refused to provide a counter-offer, fuelling WSG’s suspicions that it was determined from the outset to agree a deal with European Tour Productions, the joint-venture between IMG and the PGA European Tour.
The Tour has since agreed a deal with European Tour Productions to produce coverage of its magazine programme, Asia Golf Weekly. The Tour said that “whether in-house or through third party, the Asian Tour will be more involved in the decisions made going forward pertaining to all facets of our business”.
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