Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame 2020-21: Tim Finchem, Transformative Leader By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
In a ceremony postponed by the pandemic, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will be inducted on Dec. 14 at the New York Hilton. SVG is profiling the nine inductees in the weeks prior. For more information, CLICK HERE.
When Tim Finchem retired in 2017 after 22 years as PGA TOUR commissioner, he had transformed the game and its relationship with fans on the course, watching on TV, watching on portable devices, and, yes, the computer at the office for the diehards who want to watch golf play from sunrise to sunset.
He introduced the FedEx Cup Playoffs, offering the sport a greater sense of an actual season. The Presidents Cup gave the sport another great international competition. And the World Golf Championships created greater opportunities for international golfers to compete together beyond the majors.
Oh, and he spearheaded efforts to coordinate the bid for golf's return to the Olympics, which became a reality in the 2016 Games after a 112-year absence.
Tim Finchem super-charged the PGA TOUR during his tenure as commissioner by adding World Golf Championships, the Presidents Cup, and the FedEx Playoffs, says Molly Solomon, executive producer/president, NBC Olympics Production, and executive producer, Golf Channel. What the PGA TOUR looks like today is due in large part to his big ideas and creative leadership.
As if that weren't enough, he helped oversee First Tee's growth into a great youth-development organization, reaching more than 15 million youngsters (during his tenure as commissioner, the PGA TOUR and its tournaments raised more than $2 billion in charitable contributions).
Tim Finchem's vision and leadership have made an indelible impact on the game of golf over the past 25 years, said Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR commissioner and World Golf Foundation board chairman, when Finchem was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year. His enshrinement in the World Golf Hall of Fame will forever stand as a testament to his tireless dedication and contributions, but, more important, so will the countless lives - whether those are the players on the PGA TOUR and beyond, millions of First Tee participants, or charitable organizations around the world - impacted by his life's work.
Finchem became commissioner in 1994 when then-Commissioner Deane Beman, just 55 years old, retired to resume his playing career, this time as a member of the then-Senior PGA TOUR.
My history is one of just being in the right place at the right time, says Finchem. So much of where you're headed is based on the individuals that you're interfacing with.
For example, prior to joining the PGA TOUR, Finchem was in the Jimmy Carter Administration, working with the president and his staff.
I've had a great run with regard to being around people who are extremely successful and thoughtful and committed to making this place a better place to live, he says. I look back at all those people I met and the players that I interfaced with, and I was very, very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. One example: he became commissioner only a few weeks before a player named Tiger Woods turned professional.
Tim Finchem: My history is one of just being in the right place at the right time.
And the beginning of the Woods era and the beginning of Finchem's tenure as commissioner coincided with a time when some of the greats of the game had retired but were still an active part of the PGA efforts.
I was lucky, Finchem says, because I came into the PGA TOUR at a time when I had the opportunity to meet Sam Snead and Byron Nelson and all these great players and spend a fair amount of time with them. In some ways, many of those players were similar to working with the president because of their knowledge of the sport, their intensity about transferring that information to fans and to people like myself.
Finchem always had a passion for golf and freely admits to using his paper-route money to support his golf habit.
My dad was in the Marine Corps for 30 years, and I started playing golf when I was 8 or 10, he says. He took me to the Azalea Open in North Carolina; Arnold Palmer won, and I was mesmerized by him. Years later, I'd call him up from time to time and say, Take me through one of your wins. He'd say, Which one? and I'd tell him that one.
Although nearly half his adult life has been spent at the PGA TOUR, Finchem didn't set out to work in sports administration. He attended the University of Richmond on a debate scholarship and graduated in 1969, then received his law degree from Virginia four years later. After practicing law in Virginia Beach for three years, Finchem served in the Carter White House as deputy advisor to the president in the Office of Economic Affairs in 1978 and 1979.
Tim's leadership was invaluable for the growth of the game, says Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and CBS Sports Lead Play-by-Play Announcer Jim Nantz. His thoughtful decision-making helped the PGA TOUR soar to incredible heights. He led his global partners in promoting and implementing a World Golf Championship series, and, here at home, he brought life to the PGA TOUR's end of the season. Lastly, Tim saw the value of nurturing and respecting his television relationships. He has been viewed by all as a great partner.
Most recent headlines
03/02/2025
If you're one of the many Swifties living in Asia, you're in for a treat...
03/02/2025
Whether you're discovering your new favorite song or queuing up the latest episode of the hottest podcasts, Spotify is always innovating to deliver the best...
03/02/2025
SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive tea...
03/02/2025
The L3Harris IPLCS is a fiber-optic tether connecting a torpedo to the origin vessel, providing data in real time. Credit: L3Harris...
03/02/2025
BOTHELL, Wash. Video Services Forum (VSF) today announced that the VidTrans 2025 conference and exposition will take place Feb. 25-27 at the Marina del Rey Marr...
03/02/2025
WASHINGTON Last week Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the Stop Sports Blackouts Act to make cable and satellite companies refund c...
03/02/2025
Amazon Prime Video has added more companies to its Preferred Vendor Services Program....
03/02/2025
BURBANK, Calif. The CW Network, NBC Sports, and Grand Slam Track, a new global track competition, have announced a media rights deal that makes The CW Network t...
03/02/2025
The company said it deserves fair compensation for its innovation, with the long-term success of the streaming industry for consumers and creators dependent on ...
03/02/2025
Adding LED wall to green screen studio expands creative options
CJP Broadcast Service Solutions, systems integration, production and content digitisation speci...
03/02/2025
CJP Broadcast Service Solutions, a systems integration and content digitisation specialist, has been appointed as a certified QuickLink Gold Partner. This strat...
03/02/2025
2d Animated Short Concerned a Project for Schools
Brie Clayton February 3, 2025
0 Comments
2d animated short concerning a project for schools
Februa...
03/02/2025
Academy Award-Winning Production Company Caviar Signs Director Dawit N.M.
Brie Clayton February 3, 2025
0 Comments
Academy Award-winning independent p...
03/02/2025
Blackmagic Design Announces Customizable Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K Body
Brie Clayton February 3, 2025
0 Comments
New body only model of Blackmagic URSA...
03/02/2025
Berklee Alumni Recognized at the 2025 Grammy Awards Winners took home trophies in 14 categories, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Songwr...
03/02/2025
For media production companies, the drive for increased efficiency without extensive incremental costs or added complexity is always near the top of the priorit...
03/02/2025
Any lingering resistance to virtual production involving next-generation elements like LED walls, in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) and mixed reality (MR) is rap...
03/02/2025
The physical function of audio mixing remains relatively unchanged today despite technology's onward march. There are now many ways to mix studio and outsid...
03/02/2025
Ciaran Doran, chair of ISE 2025's AV Broadcast Summit, is looking forward to checking out traditional TV broadcast vendors' tailored products and servic...
03/02/2025
The report included an ad tier estimate for Netflix, Disney and Amazon
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 3, 2025
The report included an ad tier est...
03/02/2025
Lightbridge, creators of the renowned Precision Reflectors for motion picture lighting, celebrates 8 years of innovation with a 40% discount on all current CRLS...
03/02/2025
High dynamic range (HDR) has transformed the sports fan experience, enabling broadcasters and OTT providers to deliver live events with remarkably lifelike colo...
03/02/2025
MainConcept, the leading provider of video and audio codecs, announces the latest additions to its MainConcept EVA (Easy Video API) technology, set to greatly e...
03/02/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premier of Side Hustlers, the US business reality series produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, part of...
03/02/2025
Super Bowl LIX: Flown Sound System Adapts Older Stadium for Game, Hip-Hop-Heavy ...
03/02/2025
The NAMM Show Continues To Move Beyond the Music Dale Pro Audio had a front-row seat to what has become the major U.S. pro-audio expo By SVG Staff
Monday, Fe...
03/02/2025
As it heads to its estimable 30th anniversary, the HPA Tech Retreat continues to add one-of-a-kind programming to its schedule. The HPA Tech Retreat committee h...
03/02/2025
Fox Corporation and FOX Sports Announce Super Bowl LIX Community Initiatives Company Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana to Invest in Great Fu...
03/02/2025
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Apple Music is celebrating Kendrick Lamar's Road to Halftime with a spotlight on the era-defining artist who has...
02/02/2025
2026 Edition of Sundance Film Festival to Take Place in Park City and Salt Lake ...
02/02/2025
Back to All News
Toma Ikuta Stars in Demon City' with Music by Tomoyasu Ho...
01/02/2025
Cow Job Listing: Calling All Creative Editors! Love Japan? Japan-Inspired Video ...
01/02/2025
DirecTV said it has significantly expanded its MySports package, which includes 40 national sports and local broadcast channels, to 122 Nielsen designated marke...
01/02/2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission member Nathan Simington announced that he has appointed Adam Cassady to serve as his chief of staff. Simingto...
01/02/2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission commissioner Anna M. Gomez has announced a new appointment to her staff as well as some staff departures....
01/02/2025
NEW YORK A new study from Nielsen finds that Black audiences spend 32 hours on apps and websites on their smartphones and tablets two hours more than the total ...
01/02/2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Federal Communications Commission investigation into CBS and an interview conducted by 60 Minutes with vice president Kamala Harris during ...
01/02/2025
Berklee Ensemble Orchestra to Perform the Music of Led Zeppelin Brent Havens '77 will lead a full rock band and an orchestra of Berklee students and alumn...
01/02/2025
Berklee Global and Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Launch Emerging Artist Inten...
31/01/2025
Zeam Media, a provider of broadcast OTT technology as well as the hyperlocal streaming platform Zeam, announced today that it is again collaborating with John S...
31/01/2025
Sonnet Announces Secure Mounting Bracket for All-New 2024 Apple Mac mini Compute...
31/01/2025
Kalamazoo College Uses Blackmagic Design for Campuswide Productions
Brie Clayton January 31, 2025
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design cameras and switchers u...
31/01/2025
Tiger's 1st Pro AV Sale of 2025 Features 700 Plus Lots of High Quality Gear
Brie Clayton January 31, 2025
0 Comments
Excess inventory from full-se...
31/01/2025
Camera Corps Streamlines Live HDR Sports Production with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton January 31, 2025
0 Comments
High dynamic range (HDR) has transformed th...
31/01/2025
CHARLOTTE, N.C., and BRISTOL, Conn. The Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN have announced that the sports programmer has exercised its option to extend its TV r...
31/01/2025
The URSA Cine 12K LF Body excludes shoulder mounts, handles, some lens mounts, battery plates, power supply, lenses and the high capacity 8TB media module
By J...
31/01/2025
EDEN aims to provide continuous power when operating in remote locations, and can be recharged using solar power
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: January 31, 2...
31/01/2025
MIAMI Telemundo has laid out plans for extensive Spanish-language coverage of the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 that includes a large slate of programming across the net...
31/01/2025
ATLANTA TNT Sports is launching a new NASCAR Driver Cam experience exclusively on Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service that will offer motorsports...
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame 2020-21: Tim Finchem, Transformative Leader By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
