World Snooker: TSN deal will not benefit our members
Negotiations between World Snooker and The Sportsmasters Network (TSN) have ended without any agreement being reached.
Jim McKenzie, managing director of World Snooker, held further talks with TSN chief executive George Smith in London last Thursday.
Those talks failed to broker an agreement that would be in the best interests of the members.
McKenzie said: 'I am very disappointed that negotiations with TSN have broken down as I was hoping we could work together for the benefit of snooker.'
TSN have announced they are to set-up their own 10-tournament world tour next season and want to take over the television rights from World Snooker.
'We couldn’t agree to relinquish the Association’s commercial rights,' said Mark Wildman, chairman of the board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). 'We don’t believe that would benefit our membership or snooker as a whole.
'We hope that all our members continue to support our tour next season. If they wish to play in the Tour promoted by TSN, we will be delighted to give them that opportunity providing there is no conflict with World Snooker and its tournaments.'
The Board have again stressed that World Snooker will be pressing ahead with plans for a nine-tournament tour next season, carrying total prize money of £5.9million – an increase of around 30 per cent on this season.
With a further £1million available through additional events, total prize money of £6.9million will be on offer to the players during the 2001-2002 season.
McKenzie added: 'We will be continuing with our efforts to attract new sponsors and new business partners to the sport.
'All the tools are in place to take snooker forward and the timing of TSN’s proposal has been unfortunate.'
For further information, please contact:
World Snooker Media Office
Tel: +44 (0)117-317-8200
Jim McKenzie, managing director of World Snooker, held further talks with TSN chief executive George Smith in London last Thursday.
Those talks failed to broker an agreement that would be in the best interests of the members.
McKenzie said: 'I am very disappointed that negotiations with TSN have broken down as I was hoping we could work together for the benefit of snooker.'
TSN have announced they are to set-up their own 10-tournament world tour next season and want to take over the television rights from World Snooker.
'We couldn’t agree to relinquish the Association’s commercial rights,' said Mark Wildman, chairman of the board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). 'We don’t believe that would benefit our membership or snooker as a whole.
'We hope that all our members continue to support our tour next season. If they wish to play in the Tour promoted by TSN, we will be delighted to give them that opportunity providing there is no conflict with World Snooker and its tournaments.'
The Board have again stressed that World Snooker will be pressing ahead with plans for a nine-tournament tour next season, carrying total prize money of £5.9million – an increase of around 30 per cent on this season.
With a further £1million available through additional events, total prize money of £6.9million will be on offer to the players during the 2001-2002 season.
McKenzie added: 'We will be continuing with our efforts to attract new sponsors and new business partners to the sport.
'All the tools are in place to take snooker forward and the timing of TSN’s proposal has been unfortunate.'
For further information, please contact:
World Snooker Media Office
Tel: +44 (0)117-317-8200