On August 17, 2023, the PBA and Fox announced they have agreed to a two-year media rights extension for tournament coverage on Fox and FS1 channels, as well as Fox digital channels, through the 2025 season. Initial commitment is for eight two-hour program windows on Fox and 22 two-hour windows on FS1. Bill Wanger, EVP-Head of Programming and Scheduling at Fox Sports, stated during the announcement that viewership for the 2023 season was up almost 15% from 2022.[2]
Season overview
On November 1, 2022, the PBA released the 2023 schedule, including Fox and FS1 broadcasts. For the first time in PBA history, the final rounds of all five major events were broadcast live on over-the-air network television (Fox network). The PBA also announced that match play or extended stepladder rounds for multiple tournaments would be broadcast on FS1, another PBA first. In addition, the 2023 season schedule includes nine standard singles title events and two doubles title events that will have final rounds broadcast on FS1 or live-streamed on BowlTV (the PBA's YouTube channel).[1] The one exception is the PBA Tour Finals, which continues to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Following the U.S. Open finals broadcast on February 5, other major finals broadcasts included the Tournament of Champions on March 19, the USBC Masters on April 2, the PBA World Championship on April 23 (part of the World Series of Bowling in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin that also includes three standard title events), and the PBA Players Championship on May 14. Fox also broadcast the PBA Super Slam finals on May 21, This special event featured all major tournament winners from the 2023 season.[1] The five majors and the Super Slam each paid out a $100,000 top prize.
In February-March, there were five "Classic Series" tour stops each awarding a standard PBA singles title. The top eight points earners from these five events were invited to compete in a special, non-title Skill Ball Challenge event on July 22–23. In that event, all eight players were required to use an identical low-technology Skill 3.02 bowling ball.[3]
The PBA League Elias Cup team competition, previously a summer event, was moved to the fall, with the finals broadcasts held on September 27 on FS1.
The events currently scheduled for the 2023 PBA season are shown below.[4][5] Major tournaments are in bold. Career PBA title numbers for winners are shown in parentheses (#). Winner's share prize money is shown in US dollars ($), except where indicated.
Tour points are awarded for most events. Besides the season-ending Harry Smith PBA Points Winner award, points are one consideration for Player of the Year voting and also affect eligibility and seeding for the PBA Tour Finals (with 2022 points).
Tier 3: PBA short format or limited field tournaments (2500 points for first, and descending thereafter)
Tier 2: PBA standard tournaments with a fully open field (double the points of Tier 3 events)
Tier 1: PBA major tournaments (triple the points of Tier 3 events)
Event
Airdate
City
Preliminary rounds
Final round
Oil pattern
Winner
Notes
U.S. Open
Feb 4 (match play) FS1 Feb 5 (finals) Fox 1.007 million viewers[6]
Women: Wichita State University Men: Indiana Tech University
Special event featuring top six men's and top six women's college bowling teams (by USBC ranking), presented by the PBA. Top two teams from men's and women's qualifying appear in the televised finals.
Open event (Tier 3-short format). $20,000 top prize.
PBA WSOB XIV Shark Championship
Apr 19 FS1
Wauwatosa, WI
Apr 13–14 (WSOB PTQ: Apr 7)
Live
Shark 48
Matthew Ogle, USA (2)
Open event (Tier 3-short format). $20,000 top prize.
PBA World Championship
Apr 23 Fox
Wauwatosa, WI
Apr 9–14, 20
Live
Qualifying: Cheetah 35, Scorpion 42, Shark 48 Match play & finals: Earl Anthony 43
E. J. Tackett, USA (21)
Open event for WSOB entrants (PBA members only) (Tier 1). PBA major. Top 12 in 60-game qualifying pinfall from the three animal pattern events (20 games each) advance to World Championship round-robin match play. $100,000 top prize.
PBA Players Championship
May 6, 7 (match play) FS1 May 13 (semi-finals) FS1 May 14 (finals) Fox
