Q: How long has CBS been covering the Masters? Has any other network aired the golf tournament?
—Kevin Riggs, Avondale Estates
A: The Masters was first televised in 1956. CBS, the only network to broadcast the tournament, used six cameras to televise action on holes 15 through 18 that year. The network agrees to one-year contracts with the Augusta National Golf Club, and the Masters is the longest running "sporting event broadcast on one network," according to CBS. Weekday coverage was expanded to USA Network in 1982, but the network used CBS crews and announcers. ESPN took over the weekday broadcasts in 2008, with CBS producing the broadcasts. Coverage has expanded online, with than 125 hours of live online action shown on Masters Live, which could be viewed on CBSSports.com and Masters.com this year.
Q: There’s a discussion about Savannah and Chatham County merging. I thought they had merged. Have they not ?
—Richard Clarke, Atlanta
A: Savannah and Chatham County's police departments merged in 2003 to form the Savannah-Chatham Metro Police on Jan. 1, 2005, but there has been resistance to a full consolidation between the two governments. The topic has been debated for decades and the Savannah-Chatham County Governmental Consolidation Study Committee was formed in 2001, but measures to consolidate have been rejected at the polls or opposed by elected officials. Chatham County Commission chairman Al Scott told GPB.org earlier this month that the consolidation of other services would help taxpayers save money, but Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson said she hasn't heard of "specific merger proposals," the article stated.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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