Games Aren’t Losing Money for Turner

The Pan American Games have averaged only a 1.2 rating, but Turner Broadcasting appears to be breaking even on the event, said Don McGuire, the executive producer of TBS Sports.

“It’s my understanding that we basically sold out on the Games and . . . if we are losing money, it’s very small and if we’re making money, it’s very small,” said McGuire. “It’s right on the mark, plus or minus 5%.

“The fact that it’s breaking even means it will be a grandly successful event,” he said from Havana. “This is our most successful event, from a financial point of view.”

TBS lost about $44 million on the 1990 Goodwill Games, which averaged a 2.5 rating.

The Pan Am Games, which end Sunday, are being televised daily on TNT, a subsidiary of TBS that reaches about 55 million homes. ABC has been televising the Games on the weekends.