The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour announced its first broadcast television and streaming agreement in the United States on Thursday, penning a ‘multi-year’ deal with The CW Network, the tour said in a statement.
While the deal is not with one of the top networks for live sport, securing a television deal in the US was one of the prime goals for LIV Golf, which has signed up several top players even as it is engaged in legal battles with the PGA Tour.
“This is a momentous day for LIV Golf as this partnership is about more than just media rights. The CW will provide accessibility for our fans and maximum exposure for our athletes and partners as their reach includes more than 120 million households across the United States,” said LIV CEO Greg Norman.
“We’re very proud to note how consequential it is that a league that has only existed for one year has secured a full broadcast deal in its debut full league season.”
The CW is 75% owned by Nexstar Media Group, which owns a host of local channels across the United States, but the channel is not known for showing live sports, AFP reports.
“For The CW, our partnership with LIV Golf marks a significant milestone in our goal to re-engineer the network with quality, diversified programming for our viewers, advertisers and CW affiliates. This also marks the first time in The CW’s 17-year history that the network is the exclusive broadcast home for live mainstream sports,” said Dennis Miller, president, The CW Network.
Unlike the established PGA Tour’s tournaments, which are four-day 72-hole competitions, LIV plays over three days and 54 holes with a shotgun start.
LIV Golf’s production coverage, which LIV will continue to produce with its in-house team, will maintain its format and style from the 2022 Invitational season. LIV’s coverage includes a shotgun start, distinctive live leaderboard, enhanced drone coverage, statistics-driven graphics, and fast-paced coverage featuring nearly twice as many golf shots per hour than traditional golf coverage.
LIV’s 2023 season will include 14 tournaments with venues in the United States, Mexico, Australia, Spain and Singapore.
The tour, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s giant Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed up several heavy hitters including reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia, two-time major winner Dustin Johnson and six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, AFP further reports.
