LIV Golf is close to securing a TV deal for its upcoming season, according to multiple reports.
The Palm Beach Post noted that LIV Golf commentator David Feherty told an audience at a stand-up special last week that the Saudi-backed circuit would be broadcast on the CW network. “Have you heard of CW?” Feherty said after his show last Thursday, according to the Post. “I might get fired for this, but… ” hinting a deal could be announced this week.
The news comes after the Sports Business Journal reported that CW may be a LIV Golf partner for 2023, with sources telling Sports Illustrated a deal with CW is imminent. CW has more than 200 affiliates in the United States and the network is mostly known for airing syndicated programming.
During its inaugural season LIV Golf could only be viewed on YouTube and LIV Golf’s website. Golf Digest reported last year that the valuations of LIV Golf franchises, and the long-term viability of the league, hindered on securing a broadcast deal. Nearly all of the major television subsidiaries in the United States showed little to no interest in LIV Golf in its first few months, sources told Golf Digest.
The one wildcard was the FOX Corporation due to its ties with the fledgling league. FOX founder and media tycoon Rubert Murdoch has a personal relationship with LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman; the two attempted to create a “World Golf Tour” in the mid-1990s, with Murdoch’s FOX Sports securing the rights. In January 2022, LIV Golf hired former FOX Sports president David Hill to help with production, and the right-leaning FOX News had a heavy presence at LIV Golf’s third event held at former US president Trump’s Bedminster property. A few months ago reports emerged FOX Sports was in discussions with LIV Golf.
However, multiple sources told Golf Digest talks broke down over rights fees, as LIV Golf viewed a media deal as a revenue generator while FOX Sports insisted on being paid for showing the product similar to an ad-buy. According to Sports Illustrated, the CW deal will be a revenue-sharing agreement.
The LIV Golf season will begin on February 24 at Mayakoba, with both individual and team competitions similar to the inaugural season returning. The entire schedule and rosters have yet to be released, but announcements on both could be coming later this week.
