LIV Golf in talks over major TV deal

LIV Golf are in talks over a significant broadcast agreement ahead of the 2025 season.

The Sports Business Journal is reporting that the Saudi-backed league has entered “high-level discussions” with Fox Sports with the view of showcasing their events on the US network.

Details, at this stage, are scarce over a proposed agreement.

For the past two seasons, LIV seasons have been shown on the CW Network stateside, as well on YouTube and their eponymous app.

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The CW Network’s agreement was not extended beyond its second season and has now lapsed after a modest viewership across the 14-events in 2024.

LIV’s outgoing CEO Greg Norman admitted to Sports Illustrated in October that one of the start-up’s shortcomings has been the failure to land a major TV contract.

“Where we’re falling short is due to the headwinds in not getting a network [TV] deal,” Norman said.

“That creates uncertainty in the marketplace. [A lot of companies say] let’s see what happens. That rolls into sponsorship. We have an enormous number of big corporations who are talking to us and would be very keen to come on.”

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A deal with Fox, however, would be seen as a significant victory.

The broadcaster reportedly held talks with the breakaway league after its inception in 2022, and has long been considered suitors for LIV coverage given it does not have a contract with the PGA Tour.

With a unification deal still to be finalised between their Saudi backers and the American circuit, LIV continues to plough its own furrow and would certainly feel emboldened by a Fox contract.

Meanwhile, Scott O’Neil is expected to replace Norman as LIV’s new CEO and commissioner in the coming weeks.

According to SBJ, O’Neil is playing in the pro-am for “The Showdown” – a made-for-TV match between LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka and the PGA Tour’s Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, which takes place at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.