LIV Golf could produce its own ‘Drive to Survive’ docuseries after struggling to find media buyer

LIV Golf could try to replicate the success of the Netflix Formula One: Drive to Survive documentaries by producing its own behind-the-scenes show on the controversial tour.

According to a recent report in Bloomberg, LIV polled production companies about recording a show and, once a deal is made, would offer it to streaming services or television networks.

“Representatives of LIV Golf have approached production companies and would then bring any potential show to a streaming service or TV network,” the business publication reported. The efforts have not yet resulted in a deal. A LIV spokeswoman declined to comment.’

Formula One: Drive To Survive has been a huge hit with sports fans as it reveals behind-the-scenes moments from managers, team owners and drivers from some of the tour’s biggest circuits

LIV is struggling to find a buyer for the tournament television rights. It’s a slap in the face to the executives who, over the course of the first season, persuaded some of the top golfers to join them on the PGA Tour, including Bryson Dechambeau and Cameron Smith, by paying them megabucks.

It wasn’t until last month when CEO Greg Norman insisted the Saudi-backed tour had “huge interest” from US streaming services, but so far CBS, NBC and ESPN have stuck to their long-term contracts with rivals PGA Tour, whose LIV. is engaged in an antitrust legal battle with .

Therefore, the PIF-backed tour appears to be changing or at least encouraging its strategy, hoping to experience the same success as Formula 1 docuseries with the involvement of fans, the drivers, team owners and behind-the-scenes coverage of some of the most famous race tracks in the world.

The route looks bleak for LIV, though, as Netflix is ​​already partnering with the PGA Tour to produce a similar show.

Competition is also fierce as most sports organizations look to replicate the success of Formula 1, including the ATP tour, which plans to do a series on male and female players who make up the four Grand Slams.

LIV Golf has been at the center of controversy in the golf world not only because it pays PGA players to switch, but also because the new tour is being funded by the controversial Saudi regime’s Public Investment Fund.

Former US President Donald Trump and Yasir al-Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, watch from the second tee during the pro-am ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in July

Trump, who has been controversially linked to the Saudi-backed golf tour, will host another invite at his other Miami golf course, despite no broadcasters broadcasting it live

LIV Golf is also connected to Trump through its courses. He has already hosted one tour event at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey and will host the season finale at his course in Miami, Florida next month.

The first season of the tour was played without a media contract. Instead, LIV shows its team-based tournaments on its own website and YouTube. Circuit managers previously told the Wall Street Journal that events were open to the public for free, so the tour could prove its legitimacy with fans and networks alike.

That plan didn’t pan out because major US networks and streaming services all withdrew LIV Golf, not just according to Golfweek and the Journal.

LIV Golf Tour recently tried to buy airtime on Fox Sports 1 to broadcast its games in hopes of securing its first media contract. A source added that Fox Sports only got involved at the behest of Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert’s son and the CEO of Fox Corp.

“There were people at Fox who didn’t want anything to do with this,” the source told Golfweek in September. “They were forced to do it.”

In September, LIV Golf was forced to release a statement denying a report that no executive at Fox Sprots 1 wanted to air the tour.

LIV Golf had to deny the report in a statement.

“We caution that no one should draw any conclusions about possible media rights as we are still in the middle of negotiations with various media outlets,” the statement said.

The PGA Tour’s bitter rivalry with LIV is golf’s biggest rivalry since the upstart tour was launched with funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

Saudi Arabia is reported to have appropriated at least $2.4 billion for LIV Golf.