LIV Golf inks multiyear TV deal with CW Network

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour has finally struck a deal with an American broadcaster, singing with the CW Network after failing to reach a deal with any major American media.

Nexstar Media Group has announced a multi-year deal with LIV Golf to broadcast on CW, though terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The deal is believed to be a revenue-sharing deal, meaning LIV Golf will not receive any rights fees and will pay production costs, according to ESPN.

LIV Golf’s first event of the 2023 season is scheduled for Mexico from February 24-26. Previously, the controversial rival of the PGA had been limited to YouTube broadcasts.

Greg Norman, CEO of LIV, has been trying to reach a deal with an American broadcaster since 2021

LIV Golf is about to agree to broadcast all 14 of its events live in the US with the CW Network

The deal gives LIV Golf the opportunity to reach a broader audience, according to CEO and commissioner Greg Norman, himself a former PGA star.

‘[The agreement] it will provide accessibility for our fans and maximum exposure for our athletes and partners,” Norman said in a statement.

“We are very proud to note how important it is that a league that has only been around for one year has secured a full broadcast contract in its first full league season.”

LIV Golf is heavily financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which has committed at least $2 billion to the circuit. But while the rebel tour has garnered media attention in the form of news articles, that publicity has yet to translate into press rights or sponsorship deals.

There are some big names involved with LIV Golf, including top earners like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau, who have been lured into LIV Golf with lucrative signing bonuses reportedly worth between $100 million and $200 million. Phil Mickelson was paid $200 million to defect to LIV Golf.

Critics say LIV Golf is simply a “sports wash” of Saudi Arabia’s brutal human rights record.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, left, applauds Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament on September 18.

His renowned tour will begin on February 24 at the El Camaleon Mayakoba golf course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, although no announcement has been made about its 48 participants. Their full schedule of 14 events has yet to be made official. Last year, the tour hosted a tournament at former US President Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Earlier this month, several reports indicated that LIV came close to offering live TV rights to UK broadcasters for free amid desperation by top executives, including Norman, to find a traditional broadcast partner.

Sportsmail has learned that a new round of negotiations with Sky Sports, BT Sport and DAZN failed to reach an agreement over the winter break period, shortly after LIV failed to convince major US broadcasters. to take on the second season of the Saudi-funded rebel tour. .

DAZN only showed tour events outside of major markets, including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan.

His Excellency Yasir Al Rumayyan (C) speaks with former US President Donald Trump (R) as Majed Al Sorour (L), CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation, looks on during the pro-am ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Bedminster Golf Club on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey

Loyalty is the main reason behind the refusal of the world’s most-watched channels to participate in the PIF-backed tour, as they are closely aligned with LIV’s arch-enemy, the PGA Tour.

Golfweek Magazine reported last year that LIV came close to reaching an agreement with US network Fox Sports over the purchase of airtime, six years after the network parted ways with Greg Norman.

Despite Jared Kushner’s effort to broker a deal between the two parties, no deal had been reached by the end of 2022.

Western media and golf commentators have repeatedly criticized the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour for its corruption and human rights abuses and for its efforts to enhance its global reputation image through the sport.

Jared Kushner tried to broker a deal with some of America’s biggest sports networks for LIV

Last year, in August, David Feherty admitted in an interview with the Toledo sheetthat the main reason behind his switch from NBC Sports to LIV was money, despite being an employee of the US television network for seven years.

“I heard, ‘Well, it grows the game.’ Bulls***,” said the 64-year-old Northern Irishman. They paid me a lot of money.

He also hinted at a new challenge after ‘covering all the majors’, as well as the Winter and Summer Olympics.

‘It was an opportunity to be a principal analyst. And more than anything, being me,” she added. ‘To be myself. Maybe have that edginess, but push the irreverent envelope a bit. The shackles are off. I felt a bit limited towards the end. [at NBC] and at the end of my tenure at CBS as well. I loved everything and was incredibly lucky.

The tour is also embroiled in a legal battle with the PGA Tour for interfering with their player contracts.

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the fund that finances LIV Golf, were named in the lawsuit in October.