LIV Golf has announced that it has entered into its first US broadcast television and streaming agreement with The CW Network.
Previously only available to view live streamed on YouTube, Facebook or via LIV Golf’s own website, live coverage of the Saudi-backed tour’s 14-event 2023 series will now be able to watched on the The CW App.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“This is a momentous day for LIV Golf as this partnership is about more than just media rights,” said Greg Norman, CEO & Commissioner of LIV Golf. “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. 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.”
Norman added: “The CW is a world-class media partner, and we are honuored to be joining forces to further bring LIV Golf to life as they stake their claim in professional sports.”
The CW is one of America’s five major broadcast networks, offering 14 hours of primetime programming, Monday through Sunday. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, America’s largest local television and media company.
Dennis Miller, President, The CW Network, said: “Our new partnership between The CW and LIV Golf will deliver a whole new audience and add to the growing worldwide excitement for the league. With CW’s broadcasts and streams, more fans across the country and around the globe can partake in the LIV Golf energy and view its innovative competition that has reimagined the sport for players, fans and the game of golf.
“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.”
LIV Golf’s weekend tournaments will air live on Saturdays and Sundays on The CW and The CW App and on Fridays on The CW App. With nearly 90 million downloads to date, The CW App, available for free to consumers on all major platforms, is the fully ad-supported exclusive home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming, live streaming of its sports content, and a library of film and television content for free on-demand viewing.
Will Staeger, Chief Media Officer of LIV Golf, said: “Our new multi-year partnership with The CW will unlock our ability to serve both core golf fans and to reach the casual sports and entertainment viewer as part of our mission to grow the sport. Our innovative product attracts a younger viewership demographic to the table than the traditional golf fan, and we’re thrilled to be part of The CW’s growth into its new era of sports programming featuring the biggest stars in golf and our industry-leading storytelling and format.”
LIV Golf’s innovative 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, 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.
The LIV on-air commentating team remains the same as 2022, with Arlo White leading play-by-play alongside analysts David Feherty and Jerry Foltz in the booth, and Dom Boulet, Su-Ann Heng and Troy Mullins providing coverage on the course and in feature segments.
