Bryson DeChambeau stops for an interview after his victory for the final round of LIV Golf Chicago on September 24, 2023, at Ric (Image: Getty Images)
LIV Golf is in discussions with Fox Sports to secure a new broadcasting deal for the breakaway league’s events from 2025 onwards. This move could significantly enhance the appeal of the league amid its merger with the PGA Tour.
Previously, LIV had their tournaments broadcast on The CW Network in 2023 and 2024, after failing to secure a TV deal during their inaugural season in 2022. Their agreement with CW gave them the option of an additional year for 2025, but this has not been taken up.
According to Sports Business Journal, the Saudi-funded series has now initiated discussions with Fox over a potential deal that would see their 54-hole events broadcast there. This would be a significant shift for the LIV setup, as the attractiveness of their events to some of the major broadcasters has been questioned.
A broadcasting camera aims towards the first green during a storm during day one of LIV Golf: Greenbrier (Image: Getty Images)
The league’s agreement with CW saw the network broadcast the second and third rounds of tournaments on TV, with the first round only available via The CW App. It remains unknown whether a similar deal would be implemented if finalised with Fox.
The CW’s viewing figures didn’t hit the heights that LIV bosses had hoped for after inking the deal for 2023. This was particularly noticeable following the final regular season event in September.
A mere average of 89,000 golf enthusiasts tuned in to watch Jon Rahm clinch the league’s 2024 individual champion title in Chicago on The CW during the final round. This figure had dwindled from 134,000 in the second round, according to Mirror US.
In contrast, their PGA Tour rivals averaged 2.2 million viewers on Sundays throughout the season, marking a 19 percent drop from the previous year. Golf fans can catch LIV tournaments via the breakaway league’s LIV Plus App, while international fans can tune in through a YouTube stream.
As per an SBJ report on Tuesday, Scott O’Neil, who is rumoured to be stepping into Greg Norman’s shoes as LIV CEO, has been in Las Vegas this week for ‘The Showdown’.
The matchplay clash at Shadow Creek saw LIV’s Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka beaten by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler of the PGA Tour, in emphatic fashion.
The report also revealed that O’Neil participated in the Pro-Am alongside Alan Gold, the head of sports media at CAA Evolution. It was further reported that Jordan Bazant, the EVP of business development and media for Fox Sports, was also part of the same Pro-Am group.