According to a report from Eamon Lynch of GolfWeek, LIV Golf is nearing completion of a deal with FS1 to air their tournaments on the cable network.
LIV Golf would be buying the time on cable, rather than receiving a rights fee from FOX Sports for the events.
Two weeks ago, LIV CEO Greg Norman told ESPN 100 interest from broadcasters was “enormous”, noting that four different networks were pitching deals to the tour.
According to Lynch, LIV “struck out” with NBC, CBS, Disney, Apple, and Amazon before FOX CEO Lachlan Murdoch pushed his company to enter negotiations with the controversial Saudi-backed tour.
“There were people at Fox who wanted nothing to do with this,” a source told Lynch. “They were forced to do it.”
Furthermore, LIV Golf requested a rights fee for the second year of the contract and a guarantee that some events would air on network television. Fox has reportedly declined both of those terms.
