According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, FOX Sports and LIV Golf have had discussions about a potential agreement which would see the tournaments air on the network starting next season. Josh Carpenter said his sources have told him the talks are at a high level but if a rights fee is involved or where exactly the tournaments would air, FOX or FS1, was not yet clear.
For the past two years, LIV events have aired on The CW. There was reportedly a third-year option in that agreement which was not picked up.
LIV Golf kicked off with the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series which was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube. In June 2022, the league signed a worldwide deal with video streaming service DAZN with additional deals in specific countries signed later. In January 2023 LIV signed with The CW, which is owned by Nexstar Media Group.
The SBJ report said Scott O’Neil, who is expected to be named the new CEO and commissioner of LIV, has been on site in Las Vegas this week for “The Showdown,” which will feature LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau against PGA Tour players Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Carpenter reported O’Neil was playing in the Pro-Am with CAA head of sports Alan Gold and EVP of business development and media for FOX Sports Jordan Bazant.
Indications are LIV built their schedule around a possible new media deal. This past season ended the third week of September, with the new season schedule to finish in August, before football programming would begin on a network such as FOX.
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