LIV Golf has secured a television broadcasting partner as it prepares to embark on its fourth season. The Saudi Arabia-backed league has announced a multi-year agreement with Fox Sports that will enable the broadcasting of all three rounds across a variety of its platforms, including cable channels and its streaming service.
Details regarding the financial aspects of the deal have not been disclosed, leaving it unclear whether Fox Sports is paying a standard rights fee for the broadcasting privileges. LIV Golf has stated that more than half of its upcoming schedule will be aired on Fox or FS1, with selected rounds also featured on FS2, Fox Business Network, and through the network’s app. Subscribers to the LIV Golf+ application will also have access to these broadcasts.
In the past, LIV Golf had its events aired on the CW Network for two years, a partnership that struggled to capture a significant audience, at times attracting more viewers for reruns than for live broadcasts of the league’s events. Additionally, overseas tournaments were shown on a tape-delay basis in the U.S. during its tenure with the CW.
Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, expressed enthusiasm about the new relationship, stating, “LIV Golf is expanding and evolving, and this partnership marks a new chapter in our growth as we join the ranks of the country’s leading sports leagues and conferences.” He acknowledged the Fox Sports team for sharing their forward-thinking vision for golf’s future, which aims to reshape the way fans engage with the sport. He also mentioned the league’s appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy audience and highlighted that this agreement is poised to elevate their broadcast presence significantly.
Fox Sports returns to golf coverage for the first time since it entered a 12-year deal with the USGA in 2013, a partnership that concluded prematurely after five years when NBC assumed those responsibilities.
The LIV Golf season is set to kick off from February 6-8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which operates eight hours ahead of Eastern Time. Jon Rahm was crowned the points champion in the previous season. The league’s first event in the United States will take place April 4-6 at Trump Doral near Miami, just a week prior to the Masters. This season features six events in the U.S., culminating in three consecutive weeks of competition in August that will coincide with the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs.
LIV Golf has indicated that it will retain control over its broadcasts, which will feature a live leaderboard displayed along the left side of the screen and enhanced drone camera coverage. The league will continue to utilize its existing on-air talent, including Arlo White and David Feherty, for its presentations.
The league has confirmed that “nearly all” of its events will be broadcast live across various Fox platforms, ensuring accessibility for fans. Moreover, LIV Golf+ subscribers will benefit from an innovative feature known as “Any Shot, Any Time,” enabling viewers to choose which golfers, teams, or groups they want to follow in real-time.
