LIV Golf Inks Multi-Year Broadcast Deal With The CW Network

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Dustin Johnson Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Boston
Team Captain Dustin Johnson of the 4 Aces GC reacts after winning the LIV Golf Invitational Boston in a playoff at the International’s Oak course on Sept 04, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Montana Pritchard for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The much anticipated and long-awaited news from LIV Golf has finally arrived!

LIV Golf and The CW Network have announced they have entered into a broadcast television and streaming agreement. After a competitive bidding process, LIV Golf has awarded the rights to its live event content via a multi-year partnership with The CW.

Beginning with the 2023 LIV Golf League season, The CW will air all 14 LIV Golf events, via both broadcast TV and digital app (OTT and mobile). By tuning into The CW Network or firing up its app, golf fans will now be able to watch LIV Golf’s full 14 tournament schedule including two of the world’s very best players in Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith.

“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.

“The CW and its majority owner, Nexstar Media Group, recognize the enormous interest in and potential of our league and with their support, more fans will experience the energy and innovative competition that LIV Golf is using to reinvigorate the sport.

“The CW is a world-class media partner, and we are honored to be joining forces to further bring LIV Golf to life as they stake their claim in professional sports.”

Bubba Watson 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Boston
Bubba Watson looks on during the final round of the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston at The Oaks course at The International on Sept 04, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Chris Trottman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The CW is one of America’s five major broadcast networks, offering 14 hours of primetime programming, Monday through Sunday.

Originally a joint venture between CBS’ UPN network and Warner Bros’ The WB, The CW’s majority owner is now Nexstar Media Group, Inc., America’s largest local television and media company. (Paramount/CBS and Warner/Discovery each own a 12.5% share.)

Norman added, “The CW and its majority owner, Nexstar Media Group, recognize the enormous interest in and potential of our league and with their support, more fans will experience the energy and innovative competition that LIV Golf is using to reinvigorate the sport.

“The CW is a world-class media partner, and we are honored to be joining forces to further bring LIV Golf to life as they stake their claim in professional sports.”

The CW’s acquisition of exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the LIV Golf League is part of an industry trend of entertainment networks adding live sports to their programming slates.

“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,” said Dennis Miller, President, The CW Network.

“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.”

2022 LIV Golf-Boston Team Majesticks GC
Team Captain Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter of Majesticks GC are seen in the locker room during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National on July 31, 2022 in Bedminster, NJ. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton for LIV via Getty Images)

LIV Golf is expected to release its 2023 tournament schedule next week.

Weekend tournaments will air live on Saturdays and Sundays on The CW broadcast network and streamed on The CW app; on Fridays it will be shown exclusively 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 entertaining film and television content for free on-demand viewing.

“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,” said Will Staeger, Chief Media Officer of LIV Golf.

“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, distinctive 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 Golf on-air announce team will see its acclaimed on-air talent squad return, 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.

On the web: LIVGolf.com, CWTV.com

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1 COMMENT

  1. One thing about the PGA Tour (and players) attacks on LIV–I have stopped watching PGA Tour completely. I am so disgusted by them that I cannot watch their awful, yet, awful broadcasts anymore.

    One thing I notice more than ever — the PGA Pros do not seem to understand that they are entertainers first and foremost–I do not care at all how much money they make–I want to be entertained–LIV gets that, PGA does not.

     

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