LIV Golf, CW Network join forces to broadcast golf tournaments in 2023

After a year of its product being streamed on YouTube and its own website, LIV Golf has found a television home.

The CW Network, the nation's fifth-largest broadcast network, has partnered with LIV on a multiyear broadcast deal. The CW Network will start by airing the league's 14 events in 2023, starting next month at Mayakoba in Mexico. Those events also will be streamed on the CW app.

CW, which has 220 affiliates nationwide, including WTVX 34 in West Palm Beach, is part of the Nexstar Media Group. It is known for its teen dramas and superhero shows. LIV will become its first sports property.

Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, said in a release that "this is a momentous day for LIV Golf as this partnership is about more than just media rights.

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"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," Norman said. "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.”

LIV, the breakaway golf league funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and headed by Palm Beach Gardens' Norman, held eight events in 2022, its inaugural season. The only way to tune in was through LIVGolf.com and YouTube.

The new broadcast deal was expected after LIV television analyst David Feherty said on Jan. 12 that a deal between LIV and CW would be announced soon. Feherty was at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach for one of his "Feherty Off Tour" shows.

The LIV on-air announcing team will include Feherty, along with Arlo White leading play-by-play fellow analyst Jerry Foltz, and Dom Boulet, Su-Ann Heng and Troy Mullins providing coverage on the course and in feature segments.

“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 of 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.”

Live coverage of LIV tournaments on Saturdays, Sundays

LIV's weekend tournaments will air live on Saturdays and Sundays on The CW and The CW app and on Fridays 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 film and television content for free on-demand viewing. “Our new multiyear 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 has been seeking a television partner since kicking off its inaugural season last June to help promote and sell the league and its primary business model of team play. LIV will increase from eight to 14 events this year and will continue to stage 54-hole, no-cut events with 12 four-man teams.

Securing a television contract was important as LIV moves forward with its model which includes franchising each team and selling them to individual owners.

To maximize the value of each franchise, and make them appealing to potential buyers and then to sponsors, LIV desperately needed a television deal.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: LIV Golf, The CW Network agree to multi-year broadcast streaming deal