Nexstar Media Group‘s recently acquired CW Network has scored a hole-in-one by entering in to the first-ever U.S. broadcast television — and streaming — agreement with LIV Golf — the league backed by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
With the multi-year agreement, The CW will commence broadcasts with the 2023 LIV Golf League season. In particular, The CW Network will air 14 global LIV Golf League live events in 2023 and will stream the events live on The CW App.
Financial terms of the agreement, which signals a new chapter for a “netlet” that under Tribune Co. was known for prime-time teen and young adult fare, were not disclosed.
The CW Network President Dennis Miller commented, “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. 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.”
Miller also noted that the LIV agreement marks the first time in The CW’s 17-year history that the network “is the exclusive broadcast home for live mainstream sports.”
LIV Golf’s CEO and Commissioner is famed golfer Greg Norman. He said, “This is a momentous day for LIV Golf as this partnership is about more than just media
rights. The CW’s nationwide reach as America’s fifth broadcast network, will provide
accessibility for our fans and maximum exposure for our athletes and partners. The CW recognizes 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 Golf competes against the long-established non-profit PGA Tour, and in golfing circles this is also a controversy generator for LIV Golf, which has a significantly large prize pool. LIV Golf athletes include Sergio Garcia and 2021 PGA Tour champion Phil Mickelson.
In contrast, world-renown golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have openly criticized the LIV Golf series in support of the PGA Tour.
