In this article, LIV Golf announced a multiyear media rights agreement with Fox Sports on Thursday to broadcast the pro golf tour to U.S. viewers, starting in February. The tour’s 14-tournament season will be shown on Fox, FS1, and other Fox networks, as well as streamed on the Fox Sports and LIV Golf+ apps. The LIV Golf League comprises 13 teams of four golfers each, including notable players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, who are two-time major champions.
The announcement follows the appointment of Scott O’Neil as the new CEO of the Saudi-financed sports organization, replacing Greg Norman, the tour’s initial commissioner and CEO. Norman will continue to be informally involved with LIV. O’Neil expressed excitement about the partnership with FOX Sports, emphasizing the growth of LIV Golf and its alignment with other top sports leagues and conferences in the country.
Established in 2021 as a rival to the PGA Tour and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf swiftly attracted prominent golfers such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Despite a merger agreement with the PGA Tour in June 2023, negotiations between the two leagues are ongoing after more than 18 months.
Previously, LIV Golf was broadcast on the CW Network operated by Nexstar Media Group, where it faced challenges in attracting a large audience. The move to Fox is anticipated to enhance its viewership. This season, LIV will host tournaments in nine countries, commencing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 6 and concluding with the team championship in the Detroit suburbs in late August.
Contributions to this report were made by CNBC’s Jessica Golden.
