Ordinarily television networks pay copious amount of cash to sports leagues in order to secure the rights to air their products but according to Golfweek, the opposite could soon be true of LIV Golf.
Reports suggest that the Saudi-circuit is nearing its first TV deal, however, it’s believed LIV Golf will be purchasing time on U.S. cable television and not the other way around. The deal, which is yet to be finalised, is said to be with Fox Sports 1.
“We’re talking to four different networks, and live conversations where offers are being put on the table,” LIV CEO Greg Norman told ESPN a fortnight ago. “They can see what we’re delivering.”
However, rather than the one being courted, it would seem Norman is pushing his product on the networks; not exactly a ringing endorsement for the current product that LIV is offering to the world.
Currently available to view for free on YouTube, there’s no doubt that LIV Golf, controversially funded by the Saudi regime, would be a risky purchase for any media outlet, regardless of the talent that’s undoubtedly been recruited by the league.
In fact, Golfweek reports that LIV Golf got nowhere with multiple media outlets, and that ‘Fox Sports got involved only at the behest of Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp’.
“There were people at Fox who wanted nothing to do with this,” a source told Golfweek .“They were forced to do it.”
While an unnamed experienced TV executive told them; “Any advertiser who touches this will get blasted. It’s a weak product but it’s a tainted product on top of that.”
LIV’s three remaining events as part of its inaugural season will be played in October with tournaments set for Bangkok, Jeddah and Trump Doral.
Leave a comment