Upcoming season of LIV Golf gets 100% clearance in U.S.

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Nexstar, the majority owner of The CW, has announced its upcoming coverage of the controversial league LIV Golf has been cleared in 100% of the country.

In January 2023, the company announced it had signed a deal with LIV as an official broadcast partner. This upcoming season will be the first official season for the Saudi-backed league.

Because the coverage will air during the day, CW affiliates are not contractually required to carry the coverage.

Nexstar plans to air it on all of the CW-affiliated stations it owns, but cannot compel other owners to do the same.

CBS parent Paramount Global, which previously owned a larger stake in The CW, has opted out of carrying the coverage on eight of the CW stations it owns in major markets.

CBS has a broad broadcast deal with the PGA.

Nexstar will make that up by shifting coverage to different stations in those eight markets, including ones it owns or controls or by striking deals with other station owners.

In Tampa, for example, CBS owns CW affiliate WTOG and won’t carry it there, but Nexstar owns both the NBC affiliate and a MyNetworkTV station there.

For be considered 100% “cleared,” a TV program must be slated to air on at least one station in all 200-plus markets designated as markets.

Technically this does mean that certain people living in remote areas might not be able to receive a particular station’s signal due to geographic or engineering limitations, so it is possible that some households can’t receive the programming in question via antenna.

LIV’s deal with The CW includes streaming rights for all matches, with Friday rounds only available on digital. Previously LIV Golf was available on the LIV website or via Facebook and YouTube. All three of those platforms will no longer carry coverage in the U.S.

Outside the U.S., LIV says that “Further details on where to watch LIV Golf will be unveiled soon.”

LIV Golf has come under heavy criticism for its links to Saudi Arabia, which has an uneven human rights record. It is run by former American pro golfer Greg Norman.