Report: Fox Sports, LIV Golf deal to come with ‘modest’ rights fee

Fox Sports’ deal to carry LIV Golf events is “just about done and should be announced in the next couple of weeks” — a deal that would run for two years with a “modest rights fee,” according to sources cited by John Ourand of PUCK. SBJ’s Josh Carpenter earlier this week first reported news of the deal. Fox will carry LIV events on its broadcast network and cable channels, while LIV will “produce the events, taking a big expense off the network’s plate.” Ourand noted he expects the deal to include “some sort of commitment for LIV sponsors to buy during the telecasts,” a practice known as underpinning. Back in 2023, Fox was not “sniffing” around for LIV, but the industry gossip suggests that a “master plan is afoot here.” With LIV being owned by the Saudi PIF and Saudi Arabia being the site for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, of course Fox is “in the market” to acquire the rights to the 2030 and 2034 World Cups (PUCK, 12/19).