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ESPN is close to finalizing a deal for broadcast rights with the upcoming golf league TGL, according to insiders. This partnership will give the fledgling pro league, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, a media platform as they prepare for their launch next year.
Specific details of the deal, including its value and duration, are still being negotiated and will be finalized in the coming weeks. The inaugural TGL season is scheduled to commence in January. The extent of TGL matches to be aired on ESPN’s cable networks or streaming platforms has not been disclosed.
An ESPN spokesperson has not provided immediate comment. A TGL spokesperson has stated that they do not comment on ongoing negotiations.
The potential collaboration between ESPN and TGL is significant for both parties, considering ESPN’s position within the Walt Disney empire and the evolving landscape of golf as a business.
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, has acknowledged the possibility of selling some of its linear television channels and exploring commercial partnerships for ESPN in response to the changing consumer landscape. He has expressed the inevitability of moving live sports from television to streaming.
As more US consumers opt for online streaming over cable subscriptions, media conglomerates and sports entities are reassessing their rights agreements. Warner Brothers Discovery, for example, recently announced plans to simulcast certain live sports properties, including NBA games, on its Max streaming platform.
The golf industry has also been disrupted by the proposed merger between the US-based PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf breakaway tour. Rory McIlroy has been a vocal opponent of LIV, and Tiger Woods was appointed to the board of the PGA Tour at the request of fellow players during ongoing merger discussions.
In August 2022, Woods and McIlroy unveiled their plans to launch TGL, a new golf format featuring six teams competing once per week in primetime Monday-night broadcasts. The players will compete in an arena environment with a newly constructed virtual simulator course.
Notable investors who have purchased TGL teams include Fenway Sports Group, hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, Home Depot founder Arthur Blank, and Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian.
The PGA Tour is a partner of TGL, which is primarily owned by Woods and McIlroy through their investment vehicle, TMRW Sports.
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