Tag: Will Staeger

Greg Norman talks up TV network interest in LIV Golf but Amazon, Apple aren’t interested

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman indicated negotiations are ongoing with multiple networks for a TV deal.

The LIV Golf Invitational Series is holding the fifth event in its inaugural season Friday through Sunday outside Chicago but as with the first four, the only live viewing option for fans is online streaming.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund backed the Greg Norman led breakaway golf circuit, which still has no major North American TV deal.

During a radio interview with ESPN 1000 in Chicago this week, Norman said that might change soon.

“All I can tell you is that the interest coming across our plate right now is enormous,” he said without naming names but indicating there were active negotiations ongoing.

CBS, NBC and ESPN are all in the early stages of long-term media rights deals with the PGA Tour and are unlikely broadcast or streaming partners with LIV Golf for that reason. Fox does not televise live golf but the last time it had a deal with the U.S. Golf Association, it bailed on the contract before it was completed.

Front Office Sports reports that there may be as many as six outlets bidding on the U.S. media rights, and that the leading contender is Fox.

In the streaming arena, Amazon, which is starting its first season as the exclusive rights-holder for the NFL Thursday Night Football package, isn’t interested in LIV Golf, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Apple, which has dabbled in live sports streaming with Major League Baseball, is not interested in LIV, also according to WSJ.

LIV Golf is free to watch online, unlike most other sports events on streaming services, which are subscription based.

Bloomberg spoke with Will Staeger, LIV Golf’s chief media officer. He said the circuit is in the “early stages” of trying to ink its first U.S. TV deal. He also said that wouldn’t start until the 2023 season, which will feature 14 events up from the eight that are being played in 2022.

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Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Investments announces three new executives, including a former PGA Tour rules official

Three new names have been announced for LIV Golf’s leadership team.

On Wednesday morning three more executives were announced to be working for LIV Golf Investments, a new golf entity backed by the Public Investment Fund which operates on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

Will Staeger, who has worked with sports brands like ESPN and WWE, is the group’s new Chief Media Officer. Former PGA Tour rules official Slugger White joins as Vice President of Rules & Competition Management with Jane MacNeille, who most recently spent seven years as head of communications for the Greg Norman Company, as Vice President of Communications. Norman, a two-time major champion, is LIV Golf’s CEO and commissioner.

“Each of us at LIV Golf Investments has one shared mission – to holistically improve the game of golf at every level – so I am elated to have the opportunity to join Greg Norman and his team to achieve that goal,” said Staeger via a release. “The innovation we will bring to production will excite and entertain fans in every corner of the globe. I look forward to unveiling our plans very soon.”

More: PGA Tour invests in future of golf tech

Last week Sean Bratches was appointed as Chief Commercial Officer and Ron Cross as Chief Events Officer. Staeger and MacNeille will report into Bratches, while White will work under Cross.

With executive leadership taking form, there are still questions on who will play and where events will be held for the Saudi-backed startup. Previous announcements have indicated plans to begin competition as early as 2022.

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