02-03-2023, 04:43 AM
I think it says a lot that I was not aware until a few hours ago that the first LIV Golf event of 2023 happened last weekend. It's broadcast arrangements have changed for this year it appears. The YouTube stream has gone, with access in the UK available via a new streaming website, LIVGolfPlus.com. The website appears free, but it does require you to login (linking a Google or Apple account or entering an e-mail and password).
In the US, it has finally secured a broadcast partner, the CW Network, which to be honest I've never heard of before. The new arrangment hasn't started rosily though, with some affiliates of CW (especially those owned by CBS - a broadcaster of the PGA Tour) not carrying LIV Golf. And the rating were quite atrocious, with many outlets going with the headline that it was outrated by the World's Funniest Animals. It was comprehensively beaten by NBC's coverage of the low-key PGA event the Honda Classic.
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www.sportspromedia.com
In a slightly related point, I think I'm noticing a gradual exodus of live coverage of events away from YouTube streams to organiser's own streaming websites. I would have thought that there would be a decent chance of picking up some casual audience through the YouTube algorithm and YouTube has a very large amount of regular users and availabilty on devices. Case in point, I think every LIV Golf YouTube stream last year popped up on my YouTube homepage at some point, and I had no idea of the event until days afterwards this week.
In the US, it has finally secured a broadcast partner, the CW Network, which to be honest I've never heard of before. The new arrangment hasn't started rosily though, with some affiliates of CW (especially those owned by CBS - a broadcaster of the PGA Tour) not carrying LIV Golf. And the rating were quite atrocious, with many outlets going with the headline that it was outrated by the World's Funniest Animals. It was comprehensively beaten by NBC's coverage of the low-key PGA event the Honda Classic.
twitter.com
www.sportspromedia.com
In a slightly related point, I think I'm noticing a gradual exodus of live coverage of events away from YouTube streams to organiser's own streaming websites. I would have thought that there would be a decent chance of picking up some casual audience through the YouTube algorithm and YouTube has a very large amount of regular users and availabilty on devices. Case in point, I think every LIV Golf YouTube stream last year popped up on my YouTube homepage at some point, and I had no idea of the event until days afterwards this week.