The bitter dispute between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf has taken another twist with claims of sabotage over TV deals.
According to documents filed this week in the antitrust lawsuits between the rival golf tours, LIV had a signed contract with a network in the United States only for it to collapse following the intervention of a key PGA Tour figure.
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The documents claim Thierry Pascal, who is the PGA’s managing director for the tour’s international media division, used illegal means to convince television networks to turn their back on the Greg Norman-run tour.
It meant LIV Golf had no major TV partner for its first season despite splashing out vast sums of money to lure some of the biggest names in the game across.
The likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and British Open champion Cameron Smith all made the switch with fans forced to watch them a live stream on the tour’s YouTube channel.
“Based on tour documents and other sources, LIV believes Mr Pascal used illegal means to dissuade numerous broadcasters in international markets from signing broadcast contracts with LIV and even from reporting about LIV events in their news content,” LIV claims in the lawsuit.
LIV claims Pascal met with TV executives and potential media partners in person and thus did not leave a paper trail of his interactions.
In one instance, LIV claimed a signed contract was voided after Pascal intervened.
“Time and again, after the live meeting or phone call, the broadcaster did an about face and informed LIV the negotiations (in one case, a signed contract) could not proceed,” the filings claim.
“Because of his conduct and his efforts to conceal it, Mr Pascal is a foundational witness whose testimony will inform later discovery in important ways.”
LIV claimed due to the interference of Pascal, it was forced to sign with a “secondary network” who had never previously broadcast live sport.
That network is CW Network in the US. According to reports, ratings have been dire.
Kevin Van Valkenburg of the golf-centric No Laying Up reports that LIV Golf scored a 0.14 rating in the key 18-49 demographic across 33 markets from their Arizona-based showcase on Saturday.
It’s a worse performance than just three weeks prior where LIV Golf Mayakoba scored a 0.2 in Saturday’s overnight ratings, and were outdone by “World’s Funniest Animals” later that day.
The latest legal dispute comes amid reports LIV golfer are unhappy at changes made to the breakaway tour’s second season as they try to cut back on costs.
That includes worse food options for media members, lesser-known musical acts for fans attending events, forcing the teams to pay for their own travel costs after previously running chartered flights, and most importantly reduced prize money for players.