A day after postponing its upcoming Louisiana event, the embattled LIV Golf tour has announced a new rights deal with Indian pay-TV broadcaster Sony Pictures Network (SPN) for the rest of the 2026 season.
The new agreement will see SPN air the remaining eight events scheduled in the 2026 calendar via its linear Sony Sports Network and streaming platform Sony LIV across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The deal builds on SPN’s coverage of LIV Golf events, as it has already secured rights to the 2026 International Series, the pathway series co-sanctioned by LIV Golf and the Asian Tour.
Örjan Olsson, senior vice president of international media rights at LIV Golf, said: “Sony is one of India’s largest and most trusted sports broadcasters.
“Securing both linear television exposure and established premium OTT distribution materially improves our reach, brand visibility, and long-term positioning in a crucial market.”
The 2026 LIV Golf season started on February 7 with an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and features 14 events across 10 countries and five continents. SPN’s coverage will begin with LIV Golf’s Virginia event, taking place at Trump National Golf Club from May 7 to 10.
However, the new deal comes less than a day after the series confirmed it had postponed its first-ever event in Louisiana, citing a “strategic decision” to move the tournament later in the year due to “peak summer heat,” the “crowded global sports calendar,” and ensuring the course is in “championship condition our fans and players expect.”
The tournament was due to be played from June 25 to 28, meaning LIV will not have a tournament between the US Open and The Open, the year’s third- and fourth-men’s Majors.
In a statement, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry confirmed the state would receive $1.2 million from LIV Golf due to the event not going ahead as planned, with discussions ongoing about the future of the tournament.
The South Course at New Orleans City Park Bayou Oaks recently underwent a $2 million upgrade ahead of the event, designed by former LIV Golf chief executive and commissioner Greg Norman.
Landry said: “The state has already paid $3.2 million in accordance with the contract. LIV is expected to return all state incentive funds, with the exception of the $2 million already invested in upgrades for City Park, ensuring those improvements remain in place for the community.”
News of the postponement comes less than two weeks after LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil attempted to close down reports that the series’s financial future is under threat due to its main financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s PIF, pulling its funding.
O’Neil sent an email to staff last week insisting the tour had funding in place through 2026, but did not say whether LIV Golf will continue beyond the current campaign. However, players were previously told that funding is in place until at least 2032.
The rights deal, meanwhile, adds to LIV Golf’s recent spate of broadcast partners acquired before the 2026 season, including with TNT Sports (UK and Ireland), Sky Sports (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), and Viaplay Group (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland).
Last year, meanwhile, the series struck its most significant rights deal in the US with Fox Sports. The series also has deals with Coupang Play in South Korea and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
