Media-Rights Negotiations Ramping Up for WTGL

Talks are heating up between women’s golf league WTGL and interested media partners, sources tell Front Office Sports.

The women’s version of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s indoor team competition TGL is planning to launch in November or December. That gives WTGL plenty of time to negotiate with interested media partners. 

WTGL will feature teams of LPGA players, and matches will be played at the 1,500-seat SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., which is where all TGL matches are played.

There’s growing interest in women’s sports among TV networks and streaming giants. Powerhouse sports and entertainment agency CAA is advising both WTGL and TGL on their rights deals. 

Here are some possible media partners for WTGL:

• ESPN: Any discussion of potential media-rights partners for WTGL would start with the four letters, which currently has the media rights for TGL. Those rights expire after the current season, and some industry sources expect TGL to seek a new rights fee of at least double its current deal with ESPN, which CNBC previously reported to be worth between $5 million and $10 million. ESPN and TGL are expected to sit down for renewal talks in the coming months—the network’s exclusive negotiating window will begin after TGL’s second season ends in March. But separately, ESPN has already held preliminary discussions with WTGL, which is seeking its own rights pact, separate from that of TGL, per sources.

• Golf Channel/Versant: Versant EVP of Golf Tom Knapp told FOS last month that the Comcast spinoff “will absolutely look at WTGL” as it forges its own path now separate from NBC Sports. Versant’s USA Network will air 50-plus WNBA games per season under the league’s latest media-rights deal. Golf Channel and NBC are the LPGA’s main media-rights partners. While the primary NBC network is not expected to be a contender for WTGL rights, NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks and president of acquisitions and partnerships Jon Miller have been spotted at TGL matches this season.

• Scripps Sports: The three-year-old sports division of The E.W. Scripps Company has made women’s sports one of the calling cards on ION Television, forging rights deals with the WNBA, National Women’s Soccer League and Major League Volleyball. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor and several heavy hitters from Scripps recently were spotted in attendance at a TGL match. During our inaugural Tuned In event in 2024, Lawlor told attendees how his gamble on women’s sports immediately paid off when Caitlin Clark sparked an explosion in TV ratings and interest. A Scripps Sports spokesperson tells FOS: “With our significant commitment to women’s sports, we are always assessing complementary opportunities.”

Both ESPN and TGL are happy with their relationship, say sources. Last month, ESPN’s Matt Barrie, the play-by-play announcer for TGL, told FOS calling TGL was the “most rewarding thing” of his career.

“I would love to just be a part of whatever TGL has to offer,” he said of his potential interest in calling WTGL matches. “I think it’s such a good thing for the sport. I think the PGA Tour has seen how good it is for their players. 
I think the LPGA understands how good it can be for their players. And whatever showcases the sport, I think I’m passionate about.”

But like most sports leagues, TGL is expected to play the field during rights negotiations and seek the highest bids. The league’s ability to offer a business relationship with the two biggest names in golf in Woods and McIlroy will be a major selling point.

Through eight matches this season, TGL broadcasts are averaging just over 508,000 viewers across ESPN platforms. Last year’s season-long average was 498,00 viewers per match. There are seven regular-season matches left this year, which will be played across a nine-day stretch beginning with doubleheaders Monday and Tuesday.

WTGL is a partnership between the LPGA and TGL parent company TMRW Sports, following the same structure as TGL, which is a partnership between the PGA Tour and TMRW. 

WTGL will launch with a strong list of high-profile female investors across sports and entertainment, headlined by former U.S. women’s national soccer team star Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures, which will be the league’s lead capital partner. Arthur Blank, the longtime owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and founding owner of TGL’s Atlanta Drive GC, is so far the only announced team owner for WTGL.

TGL and ESPN both declined comment for this story.