LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access Features in Year 4 Fan engagement is the focus for the young league's global broadcasts By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. Friday, February 14, 2025 - 11:30 am
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With more than 100,000 people expected to turn out at this week's event in Adelaide, Australia, LIV Golf is pulling out all the stops for its biggest event to date. Producing the global feed, the upstart golf league's production team aims to capture the atmosphere and excitement in Adelaide for those watching around the world.
A behind the scenes look at LIV Golf broadcast during the final round of LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on Feb. 8 in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf)
Delivering a broadcast that represents the entirety of the LIV Golf experience is an exciting challenge, says James Watson, SVP, production, LIV Golf. We're simultaneously capturing 13 teams, 54 players, our shotgun start, and the incredible atmosphere that surrounds every tournament.
Besides complex coverage on the course, LIV Golf's operations team and broadcast-facilities provider NEP Group must navigate a transcontinental schedule all season long. The overall production setup remains similar to that of previous years, with LIV using flypacks at its international events and mobile units in the U.S. In addition, LIV leverages Mobii technology for cloud-based video integration at events across the globe.
We have a fantastic operations team who ensures we get from city to city and country to country, notes Watson. The flexibility NEP provides with their global facilities network allows us to operate in back-to-back weeks across multiple countries.
Doing It LIV Style: A Dronestravaganza and Up-Close-and-Personal Audio Since LIV's first broadcast, in 2022, Watson and company have pushed the boundaries of innovation. This season, they are introducing new AR drone graphics in partnership with Champion Data and have further refined its Drone Tracer technology (LIV was the first in golf to deploy the tech, in 2023).
Executive Producer Keith Hirshland at the front bench during the final round of LIV Golf Riyadh earlier this month.
LIV deploys more than 60 cameras on the course, including two live drones (in partnership with Kaze Aerials and Beverly Hills Aerials). Although specialty cameras are brought in on an event-by-event basis, LIV's philosophy has been to lean heavily into drone technology for coverage.
Given the unique nature of LIV's shotgun-start format - with both team and individual competitions running simultaneously - flexibility is key, says Watson. Our approach prioritizes the ability to move resources seamlessly between holes, rather than committing high-tech specialty cameras at specific locations each week.
On the audio side, LIV will continue to mike caddies, ensuring that fans hear the full player/caddie conversations in real time. From a production standpoint, LIV's audio team is structured unconventionally, with three dedicated A1s: one handling live mics, one managing tape sound, and Lead Audio Director Phil Hatezic overseeing the main mix.
We remain committed to prioritizing the natural sounds of the game, says Watson, making viewers feel as if they're right there on the course.
The tour's all-access philosophy goes beyond the live broadcast, with the LIV Studios team, led by SVP/Executive Producer Michael Mandt, continuing to push for unprecedented access in golf broadcasting.
Fans can expect more player ride-alongs, miked-up segments, and behind-the-scenes content that bring them closer to the personalities and stories of LIV Golf, says Watson. We're also incorporating golf-centered content creators to further expand our reach and engagement. Bringing fans closer to the players, teams, and storylines remains a core pillar of our content strategy.
LIV Gets Graphic: AR and Virtual, Data and Analytics, the Return of the Leaderboard Pylon In addition to the new AR drone graphics, LIV and tour graphics provider Champion Data are also expanding the use of AR and virtual graphics this season.
James Watson, SVP, production, during the final round of LIV Golf Riyadh earlier this month.
According to Watson, LIV will work with Champion Data and optical-tracking partner Visual Vertigo to integrate more data and analytics than in past years in an effort to enhance storytelling. New for 2025, LIV has also partnered with TrackMan to enhance its radar tracking technology.
The tour's signature leaderboard pylon has been reworked to improve the way the broadcast covers both the team and individual competitions. Another key focus this season is the use of AI-driven, predictive graphics, particularly during the final round.
The LIV production team also continues to leverage Tagboard to enhance fan engagement across not only its competition coverage but its pre/postgame shows. We take great pride in our graphics innovation, says Watson. And Champion Data has been instrumental in allowing us deliver real-time, preshot insights, creating a more immersive, lean-in' viewing experience.
Conducting this production symphony from the truck will be returning Live Executive Producer Keith Hirshland alongside returning directors Daniel Currier and Bryan Lilley. On the creative side, Will Newell continues as Creative Director, overseeing the on-air look and graphics.
Outside of the live broadcast, Michael Mandt and the LIV Studios team have developed a range of original programming that will roll out over the 2025 season. Watson says the LIV creative team is collaborating with teams to highlight community engagement initiatives, showcasing the impactful work LIV Golf players are doing off the course.
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