Today, FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) makes television
history, officially unveiling plans to launch a new, national, multi-sport network called
FOX Sports 1. The announcement was made
by FSMG Co-Presidents and COOs Randy Freer and Eric Shanks. Set to debut on Saturday, Aug. 17, just as FOX Sports kicks
off its 20th anniversary year, FS1 is available in over 90 million homes, making this the biggest
sports cable network launch in history, and one of the largest network launches ever. At the outset,
FS1 boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually.
“Our ‘secret,’ admittedly a very poorly kept one, is now
revealed,” said Shanks. “Fans are ready for
an alternative to the establishment, and our goal for FS1 is to provide the
best in-game experience possible,
complemented by informative news, entertaining studio shows and provocative original programming.”
A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX
Sports 1’s programming from Day 1, with
college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer and UFC all on tap between
launch and year’s end. In fact, the
schedule on Aug. 17 features live events morning, noon and night including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
race from Michigan
and “UFC on FS1 1” in prime time. In
2014, FSMG’s new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and postseason games to FS1.
FOX Sports 1 Programming Highlights
- COLLEGE BASKETBALL – Dozens of exclusive prime time games on
Monday and Thursday nights, plus Saturday and Sunday coverage of the
Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference
- COLLEGE FOOTBALL – Led by Notre Dame at Stanford, the Big
Ten Championship Game and Pac-12 Championship Game (2014) on FOX, dozens of
exclusive, live games from the Pac-12, Big 12 and Conference
- MLB – Beginning in 2014, select League Championship Series and Division Series games; regular-season games over 26 Saturdays; live game-in-progress look-in show.
- NASCAR – Select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as soon as 2015; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; NASCAR Sprint All-Star race; all Speedweeks events leading up to the Daytona 500 including: Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at Daytona (2014, 2017-22) and the Budweiser Duel, now in prime time; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions; NASCAR RaceDay, providing pre- and post-race coverage; NASCAR Victory Lane, a weekly wrap-up show; and Race Hub, a daily mid-day studio show with the latest from drivers, owners and garages.
- SOCCER – Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday afternoon coverage of the world’s most prolific club soccer competitions, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and CONCACAF Champions League featuring many of the world’s greatest and most successful clubs; the world’s oldest soccer competition, the FA Cup; CONCACAF Gold Cup; CONCACAF Qualifiers, FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage in 2015 and 2019; FIFA Men’s World Cup coverage in 2018 and 2022; delayed matches in prime time; weekly magazine and highlights shows.
- UFC – Featured on Wednesday nights; live FIGHT NIGHTS through 2014, the first is scheduled for launch night, Saturday, Aug. 17; FOX event preliminary cards; UFC Tonight, the weekly authority for UFC news and information; 14 Saturday pay-per-view preliminary cards; hundreds of hours of library programs and events.
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| Regis Philbin |
Complementing FS1’s live events and news coverage at launch
are several original programs, highlighted
by RUSH HOUR, hosted by Regis Philbin, airing live weekdays (5:00-6:00 PM ET). Originating in New York City , Regis leads the charge along
with a panel of sports professionals, celebrity
guests and die-hard fans in this brand new, unpredictable, talk show.
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