Fox Sports is an Australian group of sports channels, owned by Fox Sports Pty Limited (known as Premier Media Group until February 2012), which is owned by News Corp Australia. Its main competitors are ESPN and beIN Sports.
Fox Sports in Australia differs from other Fox Sports-branded channels in the United States and elsewhere around the world in that it is not owned by 21st Century Fox, but by News Corp--the publishing company that was spun out from the larger News Corporation in 2013. Although 21st Century Fox maintains ownership of the remainder of News Corporation's broadcasting assets, its Australian television assets were spun out with the new company as well. Both companies nonetheless remain under the control of the Murdoch family.
Video Fox Sports (Australia)
History
Fox Sports started life as the Premier Sports Network (later just 'Premier Sports') as the only fully operational local channel at the launch of Australia's first pay-television service, Galaxy. Premier Sports' backers included American company Prime International, which was later to become part of Liberty Media.
The service was launched at 4pm 26 January 1995 in Sydney and made a name for itself, securing the rights to Australia's cricket tour of the West Indies. Previously Australian cricket tours had been covered on the Nine Network on free-to-air, and Nine tried to stop the broadcast under Australia's 'anti-siphoning' rules, which state that certain popular sporting events cannot be screened exclusively on pay television. PSN signed a deal with Network Ten to share the broadcast rights.
When Foxtel launched its cable service later that year, PSN was included as part of the package. Between 1995 and 2010, Fox Sports aired National Basketball League (NBL) games. On 1 March 1996, PSN was relaunched as Fox Sports Australia, to coincide with the new Super 12 rugby union competition and the proposed launch of the Super League.
In 1997 a secondary channel was launched on Foxtel to carry broadcasts of the new Super League competition. Fox Sports and its chief competitor, Sports Australia shared the rights to NRL broadcasts as a result of the legal settlement in the Super League war. The channel on Foxtel was later relaunched as Fox Sports Two, at first broadcasting from Friday through Monday each week, and later expanding to a full 24-hour, 7-day service in 2002.
When Optus Vision dropped the C7 Sport service in March 2002, they started carrying the Fox Sports channels. These were referred to by Optus as "Optus Sports 1" and "Optus Sports 2" in Optus promotional material; on-air programming referred to the channels as simply "Sports One" and "Sports Two", although programming such as the nightly Fox Sports News bulletins retained the Fox name. Optus dropped the "Optus Sports" name in October 2002.
Fox Sports Two is generally used to cover bigger events that require large amounts of air time, such as the 1998 Winter Olympics, Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and the 2004 European Football Championship.
During the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Fox Sports carried an additional eight channels dedicated to Games events. These were available to customers at an additional charge.
Fox Sports has been the exclusive broadcaster of the Hyundai A-League since its first season in 2005. And in 2006, an A$120 million deal between the FFA and Fox Sports was reached after the end of the first season. Under the deal, Fox Sports will have exclusive rights from 2007 to all Socceroos home internationals, all A-League and Asian Cup fixtures, World Cup qualifiers through the AFC, and all AFC Champions League matches.
The deal to cover the A-league live and exclusive has reaped big rewards for Fox Sports, its ratings were very strong in the 2006-07 season and the 2007 A-league grand final became at the time, Fox Sports highest ever rating event.
Ratings for football have generally been very good. The Socceroos first game of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, attracted 345,000 viewers, while their Quarter final drew an average of 419,000 - at the time, an all-time record for Australian Pay TV. This record was broken on 1 April 2009, when the Socceroos defeated Uzbekistan to put them very close to qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - this match was watched by an average of 431,000 people.
In 2007, Fox Sports reached a deal to broadcast 4 games live and exclusive from the AFL each week. This includes the exclusive only Sunday twilight match. In addition they will broadcast Friday night games live into New South Wales and Queensland via channel 518 at no extra charge - normally used for pay-per-view service Main Event. When channel 518 a is used in this way it is promoted as Fox Sports Plus on-air.
The channel is being used increasingly to show live events when Fox Sports has a clash involving its main 3 channels - for example on Saturday 17 March 2007 Fox Sports broadcast a match from the 2007 Cricket World Cup (Ireland v Pakistan) live on 518 - as it was committed to Football, Rugby Union and another cricket match on its main 3 channels.
In 2010 Fox Sports coverage of National Rugby League games held 73 out of the top 100 programs of any type aired Foxtel.
On 5 March 2013, Fox Sports unveiled its new headquarters at Artarmon, New South Wales, where it was announced the main studio would be named the Clive Churchill Studio in name of the NRL immortal Clive Churchill as the studio will house NRL coverage. Technical innovations were the main highlight, with CEO Patrick Delany unveiling the FoxKopter, the FoxMobile Segway, Ref Cam and Cornerpost Cam. Fox Sports also launched a new corporate logo in line with its global affiliate broadcasters.
On 3 September 2014, Fox Sports announced that SPEED and Fuel TV would be rebranded as FOX Sports 4 and FOX Sports 5 on 3 November 2014, of which both will be available in HD. In addition, it was announced FOX Sports News would launch a HD feed on the same day - taking FOX Sports' suite to 7 channels, all available in HD.
On 6 March 2018, News Corp Australia announced a merger of Fox Sports (Australia) with Foxtel (co-owned by News Corp Australia and Telstra). News Corp owns a 65 percent stake in the combined entity, with Telstra owning 35 percent. The combining of the two businesses places emphasis on live-streaming sports and entertainment.
Maps Fox Sports (Australia)
Fox Sports News
Channels
- Fox Sports News: Channel 500. Also available in HD.
- Fox Sports 501: Channel 501. Also available in HD. Branded as Fox Sports 1 prior to 23 February 2017.
- Fox League: Channel 502. Also available in HD. Branded as Fox Sports 2 prior to 27 February 2017.
- Fox Sports 503: Channel 503. Also available in HD. Branded as Fox Sports 3 prior to 23 February 2017.
- Fox Footy: Channel 504. Also available in HD.
- Fox Sports 505: Channel 505. Also available in HD. Branded as Fox Sports 4 prior to 23 February 2017.
- Fox Sports 506: Channel 506. Also available in HD. Branded as Fox Sports 5 prior to 23 February 2017.
- Footy Play powered by Fox Sports (AFL channel available on Foxtel Now (Not on PC/Mac) and formerly Xbox 360, Telstra T-Box and Foxtel on Internet TV
- Fox Sports More: Channel 507. Also available in HD. Although broadcast 24/7, the channel only acts as a pop-up channel with only occasional programming.
Past Channels
- Fox Sports +: The Main Event channel was used as an "overflow" channel when multiple live sporting events needed to be broadcast. This included Friday Night AFL in New South Wales, Queensland and Canberra and Saturday Nights in New South Wales (excluding the Wagga Wagga market) and Canberra. It was also used nationwide for a Socceroos game in June 2007. On many occasions the Main Event channel was used when the Premier League had multiple games on the one night, although usage in this capacity is rare now that the "Viewer's Choice" system of showing multiple matches on one channel through multi-casting (pressing the "Red Button" on a Foxtel/Austar remote control). Unlike the AFL, the NRL was never broadcast into Southern Australia through Fox Sports Plus on Friday nights, leaving its Southern Australian fans having to wait until at least after midnight for a replay of the match on local free-to-air channels up until 2012.
- Fuel TV (replaced by Fox Sports 505)
- Speed (replaced by Fox Sports 506)
- Fox Sports Plus: Launched on 6 September 2012, the channel showed what live and upcoming sports were available via Viewer's Choice on Fox Sports 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The channel ceased broadcasting on 9 February 2017, and was replaced on 23 February 2017 by Fox Sports More.
- Fox Sports 2: Channel 502. Also available in HD. Replaced by Fox League.
- Sports Play powered by Fox Sports (available on Xbox 360, Telstra T-Box, and Foxtel on Internet TV until 2013, when Fox Sports 1-3 launched on these services.)
- Footy Play+ powered by Fox Sports (available on Xbox 360, Telstra T-Box, and Foxtel on Internet TV).
Programming
Current programming
- The Back Page
- Fight Call Out (2017-present)
- The Golf Show
- Hammer Time
- Inside Cricket
- Inside Rugby
- Supercars Trackside
- Kick Off
- Matchday Saturday
- Monday Night with Matty Johns (2013-present)
- NRL 360 (2013-present)
- Rugby 360
- Shoot Out
- Super Rugby Extra Time
- Super Rugby Kick & Chase
- Supercars Life
- The Other Rugby Show
- UFC Fight Week
Former programming
- The Crew (2013-2015)
- On the Couch with Sterlo (2013-2017)
- Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football (2013-2015)
Sports/competitions televised by Fox Sports (in 2018)
Australian rules football
- Australian Football League Premiership Season (Broadcasts three matches live during most weekends of the regular season whenever sister channel Fox Footy, is screening another LIVE match at the same time. Fox Sports occasionally screens other programming such as magazine and panel shows that are produced and broadcast by Fox Footy.
Basketball
- National Basketball League (All games live, including semi-finals and Grand Final)
Combat sports
- Cage Fighting Championship
- Evolution
- Fight Call Out (2017-present)
- Fox Sports Friday Night Fights
- Hammer Time
- Knees of Fury
- Legend MMA
- Maximus Academy
- UFC Fight Week
- The Ultimate Fighter
Cricket
- Australian national cricket team International Test Cricket (Shared with Seven Network)
- Australian national cricket team One-day Internationals
- Australian national cricket team Twenty20 Internationals
- Australian national cricket team International Women's Test Cricket (shared with Seven Network)
- Australian national cricket team Women's One-day Internationals (shared with Seven Network)
- Australian national cricket team Women's Twenty20 Internationals (shared with Seven Network)
- Australian domestic First-class Sheffield Shield final
- Australian domestic List A JLT Cup
- Australian domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League (Shared with Seven Network)
- Australian domestic Women's Twenty20 Women's Big Bash League (Shared with Seven Network)
- Home series of the England cricket team
- Home series of the West Indies cricket team
- Home series of the New Zealand cricket team
- Home series of the South African cricket team
- Home series of the Pakistan cricket team
- Home series of the Sri Lankan cricket team
- Home series of the Indian cricket team
- Indian Premier League
Darts
- PDC World Darts Championship
- PDC World Cup of Darts
- Premier League Darts
Field hockey
- Hockey India League
Golf
- American PGA Tour (All rounds)
- European PGA Tour
- Champions Tour
- Women's major golf championships
- Asian Tour (highlights)
- U.S. Open
- The Masters Tournament
- The Open Championship
- PGA Championship
Ice hockey
- Australian Ice Hockey League (Highlights)
- National Hockey League (2-3 live games a week)
Motorsport
Formula racing
- Formula One
Open wheel
- IndyCar Series
- FIA Formula 2 Championship
- FIA Formula 3 Championship
- Indy Lights
- Auto GP
- Toyota Racing Series
Stock Cars
- Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Xfinity Series
- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Touring Cars
- Virgin Australia Supercars Championship (shared with Network Ten)
- NZ V8 SuperTourers
- World Touring Car Championship
- British Touring Car Championship
- DTM
- European Touring Car Championship
- Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships
- Superstars International Series
- Summernats
Sportscars
- Le Mans 24 Hours
- Rolex GRAND-AM Sportscar Series
- American Le Mans Series
- Australian GT Championship
- Bathurst 12 Hour
- Continental Tire Series
- Dubai 24 Hour
- FIA European Truck Racing Championship
- 24 Hours Nürburgring
- Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships
- FIA World Endurance Championship
Drag racing
- ANDRA Pro Series
Bikes
- MotoGP (shared with Network Ten)
- Superbike World Championship (shared with SBS)
- British Superbike Championship
- Australian Superbike Championship
Rally
- World Rally Championship (shared with 7mate)
- Australian Rally Championship (shared with 7mate)
- British Rally Championship
- European Rally Championship
- European Rallycross Championship
Speedway
- FIM Speedway Grand Prix
- FIM Speedway World Cup
- British Elite Speedway
- World Series Sprintcars
- Australian Sprintcar Championship
- Chequered Flag
- FIM Ice Speedway World Championship
- Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic
- World of Speedway
Motocross
- AMA Motocross Championship
- Australian Supercross Championship
- British Motocross Championship
- FIM Enduro World Championship
- FIM Motocross World Championship
- FIM MX of Nations
- FIM Supermoto
- MXTV
Rugby league
- National Rugby League (Every Game Live, 5 games Live and Exclusive and 3 game simulcast Live with Nine in a full round). Fox Sports occasionally screens other programming such as new magazine and panel shows that are produced and broadcast by Fox League.
- Holden Cup
- New South Wales Cup
- European Super League
Rugby union
- Super Rugby (All games live and exclusive)
- Super W (All games live and exclusive)
- The Rugby Championship (shared with Network Ten)
- Wallabies internationals (shared with Network Ten)
- National Rugby Championship
- Currie Cup
- ITM Cup
Soccer
- Hyundai A-League (All games live, Saturday night matches shared with Network Ten)
- Hyundai A-League Finals Series (All games live, shared with Network Ten)
- Asian Champions League (All games involving Australian teams live, plus some others)
- AFC Asian Cup (All Games, 28 games live)
- Socceroos internationals (All games except FIFA World Cup Finals games, shared with Network Ten)
- Indian Super League (To be announced)
- Other separate International Football matches
- Westfield W-League (One live match per week, plus both semi-finals and the grand final live; shared with SBS)
Surfing
- World Surf League (All events live)
Ten-pin bowling
- Weber Cup
Tennis
- Davis Cup (overseas only, home series on Seven Network)
- Roland Garros (shared with SBS Sport from 2018)
- World Tennis Challenge
- Moorilla Hobart International
- The Championships at Wimbledon (shared with Seven Network)
- US Open (quarter-finals onwards shared with SBS Sport since 2017)
- ATP 250 Series; Open Sud de France, Quito Open, Memphis Open, Geneva Open)
- WTA Tour (replays)
Availability
Fox Sports is available nationally and is available on Foxtel's My Sport package and Optus featuring Foxtel's Total Sport package.
See also
- List of sports television channels
References
External links
- Official website
- Fox Sports Broadcast the Champions Trophy ODI Cricket Match Live in Australia
Source of article : Wikipedia
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