Already had deals with Comcast, Cablevision, Charter, Cox, Verizon and AT&T.
Glad that's out of the way.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fox-sports-distribution-20130814,0,5466870.story
Good news. I want FS1 at full strength when it goes after ESPN.
DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks are likely to carry Fox Sports 1 at its launch on Saturday, according to sources with direct knowledge of the deals. The three distributors still have not signed deals to carry the channel, but the sources expect all three providers to have it available on Saturday.
Dish Network did not respond to email requests for comment. But sources said they expected Dish to carry the channel, as well. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Dish Network has agreed to carry FS1 at launch.
Who cares about Aug.17th, because the network really gets going Labor Day weekend as college football starts. Thur, Fri & 3 games on Saturday.
Quote from: mupanther on August 14, 2013, 08:17:14 PM
Who cares about Aug.17th, because the network really gets going Labor Day weekend as college football starts. Thur, Fri & 3 games on Saturday.
I'd imagine my fellow UFC fans care a great deal about Aug. 17th. We are a niche audience, but there are probably 3-4 million of us nationwide.
Quote from: striker14 on August 14, 2013, 08:21:05 PM
I'd imagine my fellow UFC fans care a great deal about Aug. 17th. We are a niche audience, but there are probably 3-4 million of us nationwide.
You need a few more million to be a niche. NASCAR is a niche. UFC is more like a cult.
Quote from: striker14 on August 14, 2013, 08:21:05 PM
I'd imagine my fellow UFC fans care a great deal about Aug. 17th. We are a niche audience, but there are probably 3-4 million of us nationwide.
3-4million And people say its overtaking boxing...
So, what package of TWC do you all think FS1 will be included with?
Quote from: Pakuni on August 14, 2013, 05:55:55 PM
Already had deals with Comcast, Cablevision, Charter, Cox, Verizon and AT&T.
Glad that's out of the way.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fox-sports-distribution-20130814,0,5466870.story
Technically, no...but it will be on the air come Saturday while the deal is completed over the next few weeks and months. Basically far enough along on the main issues to green light it, but usually in these situations a deal is done before launching....exception to the rule. Happy for everyone.
What channel is it on Direct TV?
Quote from: denverMU on August 15, 2013, 12:52:17 AM
What channel is it on Direct TV?
Should slot in wherever Speed is now, with FS2 taking the spot of Fuel.
I'm noticing that in the TWC/JBC lockout, the public "outrage" seems more directed at the distributor than the broadcaster. But when it comes to ____________(distributor) vs. FS1, the public is siding with the distributors.
Anyone else seeing it differently?
Quote from: denverMU on August 15, 2013, 12:52:17 AM
What channel is it on Direct TV?
Something like 609 - with FS2 on 618. (You don't need the sports pack to get them though.)
Chicos, will they get to move it nearer to the other sports channels in the low 200s?
It's probably because I've never been a Time Warner customer, but I clicked on this to find out why FS1 would need to strike a deal with The Weather Channel...
Quote from: GoldenZebra on August 15, 2013, 12:16:09 AM
So, what package of TWC do you all think FS1 will be included with?
Starting August 17, tune in to FOX Sports 1 on Time Warner Cable channel 75 / 1317 (hd)! And watch FOX Sports 2 on channel 328!
Channel 652 on U-verse.
Looking forward to it. I hope they really provide a viable alternative to ESPN.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 15, 2013, 11:39:47 AM
Something like 609 - with FS2 on 618. (You don't need the sports pack to get them though.)
Chicos, will they get to move it nearer to the other sports channels in the low 200s?
I just checked the FS1 website, and at least for my geographic area, it's listed as 219 on DirecTV. I suspect they'll want it to be in the same place everywhere, if it isn't already.
The new league and coverage are great and all, but is there a better reason to find out what channel FS1 is going to be... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw8o8UFDsVU
This is very good news. Glad it got done.
Next step: Have an ESPN3-like situation in place so we can watch games online that are not available over the air.
I got very, very spoiled the last couple of years being able to watch every MU game!
Quote from: GooooMarquette on August 15, 2013, 02:43:33 PM
I just checked the FS1 website, and at least for my geographic area, it's listed as 219 on DirecTV. I suspect they'll want it to be in the same place everywhere, if it isn't already.
OK cool. Hopefully that will be the same everywhere.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 15, 2013, 03:03:04 PM
OK cool. Hopefully that will be the same everywhere.
I assume so. I think the DirecTV channel lineup is national.
And that's good news for FS1 to be with all the other major sports networks and not stuck in the 600s with horse racing and deer hunting channels.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on August 15, 2013, 02:43:33 PM
I just checked the FS1 website, and at least for my geographic area, it's listed as 219 on DirecTV. I suspect they'll want it to be in the same place everywhere, if it isn't already.
What is going to happen to MAVTV which is currently on 219?
Quote from: SaintPaulWarrior on August 15, 2013, 04:01:11 PM
What is going to happen to MAVTV which is currently on 219?
214...according to this.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/mavtv-changing-to-channel-214-on-directv/
FS2 is apparently going to stay in Fuel's old position at 618.
DirecTV, Dish Network and Time Warner Cable agreed to carry the new, heavily promoted all-sports channel, but only at the same rate they were paying for the previous channel, Speed, which cost $0.23 per subscriber per month. Fox told the distributors that it would convert Speed into FS1 and allow distributors with existing Speed deals to carry it at Speed's rate, or at least close to it, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the talks.
Read the full story.
None of the distributors would comment beyond official statements. Importantly, none of the statements from these distributors referenced any new "deals" for FS1 signifying a change of contract. For example, Cox spokesman Todd Smith emailed: "On August 17, Speed will automatically convert to the new national 24/7 channel, Fox Sports 1, and Fox is rebranding Fuel Network to Fox Sports 2." A statement from TWC read simply, "Time Warner Cable will carry FS1 when it launches on August 17." All these statements came as Fox put out a statement that stated its new network would launch "with every major distributor on board." Fox declined to comment any further.
The move by Fox could cause major ripples in sports media, as the company chose to give on pricing instead of waging high-profile carriage battles with many of the top distributors at the same time. This marks a sharp change in strategy for the programmer, which had been seeking around $0.80 per subscriber per month for the new channel. Because that rate is more than three times higher than Speed's, distributors strongly balked. Already frustrated by the high cost of sports rights, distributors forcefully resisted tearing up existing deals to pay more for FS1. In fact, just a week before its launch on Saturday, FS1 lacked significant distribution, which posed a major problem for the programmer.
Rather than having these carriage fights with multiple distributors at launch, Fox execs, led by Fox Networks Distribution President Mike Hopkins, decided to establish the channel on cable and satellite systems first. Then, as Speed's affiliate deals expire, Fox will try to negotiate increases. While those negotiations will occur in an environment where distributors have become more emboldened in their disputes with sports networks, Fox is banking that systems find that it is more disruptive to drop existing channels that have a built-in audience.
Fox' deals with TWC, DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox and Cablevision are staggered over the next couple of years. Some of those deals could be worked out before the Speed deals expire. TWC's contract with YES Network ends after this season, and it is likely that Fox will try to tie a new FS1 deal in with any YES deal. Similarly, Cox has contracts with several Fox RSNs ending soon. Those negotiations could lead to a new FS1 deal with Cox.
A major distributor not involved with the deadline pressure was Comcast, which signed a deal with Fox earlier this year that included FS1, but it is believed to contain "most favored nation" provisions that guarantee the distributor pays the lowest rate available. In addition, because Charter's deal with Fox on Speed was expiring later this year, it was able to work out a new deal, sources said. But sources did not know the rate that Charter agreed to pay for FS1.
The move was vital for Fox, as the flurry of activity days just before FS1 goes live allows it to launch Saturday to around 90 million homes. That number is important for FS1, as its contracts with some college conferences, like the Big Ten, and leagues, like MLB, stipulate that the channel has to reach a certain number of subscribers to carry its programming, sources said. In recent months, as Fox was seeking new deals for FS1, it told distributors that they would be provided with a watered-down version of Speed if they did not agree to a new FS1 deal. Just a couple of weeks ago, Fox gave a programming lineup for such a channel to the Tribune listings service. The schedule was filled with reruns and infomercials. It is not known if that channel still will be available.
The distributors had to give the OK for Fox to switch Speed over to FS1. Because Fox was changing the channel's content from a motorsports channel to an all-sports channel -- thereby changing their contracts -- the distributors had the right to drop it. On the other hand, Fox was able to rebrand Fuel into FS2 without needing distributors' agreements, sources said. That is because the channel's affiliate contracts allow for the type of content that will be on FS2.
I'm down in Tampa Bay on vacation and I thought it was interesting while watching a Rays game on TV they cut to the "Fox Sports 1" studio for an MLB score update.
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-15/fox-sports-1-said-to-debut-on-tv-systems-without-new-fee-accords.html?cmpid=yhoo
This is a bit more accurate, but still not exactly right.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 15, 2013, 11:39:47 AM
Something like 609 - with FS2 on 618. (You don't need the sports pack to get them though.)
Chicos, will they get to move it nearer to the other sports channels in the low 200s?
Channels can change....it's definitely part of the negotiation. It's going to be in the 200's, but there are better positions in the 200's if you know what I mean. A lot of moving parts right now. Best way to read this is Fox did not want to launch their new baby and not have 45 million customers not with the channel, so the leverage was with Directv, Dish, and TWC...for once. Thus the channel will be launched on Saturday under favorable past terms.
Now in this business we often use a term about getting pregnant. Once you launch the channel, you are pregnant with them and the leverage shifts to the other side. It is very difficult to take a channel down once you have launched it....it can be done and we have been successful at it, but not without causing a lot of customer disruption, unhappiness, etc, etc. So we'll see how this plays out over the next few years. Fox made a wise decision in my opinion.
Got this e-mail today from Comcast:
Coming Soon: FOX Sports 1
Beginning August 17th, FOX will replace SPEED with FOX Sports 1, America's new 24-hour sports network featuring original programming, news, highlights and live coverage of sporting events including:
■ NASCAR
■ UFC
■ College Football
■ College Basketball
■ World Class Soccer and more
This new network will be included as part of your current XFINITY® TV subscription, available in the same channel location currently occupied by SPEED.
LEARN MORE ►
Chicos,
Is there a future where the distributors have less leverage?
I understand your argument regarding the economics of distribution in the present. Is there a disruptor looming, where ala carte choice of content providers becomes economical?
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 15, 2013, 04:06:02 PM
214...according to this.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/mavtv-changing-to-channel-214-on-directv/
FS2 is apparently going to stay in Fuel's old position at 618.
Thanks Sultan.....I guess I should have put that in teal about MAVTV although I do love Formula 1.
Quote from: mu-rara on August 16, 2013, 08:46:16 AM
Chicos,
Is there a future where the distributors have less leverage?
I understand your argument regarding the economics of distribution in the present. Is there a disruptor looming, where ala carte choice of content providers becomes economical?
Content makers have most of the leverage most of the time....we turned that on its head a bit with Viacom last year and Time Warner is trying now with CBS, but typically if you have power content you have the leverage.
I don't see that changing any time in the near future.
Chicos, could it be that Fox knew they weren't going to get anything much out of the distributors, but wanted the "bang" of making sure everyone knew they were going to be on the air? There seems to be a lot of buzz about FS1 the last couple of days....
That clip of Erin Andrews was a lot easier on the eyes then the one I saw of Gus Johnson and Rafferty.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 16, 2013, 03:13:04 PM
Chicos, could it be that Fox knew they weren't going to get anything much out of the distributors, but wanted the "bang" of making sure everyone knew they were going to be on the air? There seems to be a lot of buzz about FS1 the last couple of days....
Absolutely....that's what I was trying to convey. Content providers used to just push distributors over and everyone would cave in. Problem is that people pay the distributor directly for their service, not the content provider. When their bills go up every year, people aren't saying "damn that Viacom...damn that Disney...screw you Fox...screw you AMC and HBO, etc, etc"
Fox has a shiny brand new toy that they have pumped up for months now but there were several of us that had to remind them that they don't get to just swap out Speed for FS1 since the contracts with Speed say they can't, and certainly not at triple the price. Many distributors are pushing back very hard right now, which is why you see TWC pushing on CBS. Just the latest, but there have been many in the last 24 months whether is is Pac 12, CSN Houston, AMC, Viacom, Disney, etc. The SEC launch will be the next big battle.
Fox made a wise decision
As for the channel, I believe FS1 will be on channel 219...for now.
Quote from: sailwi on August 16, 2013, 03:49:17 PM
That clip of Erin Andrews was a lot easier on the eyes then the one I saw of Gus Johnson and Rafferty.
Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on August 16, 2013, 05:02:18 PM
Absolutely....that's what I was trying to convey. Content providers used to just push distributors over and everyone would cave in. Problem is that people pay the distributor directly for their service, not the content provider. When their bills go up every year, people aren't saying "damn that Viacom...damn that Disney...screw you Fox...screw you AMC and HBO, etc, etc"
Fox has a shiny brand new toy that they have pumped up for months now but there were several of us that had to remind them that they don't get to just swap out Speed for FS1 since the contracts with Speed say they can't, and certainly not at triple the price. Many distributors are pushing back very hard right now, which is why you see TWC pushing on CBS. Just the latest, but there have been many in the last 24 months whether is is Pac 12, CSN Houston, AMC, Viacom, Disney, etc. The SEC launch will be the next big battle.
Fox made a wise decision
As for the channel, I believe FS1 will be on channel 219...for now.
So, have we seen the last of those local-team cable mega contracts? Was that huge Dodgers deal the tipping point?
Quote from: brewcity77 on August 16, 2013, 05:38:35 PM
Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.
For sure, you're the only one.
Looks like at midnight, Comcast Chicago will have FS1 as channel 237. Lotta UFC programming on deck
Quote from: JakeBarnes on August 16, 2013, 07:56:26 PM
Looks like at midnight, Comcast Chicago will have FS1 as channel 237. Lotta UFC programming on deck
I think they have the rights to the UFC library, and I would guess that is a lot of what they have available until other sports start their season. Say what you want about us, but we turn out for the fights, and unlike boxing fans we support more than the top 3-4 guys. I'm pretty sure UFC/MMA fans were the only ones watching Versus, at least until they lost their fight content.
Quote from: striker14 on August 16, 2013, 08:24:14 PM
I think they have the rights to the UFC library, and I would guess that is a lot of what they have available until other sports start their season. Say what you want about us, but we turn out for the fights, and unlike boxing fans we support more than the top 3-4 guys. I'm pretty sure UFC/MMA fans were the only ones watching Versus, at least until they lost their fight content.
I don't doubt that will be one of the big draws first. Nice to see college football live will also be part of the rotation on saturday. Just happy to see it's gonna be online and look forward the inaugural Fox Sports Live (I think that's the sportscenter competitor with the TSN guys hosting?)
Quote from: Groin_pull on August 16, 2013, 06:03:21 PM
So, have we seen the last of those local-team cable mega contracts? Was that huge Dodgers deal the tipping point?
I doubt the last, sports content is DVR proof which is why it costs so much and the price put so high. My guess is you will see a few more.
(http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/800/DT/DTMVPWVAIQUHCUN.20130816144545.jpg)
Well, Fox Sports Live cannot possibly not be better than Sportscenter, can it? That in and of itself may be enough to get name to tune in.
Quote from: MU82 on August 15, 2013, 03:00:38 PM
Next step: Have an ESPN3-like situation in place so we can watch games online that are not available over the air.
I got very, very spoiled the last couple of years being able to watch every MU game!
Sounds like it's in the pipeline...
http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/fox-sports-tv-everywhere-service-is-no-show-as-espn-beefs-up-ipad-app-1200578851/
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on August 17, 2013, 10:30:06 AM
Well, Fox Sports Live cannot possibly not be better than Sportscenter, can it? That in and of itself may be enough to get name to tune in.
After watching it once, I am not optimistic.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 19, 2013, 11:20:27 AM
After watching it once, I am not optimistic.
Given how early it is and still working out some of the kinks, I liked it. The panels were great the content was good.
They just had a little too much forced humor that really flopped. They tighten that up and I think it is an improvement over sportscenter.
Quote from: forgetful on August 19, 2013, 11:26:56 AM
Given how early it is and still working out some of the kinks, I liked it. The panels were great the content was good.
They just had a little too much forced humor that really flopped. They tighten that up and I think it is an improvement over sportscenter.
While I don't disagree with anything you said, I think a review of "if it gets better it will be an improvement over Sportscenter" is not exactly what they were going for. Needing a ladder to clear such a low bar must be a little disheartening.
Quote from: Terror Skink on August 19, 2013, 11:20:27 AM
After watching it once, I am not optimistic.
I agree. It seemed almost like they were trying to out-clown or out- booyah SC. I was very disappointed. Still hopeful they can work it out though.
Quote from: brewcity77 on August 16, 2013, 05:38:35 PM
Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.
I am. I don't care much about the commercials, but athetics aside, she was very good at the sideline job, not very good at all in the anchor/host roll. That college football show she started doing on Fox is an absolute train wreck (problems with that show obviously run deeper than her).
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on August 19, 2013, 11:38:24 AM
I agree. It seemed almost like they were trying to out-clown or out- booyah SC. I was very disappointed. Still hopeful they can work it out though.
Agreed... The anchors are thick on the Canadian accent as well, which annoys me.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on August 19, 2013, 11:38:24 AM
I agree. It seemed almost like they were trying to out-clown or out- booyah SC. I was very disappointed. Still hopeful they can work it out though.
http://www.hulu.com/embed.html?eid=lpmzpuhsxrouhax8uwehew
Ugh... apparently Scoopy no likey Hulu embeddy.
Exterior link: http://www.hulu.com/watch/124974
ESPN Plans On Continuing With "SportsCenter" As Usual In Response To "Fox Sports Live"
By John Ourand, Staff Writer
Published August 19, 2013
On Saturday night at 7:24pm ET, ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor Steve Levy sent out a tweet saying, "its me and [Scott Van Pelt] on SportsCenter after little league world series on espn #notour1stshow." The message behind the hashtag Levy used was obvious. "Fox Sports Live," the newest competitor to "SportsCenter," was three-and-a-half hours from debuting and already picking up a lot of media attention. But ESPN execs feel they have the experience and personalities to hold off any challenges. In separate phone conversations yesterday, THE DAILY spoke with Van Pelt and "SportsCenter" Senior Coordinating Producer Michael Shiffman about some of the decisions behind what ESPN put into Saturday's show.
On choosing Levy and Van Pelt to anchor "SportsCenter" Saturday night:
Shiffman: We wanted to put our best foot forward. We knew it was their first night, and we want to have our strongest anchor teams out there as well.
Van Pelt: We've worked together for many years. He just celebrated his 20th year at ESPN, and I've been there more than 10. This is a show you know, and these are people that you know. I don't think it was entirely coincidental that we were asked to do this. We have a sense of pride in our place. We are proud to be asked to be the ones to sit out there, and if there is some kind of a taste test going on, remind people that this is what you know.
On changes to "SportsCenter" on FS1's launch night:
Shiffman: Our overall theme was to attack the show like we do every single night, which is to do the best highlights possible, the best storytelling possible and be really smart. That's not different from what we did other nights before they launched.
Van Pelt: During our production meeting, I told an anecdote of a basketball coach friend I had spoken to that day. I explained to him that there was this new network that's launching, and he says, "Oh, what is it?" I said, "Fox Sports 1." He said, "What channel is that?" He hadn't heard and had no clue. It's a good reminder that when you live in our small little world, you could convince yourself that this is a big deal, that they're ready to join the fight, and it's crickets outside the walls of our little fraternity. With that thought in mind, my philosophy is that we do exactly what we do and have done for 30-some odd years.
What was the best part of Saturday night's "SportsCenter?"
Shiffman: We try to maximize our resources. Last night, we had reporters at two of the NFL games. We have Mark Schwarz at Jaguars-Jets and Pedro Gomez at Cowboys-Cardinals. We had the My Wish feature. Those things have always been staples of the show and, as far as I can tell, will continue to be staples of the show.
Van Pelt: I can't think of a stand-alone moment that I'm most proud of. It wasn't like we said, "Let's do one highlight where we really show Fox what we can do." It wasn't like that. It wasn't anything that differentiated itself from any particular day.
On the idea that Fox Sports 1 is bringing fun back into sports:
Van Pelt: The easiest thing in the world to do is to talk a bunch of junk on Twitter. They're really good at that -- poking the bear with a stick. I would swing up, too, if I were them. That's what they're doing. The idea that they co-opted fun in sports and that ESPN and "SportsCenter" is some kind of a trip to the dentist is laughable. I have fun every single time I do "SportsCenter." If they want to be fun, great. Go have fun. I encourage you to do so because we do it every day. That's the one thing I found to be a head-scratcher, that they planted their flag on this fun hill, as if they discovered it. Like they're the Christopher Columbus of fun in sports and they're putting their flag down on that hill. Really? We've been living here since 1979. Welcome to the fun of sports.
On FS1's launch:
Van Pelt: If you reference [co-President] Eric Shanks or ["Fox Sports Live" Executive Producer] Michael Hughes, these are guys that I like whose talent I respect and who I sincerely wish well. The PR folks wanted to make it a jousting war verbally. Sincerely, I like those guys. This is a big, giant buffet table and there's room for everybody to belly up to the table. Sincerely, you just wish them the best because I like those folks. But I work for ESPN and I'm proud to do so. We'll do our part to keep our seat at the table.
Analysis by SBD.
It's been a constant theme in the pay-TV industry for the past decade: Distributors complain about the cost of sports, but they are powerless to stop it. In discussing the Time Warner Cable-CBS battle last week, financial analyst Craig Moffett said, "These disputes always end up with the broadcaster winning."
That's why news last week that Fox backed down on its asking price for Fox Sports 1 was so surprising. A confluence of events gave distributors enough leverage to resist Fox's asking price of 80 cents per subscriber per month.
Just days before last week's scheduled launch, Fox told some of the biggest U.S. distributors that they could carry Fox Sports 1 with the same deals and at the same rates that they carry Speed, which costs about 23 cents per subscriber per month. The move surprised industry insiders. In essence, Fox decided to punt, opting to fight Fox Sports 1's carriage battles another day.
Score one for the distributors, at least for now.
In the long run, Fox certainly will be able to get the money it wants for Fox Sports 1. But for now, distributors can bask in a victory where, for once, they held most of the leverage. For them, it was a long time coming.
Much of the leverage came from sheer numbers. Fox was seeking significant increases from DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, Cox and Cablevision, which account for nearly 55 million homes. It's bruising enough to fight any one of those distributors on their own. But carriage fights with all of them — all of which have been champing at the bit to take a stand against sports costs — at the same time? Fox executives, led by distribution president Michael Hopkins, said no thanks. It made more sense to spread out these deals over the next few years and negotiate them one at a time.
Distributors also believed that they gained more leverage as the channel's launch approached. On background, many of them pointed to a key juncture as a turning point. That being March 1 — when company executives unveiled Fox Sports 1 and pledged to launch the channel to 90 million homes. At the time, one distribution executive said, "The only way Fox can get to 90 million is with my subscribers." Other distributors had the same thought: Fox needs us right now more than we need them.
Fox signed rights deals and advertising clients predicated on the channel having 90 million homes. News stories had the network at near full distribution. There seemed to be no question that it would have full distribution at launch.
On the other side of the table, distributors held their cards and bet that the longer they waited, the more likely Fox would move from its initial asking price in order to bulk up its distribution numbers. Even as the distributors became embroiled in high-profile fights with other networks (Time Warner and CBS; DirecTV and Pac-12 Networks), they believed they would be able to wait out Fox Sports 1.
The massive PR effort by Fox continued in the weeks leading up to launch. The network sent out multiple releases each day on FS1, from new talent to planned shows to charter advertisers. But distributors believed that Fox faced more pressure as the Aug. 17 launch date neared. What if after so much hype, the next big competitor to ESPN launched only to a handful of homes? Talk about a buzz kill.
Distributors are used to being the punching bags when it comes to sports channels. Leverage will return to Fox, which is certain to get the price it wants for FS1 eventually — maybe as early as this fall.
That's when Time Warner Cable's affiliate deal for YES Network ends. Fox, which owns part of YES and handles its distribution, could get its Fox Sports 1 price during those negotiations. Cox's deals with several Fox-owned RSNs are up at the end of this year, as well. Expect Fox to package Fox Sports 1 at that point.
But for this one moment, distributors took solace that they did their part to keep sports rights down. It's a solace they know won't last long. As one executive said last week, "This feels never-ending."