Fox Sports 2....competing against ESPN

[bradley center bat]

I would never say Sportcenter is great. It's turned into MTV.

[thebigjake]

Isn't Fuel the one with all the UFC programming? I've been watching that stuff more and more. It's becoming part of my regular rotation now. Can't hurt with how fast that sport is taking off.

[mr.MUskie]

So, EA will be sportin' her best assets on future MU games.

But you have to watch through a keyhole.

[GGGG]

And don't worry about Fox Soccer.  I think what Fox is doing is moving its sports properties to these new channels, and not having specific channels devoted to specific sports.

[ChicosBailBonds]

FWIW, I saw a report that Fox News ratings are down 44% since the recent election.

I think that was for the inauguration viewing only....which isn't a surprise.  Their ratings are slightly down, but they still have a sizable lead since it's the only conservative outlet for people to go to while there are several for liberals. 

[martyconlonontherun]

FWIW, I saw a report that Fox News ratings are down 44% since the recent election.

Can you provide more context....
Compared to this time last year? Compared to previous dead season 2 years ago?
Or better yet, what about CNN's ratings since the recent election?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I think that was for the inauguration viewing only....which isn't a surprise.  Their ratings are slightly down, but they still have a sizable lead since it's the only conservative outlet for people to go to while there are several for liberals.  

It wasn't just the inauguration viewing.  The surprise was that is remained that way since the election.   If I can find the link?
********************************
It appears I was only half right.  Several articles from Dec. 31, that Fox ratings were way down from election day but only to the pre-convention levels.  Everyone else's ratings  remained about where they were at election day. 

[robertoc]

1. They do produce great stuff sometimes (see: 30 for 30).

2. Their Sports Center production is usually great (exception, any time they bring in 'polarizing' commentators or focus on 'polarizing' content, e.g. Stephen A Smith and Tebow respectively)

3. They produce great live sports and have a good stable of rights so they can put good games on the air for whatever it is that they're broadcasting.

What I think ESPN has lost its way on is focusing on programming decisions that are either unwatchable by many or only hate watched, like First Take, or Tebow, or Herm Edwards. I think some of their decisions have been: "We want our numbers in X demographic a little higher and we get results when we do [God awful thing], what else are the people we irritate going to watch?"

Although I agree with much of this- I love Herm Edwards!

[Groin_pull]

Although I agree with much of this- I love Herm Edwards!

Good post, but strongly disagree with your SportsCenter comment. It's almost unwatchable today. Has gone from a straight, news-style highlights show to an audition for sports anchors to show how witty and funny they are. The "clever" inside jokes...the stupid catchphrases. Ugh. It all gets in the way of what I'm tuning in for: the latest sports highlights and news. I really miss CNN's Sports Tonight.

[Tugg Speedman]

FWIW, I saw a report that Fox News ratings are down 44% since the recent election.

Yes but their ratings, all cable news ratings, were wildly inflated going into the election.  And, they are all down a lot since election day.

[mu03eng]

Here is my guess as to what Fox is doing, they are going to create FX, FX2, FS1, and FS2(and of course just Fox).  They are going to make FX drama entertainment(ala TNT), they are going to make FX2 comedy entertainment(ala TBS), and they are going to move all sports content to Fox, FS1, and FS2.  They are then going to go out and grab as much sports content as possible to fill up those three stations, especially FS1 and FS2.

Once they have content driving ratings, I bet they absolutely put on a version of SportsCenter and try and steal share from ESPN.

Theoretically, I THINK, this would give them more eye balls for advertising than ESPN/ABC can.  Fox would have Fox, FX, FX2, FS1, FS2, FoxNews, etc.  and ESPN would only have ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU.

I don't remember when the current March Madness tourney contract runs out with CBS, but I'd bet you dollar to donuts Fox goes after that really hard especially with the uniform platform they can offer as opposed to CBS's clugey CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV

[Coleman]

As mentioned here, Speed is going to become Fox Sports One.  It hasn't been officially announced, but everyone knows that is the deal.  Likely August.  Now, it appears, FUEL will become Fox Sports 2.  

This will become Fox's battle with ESPN and ESPN 2...Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.

Speed is in 81 million homes, Fuel in about 38 million.  

This is where it is going.

Chicos, do you see these moving closer to the 100 millionish number ESPN and ESPN2 have, once they are rebranded? Or will they stay about the same?

I'd hate to see our exposure go from 75 million (ESPNU) to 100 million (ESPN and ESPN2) all the way down to 38 million (FS2) to 81 million (FS1) for games. Granted, FOX network channel would be more eyeballs than ESPN, but I don't see us playing on FOX more than once or twice a year, if they even use it for college basketball.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos, do you see these moving closer to the 100 millionish number ESPN and ESPN2 have, once they are rebranded? Or will they stay about the same?

I'd hate to see our exposure go from 75 million (ESPNU) to 100 million (ESPN and ESPN2) all the way down to 38 million (FS2) to 81 million (FS1) for games. Granted, FOX network channel would be more eyeballs than ESPN, but I don't see us playing on FOX more than once or twice a year, if they even use it for college basketball.

They will have to build the brands up on those networks, first, before distributors are going to be willing to pay FOX for the additional eyeballs.  That will take time and a proven track record.

[jficke13]

Although I agree with much of this- I love Herm Edwards!

You cannot possibly be serious. I refuse to believe that Herm Edwards was that supremely, beligerantly, stupid when he was actually coaching. I figure he's generally pretty in your face, so the producers just kept saying "Louder! More shouting! Less intelligent football analysis! More shouting frack-it-all!"

[jficke13]

Good post, but strongly disagree with your SportsCenter comment. It's almost unwatchable today. Has gone from a straight, news-style highlights show to an audition for sports anchors to show how witty and funny they are. The "clever" inside jokes...the stupid catchphrases. Ugh. It all gets in the way of what I'm tuning in for: the latest sports highlights and news. I really miss CNN's Sports Tonight.

You do have a point. And if they faced regular competition in this space maybe they would stick to the sports-highlight stuff (which was mainly what I was talking about when I said it was great). However, I have seen, and been a part of, some shoddy sports highly productions. Our tolerance for poor production levels is much lower than we might realize.

I think this from time to time, especially during spring training/April MLB, Fox Sports Wisconsin's production of Brewers games is terrible. They get their ducks in a row (more or less) eventually, but initially I complain a lot. Then, in the midst of complaining I kind of reflect how if I'd seen this 10 years ago how jaw-dropping it would be. We expect seriously high production values now.

[slingkong]

I think that was for the inauguration viewing only....which isn't a surprise.  Their ratings are slightly down, but they still have a sizable lead since it's the only conservative outlet for people to go to while there are several for liberals. 

Laughably false

[ChicosBailBonds]

Laughably false

Uhm, ok.  Well, I can only go on the studies, you are free to present your own.  I'm referencing television. To each their own.

This from the Pew Research Study