will Fox Sports ratings follow trend of FoxNews, which just topped ESPN & Disney

[bamamarquettefan]

A couple of nice posts on the woefully low ratings for Big East basketball on Fox Sports 1. We definitely face challenges most of us saw when and if the old Big East ever broke up. However, on the bright side, while Fox Sports numbers on the Big East are low, consider these numbers for the same guys that decided to challenge CNN with cable news in 1996.

After four years (in 2000), FoxNews was still stuggling with only 200,000 viewers a day - under half that of CNN.

It took them just over two years to multiply that by 5 to just over a million. Granted the terrible tragedy of 9/11 caused many people to tune in - but the network kept growing.

Last week they topped 1.8 million in primetime - more than anyone else - Disney, AMC, ESPN etc.

Our small alumni basis are definitely an issue, but we are riding the right horse if we can stay on it.

Network      (000s)
FOXN      1858
DSNY      1782
AMC      1781
ESPN      1736
TBSC      1620
USA      1583
HGTV      1419
HIST      1413
DISC      1256
TNT      1196
FX      1117
ADSM      1018
FOOD      965
A&E      876
TLC      875
NAN      866
SYFY      858
ID      815
BRAV      783
LIFE      755
FAM      749
SPK      749
TVLD      709
HALL      654
CMDY      613

[Babybluejeans]

FS1 should just do what worked for Fox News: fiery conservatism and police chases!

[DienerTime34]

Also: More blondes.

[Carl Spackler]

Fox News got to where it is by differentiation.  they saw an underserved market and went after it.

How do you do that with sports? 

Product.  ESPN is the default sports station because it has the content.  Until FS1 gets enough (better) product, people arent going to tune in.   

[Litehouse]

I think NBCSN is differentiating itself really well right now with Hockey and EPL.  Two areas that are basically ignored by ESPN, and they're focusing on that.  Throw in a few other things, like the Tour de France, and they've carved out a nice niche.

FS1 seems to be going the UFC and Nascar route right now, for better or worse.  Hopefully picking up MLB and Bundesliga will help FS1 next year.  Fox is so strong with the NFL, it would be nice if they could leverage that and show extra NFL games on FS1 and FS2 on Sunday afternoons.

[bradley center bat]

FS1 is going into year 2 of MLB.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Fox News got to where it is by differentiation.  they saw an underserved market and went after it.

How do you do that with sports? 

Product.  ESPN is the default sports station because it has the content.  Until FS1 gets enough (better) product, people arent going to tune in.   

More blondes.  Preferably leggy.

[bradley center bat]

More blondes.  Preferably leggy.

https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/fox-blondes-feature.jpg

https://coedbc.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/fox-sports-1-ladies.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=640

[Eldon]

You want to know how FS1 can catch up to and ultimately surpass ESPN?  Three letters

X F L



Bring it back.