Fox Sports 2....competing against ESPN

[ChicosBailBonds]

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.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

SPEED & FUEL - Two stations I have never watched and won't even consider stopping on when channel surfing.  Since they are losing Primier League games, does the Fox Soccer Channel become Fox Sports 3?   

[ChicosBailBonds]

SPEED & FUEL - Two stations I have never watched and won't even consider stopping on when channel surfing.  Since they are losing Primier League games, does the Fox Soccer Channel become Fox Sports 3?   

You aren't alone CT, that's why they are rebranding those channels.  FUEL barely gets a pulse, though Speed actually finishes in the 50's or so in terms of rankings.

For Fox Soccer, likely to become a sister channel to FX and could be named FXX (or FX2).  It will be  like FX that has entertainment and sports content is the buzz about town.

All of this will be announced in the next few months, if not sooner with changes happening in August if I were to guess.

[mileskishnish72]

My cable lists literally hundreds of channels, but I've got to admit I've heard of neither of these.

[bradley center bat]

Fox News overtook CNN. If Fox Sports could do half as much, it will be a good thing for Fox.

[akmarq]

Fox News overtook CNN. If Fox Sports could do half as much, it will be a good thing for Fox.

Does this mean Karl Rove will be calling MUBB games?
Can't wait to see what he makes of our games in Ohio.

[Groin_pull]

SPEED & FUEL - Two stations I have never watched and won't even consider stopping on when channel surfing.  Since they are losing Primier League games, does the Fox Soccer Channel become Fox Sports 3?   

If I heard correctly, Fox Soccer Channel is going away and morphing into a movie/entertainment channel. If true, too bad. I really like FSC.

[Coleman]

Does this mean Karl Rove will be calling MUBB games?
Can't wait to see what he makes of our games in Ohio.

They clearly will have no bracketology because if anyone makes a prediction before the final tally Rove will have another on-screen meltdown.

[JTBMU7]

You aren't alone CT, that's why they are rebranding those channels.  FUEL barely gets a pulse, though Speed actually finishes in the 50's or so in terms of rankings.

For Fox Soccer, likely to become a sister channel to FX and could be named FXX (or FX2).  It will be  like FX that has entertainment and sports content is the buzz about town.

All of this will be announced in the next few months, if not sooner with changes happening in August if I were to guess.

i read that too but my understanding was they were going to have 2 sports channels and 2 Entertainment channels, with no crossover. So they'd essentially stop showing football and any future sports on FX and FX2, and move all that to Fox sports 1 and 2. they'd also integrate their network channel to some degree, so it'd be like an ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 type model, which i think would be great. Not sure if the network actually plans on showing hoops, but that'd be cool to have some marquee sat games on there.

[chapman]

For Fox Soccer, likely to become a sister channel to FX and could be named FXX (or FX2).

And FXXX will be their new porn channel.

[4everwarriors]

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

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

If I heard correctly, Fox Soccer Channel is going away and morphing into a movie/entertainment channel. If true, too bad. I really like FSC.

I do actually tune-in to FSC also.  My father-in-law would have a meltdown.  When he comes to visit from Poland, it's TV Polonia & the Fox Soccer Channel non-stop for him (besides that occasional foray to one of the Spanish stations for coverage of some Mexican League game.)

[Tugg Speedman]

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. 

How many homes is ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU in?

What about CBS Sports?  My latest channel line-up switch now offers that in HD.  Are they a possibility?

Fox News overtook CNN. If Fox Sports could do half as much, it will be a good thing for Fox.

But Fox Business has not been able to cut into CNBC.  So yes their is an example where they overtook the dominate player in a field.  Their is also an example where they did not.

[bradley center bat]

How many homes is ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU in?

What about CBS Sports?  My latest channel line-up switch now offers that in HD.  Are they a possibility?

But Fox Business has not been able to cut into CNBC.  So yes their is an example where they overtook the dominate player in a field.  Their is also an example where they did not.

Fox Business is on digital, where CNBC is on standard.

[jficke13]

Fox News got huge because they served a niche. There was no right-viewpoint outlet of national news, so 50% of Americans were underserved. Fox News gets created and poof, now the rest of the media is competing for a much smaller market (50% smaller).

Would a well-produced suite of channels that provided sports coverage serve the niche of competition to ESPN? Maybe. It depends entirely on what they carry and how well they carry it.

Personally, I think ESPN has gotten complacent because it hasn't had real competition in years. That being said, it's an uphill battle for a competitor to offer an alternative that could really challenge ESPN.

[Henry Sugar]

Ha. I watch a lot of FUEL and even pay a premium for it with my DirecTV subscription.

[klyrish]

Personally, I think ESPN has gotten complacent because it hasn't had real competition in years. That being said, it's an uphill battle for a competitor to offer an alternative that could really challenge ESPN.

Sports Center commercials alone are going to be almost impossible to best.

[martyconlonontherun]

Personally, I think ESPN has gotten complacent because it hasn't had real competition in years. That being said, it's an uphill battle for a competitor to offer an alternative that could really challenge ESPN.

I don't think this is true. I think ESPN has switched from a niche to mainstream company. That means they aren't focused with true sports news, but rather competing for the main stream customer. Basically, they sold their soul. If a new market focused on small-market teams, it would hurt ESPN a little but they would still just focus on the major markets since that is where the money is for them.

That said, they have had some great programming the past few years with their 30 for 30 specials on Benji, broke, etc. I watch them all the time on Netflix. Not bad content for station that was based on highlights.

[ChicosBailBonds]

How many homes is ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU in?

What about CBS Sports?  My latest channel line-up switch now offers that in HD.  Are they a possibility?

But Fox Business has not been able to cut into CNBC.  So yes their is an example where they overtook the dominate player in a field.  Their is also an example where they did not.

ESPN is in more than 100 million homes.  ESPN2 the same.  ESPNU in about 75 million.  CBS Sports Network about 45 million.

[Tugg Speedman]

That said, they have had some great programming the past few years with their 30 for 30 specials on Benji, broke, etc. I watch them all the time on Netflix. Not bad content for station that was based on highlights.

Yes the 30 for 30 series is great.  But other channels knows this and they being copied by MLB, NBATV, BTN, Tennis channel etc.  Even CNBC regularly does documentaries on companies or industries.

Fox 1 and Fox 2 could leverage their access to Hollywood via their studio to do documentaries if that is what they think will work.  I hope they do.

[jficke13]

I don't think this is true. I think ESPN has switched from a niche to mainstream company. [...]

That said, they have had some great programming the past few years with their 30 for 30 specials on Benji, broke, etc. I watch them all the time on Netflix. Not bad content for station that was based on highlights.

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?"

[jficke13]

Question: Since a bunch of C7 cities are good hockey towns (Chicago, Philly, NYC) does anyone think that the Fox Sports # would try to add some hockey to the programming schedule to try to build a big following in all of the cities?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ha. I watch a lot of FUEL and even pay a premium for it with my DirecTV subscription.

Fuel just got rolled into a lower package so you might not have to be paying a premium for it.  It is part of CHOICE XTRA now effective earlier this month.

[bradley center bat]

Question: Since a bunch of C7 cities are good hockey towns (Chicago, Philly, NYC) does anyone think that the Fox Sports # would try to add some hockey to the programming schedule to try to build a big following in all of the cities?

NO, because NBC and the NHL just signed a new TV deal.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Fox News overtook CNN. If Fox Sports could do half as much, it will be a good thing for Fox.

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