Fox Sports One - Will Debut On Major Pay TV Operators

[SayOw]

Avoiding the carriage disputes that threatened to undermine their Aug, 17 launch, national cable channels Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 are on target for distribution deals with Time Warner Cable, Comcast, DirecTV and Dish, according to sources.

Story here.

I'm glad for two reasons...

First, and most importantly, I am hopeful that along with the NBCSports Network, ESPN becomes even more obsolete. I already don't watch any programming on ESPN unless (begrudgingly) it is a live event.

Second, and more short term, a certain team from my area and the defending back-to-back FCS champions play K-State to start their season and it will be aired on Fox Sports 1 ... so I now am assured that I will get to see it.

[SiteWolf]

the one thing I haven't caught yet is whether cable companies are immediately picking up that channel

....another is...coulda done without Erin Andrews apparently being such a big part of their programming

Bison v Wildcats, eh?

[SayOw]

Originally Posted by SiteWolf

the one thing I haven't caught yet is whether cable companies are immediately picking up that channel

....another is...coulda done without Erin Andrews apparently being such a big part of their programming

Bison v Wildcats, eh?

From my understanding, if you currently get Speed and Fuel channels - which you likely pay extra for that tier, I know I do on DirecTV - starting on Saturday they will flip to Fox Sports 1 and 2 and you will get those channels without any additional fees ... you just lose Speed and Fuel TV. If your provider does not carry those channels (Speed/Fuel) at all, then you won't have the option to get Fox Sports 1 or 2 until your provider would add the channels...again, likely, as an expanded tier.

I agree about Erin Andrews. ESPN doesn't have very many "talented" people in front of the camera and she certainly has shown that she is more about herself than the "reporting" that she does...(See Olberman)

Yeppers... big test early for NDSU. A loss isn't the end of the world but a win would only further help the program. Home games for the Bison were sold out before the season started for the second straight year this year and because my job is somewhat directly linked to NDSU, it only makes my work more fun and then also add in the possibility of investment in my area because of increased revenues because of the strong fan support.

When I first started in 2002, we were lucky to get 10,000 people to a home game...sometimes attendance was sub 8,000. Now, it is SRO and usually around 20,000 a game...

[SayOw]

And this is nothing new, but after watching last night's preseason game...how can anyone writing checks at ESPN even think it is a good idea to have Berman call a football game. He is HORRIBLE! I am pretty sure he was drunk last night by and when they showed him next to Dilfer doing a stand-up almost confirmed it...looked like he had glazed eyes and was struggling to stay upright.

[yon Beast]

Originally Posted by SayOw

And this is nothing new, but after watching last night's preseason game...how can anyone writing checks at ESPN even think it is a good idea to have Berman call a football game. He is HORRIBLE! I am pretty sure he was drunk last night by and when they showed him next to Dilfer doing a stand-up almost confirmed it...looked like he had glazed eyes and was struggling to stay upright.

NOT SURPRISING

He should remain in the studio. Once a week...after Sunday games...showing the highlights! That is more than enough Berman per week!
Rumblin'... stumblin' and falling down drunk (lol)

[rich76]

on another note........he may be one of the 5 worst golfers I have ever seen anywhere anytime. He needs to retire.....30+ years of him has been enough.

[-mmm-]

Originally Posted by SayOw

From my understanding, if you currently get Speed and Fuel channels - which you likely pay extra for that tier, I know I do on DirecTV - starting on Saturday they will flip to Fox Sports 1 and 2 and you will get those channels without any additional fees ... you just lose Speed and Fuel TV. If your provider does not carry those channels (Speed/Fuel) at all, then you won't have the option to get Fox Sports 1 or 2 until your provider would add the channels...again, likely, as an expanded tier.

Yeah I have Comcast and both Speed (now FS1) and Fox Soccer (soon to be FXX where some of the FX shows like The League will move too) have been available the past couple weeks on the basic tier that I have.

It'd be nice to have someone that can (hopefully) push ESPN. On actual sports action production ESPN is very good. Especially with soccer (Ian Darke is the best play by play guy in any sport at this moment IMHO), tennis, and the top 2-3 announcing crews in college football and hoops are usually excellent (Dickie V excepted; and after that its very hit and miss, usually miss, on those lower tiered college sports crews). MNF production is pretty good but Gruden annoys the hell out of me, as someone who gives two craps about the Yankees and Red Sox I rarely watch their baseball, I hardly watch any NBA anymore. Id also say their golf coverage is usually pretty good (except when Bermen is involved, than its a freaking joke). Its everything else ESPN does that is horrible to watch. Sportscenter has transformed from a highlights/recap show into something not to dissimilar that represents the worst of cable news were a bunch of people are having LOUD moronic debates on faux topics. And their others shows that arent PTI are in even worse shape (and PTI only works because Kornheiser/Wilbon have great on-air chemistry with each other though the show has become a bit stale after all these years).

FS1 is probably the best bet to take on ESPN as Id think Fox would give them more resources to work with plus their programming is similar to ESPN's in many ways (cornerstones are MLB, college sports, MMA, the soccer contracts they moved over from Fox Soccer like the UEFA tournament, and the motorsports contracts they had on Speed and Fuel). Whereas NBCSN has taken on sports that have more a niche audience, but audiences that are very loyal and hardcore. Sports like the NHL, MLS and EPL soccer, IndyCar, Formula1 and soon NASCAR for motorsports and the Tour de France. Its nice to have an outlet thats not ESPN for those sports that gives them the proper production and respect (even if I dont care for motorsports or cycling), but its also a bunch of sports properties that wont rattle the cages at Bristol.