Fox Sports is an American sports broadcasting company, owned by Fox Corporation. It was founded in 1994 by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation (now 21st Century Fox) and has since become the flagship of the Fox Broadcasting Company. Fox Sports broadcasts major sporting events including NFL, MLB, UFC, NASCAR, and more.
FOX Sports Broadcasting History:
Fox acquired broadcast rights to the NFL in 1994, which helped launch the network into a major sports broadcaster. This began Fox’s aggressive bid to challenge ESPN’s long-held sports media dominance. Fox broadcasts Sunday afternoon NFL games, as well as NFL games on Thanksgiving. It also broadcasts Major League Baseball, college football and basketball, NASCAR races, and UFC pay-per-view events.
Fox Sports Media Properties:
Fox Sports includes several television channels and other media properties. The main channels are: Fox Sports 1, which broadcasts sports events and surrounding studio shows; Fox Sports 2, which broadcasts additional sports content; and Fox Sports Regional Networks, which broadcast local and regional sports events in various markets across the U.S.
FOX Sports Digital Platforms:
In addition to linear television channels, Fox Sports offers several digital platforms for fans to engage with sports content online and on mobile. This includes FOXSports.com for streaming events and highlights, the FOX Sports App for live sports viewing on mobile devices and streaming boxes, and FOX Sports YouTube channel for additional videos and shows.
Studio Shows and Talent:
Fox Sports is known for its entertaining studio shows surrounding live game broadcasts. Popular studio shows include Skip and Shannon: Undisputed about NFL and sports culture, The Herd with Colin Cowherd discussing sports news and personalities, and First Things First analyzing the NBA. Big name sports personalities like Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan are also featured.
Sports Broadcasting Innovation:
Over the years, Fox Sports has pioneered innovative technologies and styles of sports production. This includes state-of-the-art graphics, cameras like the FoxTrax puck for hockey, branding styles, and marketing campaigns to make the presentation of live games more immersive, enjoyable and viral for fans. Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff before college football has also become a popular hype destination.
Conclusion:
Since launching in 1994, Fox Sports has revolutionized the sports media landscape and become a global sports broadcasting powerhouse on par with ESPN. With massive sports media rights, hit studio shows, and pioneering technologies, Fox Sports engages millions of fans through compelling live event coverage and surrounding content across TV, digital and social platforms. Their impact on this thriving multi-billion dollar sports industry remains immense.