Fox Sports Networks: Difference between revisions
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Starting in September 2004, Fox Sports Net became known simply as FSN, but the name Fox Sports Net is also still in common use. |
Starting in September 2004, Fox Sports Net became known simply as FSN, but the name Fox Sports Net is also still in common use. |
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Fox Sports Net is headquartered in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles']] [[Westwood, Los Angeles, California|Westwood]] area. Its master control facilities are based in both Los Angeles and [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. In February 2005, News Corporation (Fox's parent company) became 100 percent owner of FSN, after swapping assets with [[Cablevision]] Corporation, but is still identified in its copyright tag as "Fox Sports Net/National Sports Partners." |
Fox Sports Net is headquartered in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles']] [[Westwood, Los Angeles, California|Westwood]] area. Its master control facilities are based in both Los Angeles and [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. In February 2005, News Corporation (Fox's parent company) became 100 percent owner of FSN, after swapping assets with [[Cablevision]] Corporation, but is still identified in its copyright tag as "Fox Sports Net/National Sports Partners." Fox Sports Net also utilizes Stage 19 at [[Universal Studios Florida]], after [[Nickelodeon Studios]] closed in 2005. |
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In addition to regional programming, Fox Sports Net has some national prime time programming such as ''[[The Best Damn Sports Show Period]]'' and ''[[Chris Myers]] Interviews''. FSN has tried to compete with [[ESPN]] in original programming, most notably in 1996, when FSN debuted the ''Fox Sports National Sports Report'', a 30 minute sports news program designed to compete with ESPN's ''[[SportsCenter]]''. The program originally began as a two hour program, but was steadily cut back as ratings dropped and costs increased. The last edition of the ''[[National Sports Report]]'' aired in February 2002. In some markets, FSN airs the ''Regional Sports Report'', usually headlined with the name of the region covered, such as the ''Midwest Sports Report'' or ''[[Detroit Sports Report]]''. The regional reports began in 2000 to complement the national sports report, but many regional reports were cut in 2002 due to increasing costs.<ref>http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/17/spt_fox_sports_net.html</ref> |
In addition to regional programming, Fox Sports Net has some national prime time programming such as ''[[The Best Damn Sports Show Period]]'' and ''[[Chris Myers]] Interviews''. FSN has tried to compete with [[ESPN]] in original programming, most notably in 1996, when FSN debuted the ''Fox Sports National Sports Report'', a 30 minute sports news program designed to compete with ESPN's ''[[SportsCenter]]''. The program originally began as a two hour program, but was steadily cut back as ratings dropped and costs increased. The last edition of the ''[[National Sports Report]]'' aired in February 2002. In some markets, FSN airs the ''Regional Sports Report'', usually headlined with the name of the region covered, such as the ''Midwest Sports Report'' or ''[[Detroit Sports Report]]''. The regional reports began in 2000 to complement the national sports report, but many regional reports were cut in 2002 due to increasing costs.<ref>http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/17/spt_fox_sports_net.html</ref> |
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Revision as of 00:24, 25 May 2007
| Fox Sports Net logo | |
| Type | cable television network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | National, through regional affiliates |
| Owner | News Corporation through Fox Entertainment Group (some affiliates owned by Cablevision, Comcast and Liberty Media) |
Launch date | 1977 (SportsChannel) 1983 (Prime Network) 1996 (Fox Sports Net) |
Former names | SportsChannel America, Prime Network (nationally, name varied by region) |
Official website | FoxSports.com (shared with the rest of Fox Sports's US operations) |
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net (FSN), are cable TV regional sports networks that were originally owned by separate companies. The most notable were the SportsChannel networks, which went on the air in 1977 with the original SportsChannel (now FSN New York), and Prime Network, which went on the air in 1983 with the charter member being Home Sports and Entertainment (now FSN Southwest). Fox also purchased SportSouth (now FSN South) from Turner Broadcasting in 1996.
In 1996, News Corporation, which launched the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986, took over the Prime Network affiliates and renamed them all "Fox Sports Net." In 1997, SportsChannel America joined the Fox Sports Net family (except for the Florida affiliate, which joined in 2000).
Starting in September 2004, Fox Sports Net became known simply as FSN, but the name Fox Sports Net is also still in common use.
Fox Sports Net is headquartered in Los Angeles' Westwood area. Its master control facilities are based in both Los Angeles and Houston. In February 2005, News Corporation (Fox's parent company) became 100 percent owner of FSN, after swapping assets with Cablevision Corporation, but is still identified in its copyright tag as "Fox Sports Net/National Sports Partners." Fox Sports Net also utilizes Stage 19 at Universal Studios Florida, after Nickelodeon Studios closed in 2005.
In addition to regional programming, Fox Sports Net has some national prime time programming such as The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Chris Myers Interviews. FSN has tried to compete with ESPN in original programming, most notably in 1996, when FSN debuted the Fox Sports National Sports Report, a 30 minute sports news program designed to compete with ESPN's SportsCenter. The program originally began as a two hour program, but was steadily cut back as ratings dropped and costs increased. The last edition of the National Sports Report aired in February 2002. In some markets, FSN airs the Regional Sports Report, usually headlined with the name of the region covered, such as the Midwest Sports Report or Detroit Sports Report. The regional reports began in 2000 to complement the national sports report, but many regional reports were cut in 2002 due to increasing costs.[1]
Regional FSN networks
Current networks
| Name | Region served | Home to | Former Name | Notes |
| Arizona | Arizona, New Mexico and southern Nevada. | Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Phoenix Coyotes (NHL), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), local coverage of the Pacific 10, Western Athletic, Big Sky, and Mountain West conferences. | PRIME Sports Arizona | New LIVE shows follow Diamondbacks, Coyotes and Suns games each evening, either from their respective sites or the FOX Sports Grill in North Scottsdale. |
| Bay Area | Northern and central California, Sacramento, northwestern Nevada (including the Lake Tahoe-Reno-Carson City region), and parts of southern Oregon. | San Francisco Giants (MLB), Oakland Athletics (MLB), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Golden State Warriors (NBA), San Jose Stealth (NLL), San Jose Sabercats (AFL) and local coverage of the Pacific 10, West Coast, Mountain West, and Western Athletic conferences. | Pacific Sports Network (PSN), SportsChannel Bay Area, SportsChannel Pacific | 40% owned by Fox, and as of April 30, 2007, 60% owned by Comcast. Managed by Comcast. SportsChannel Pacific was formed when Pacific Sports Network (PSN) merged with SportsChannel Bay Area. This network airs on one basic cable (FSN) and two digital cable channels (FSN+ and FSN+ 2), all of which generally show the same programming except when there are multiple events taking place. |
| Detroit | Michigan (statewide), northwestern Ohio, northeastern Indiana, and some portions of northeast Wisconsin along the Upper Michigan border. | Detroit Tigers (MLB), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Detroit Red Wings (NHL), Detroit Shock (WNBA), local coverage of the Big Ten, Horizon League, CCHA and the MAC athletic conferences, as well as Michigan high school sports. | Detroit Sports Report is produced by FSN Northwest. FOX Sports Detroit put Pro-Am Sports System (PASS), which was owned by Post-Newsweek, out of business in 1996 when FOX acquired the TV rights to all the pro sports teams in Detroit. | |
| Florida | Florida (statewide), and parts of southern Alabama and southern Georgia. | Tampa Bay Devil Rays (MLB), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), Orlando Magic (NBA), Miami Heat (NBA), Florida Marlins (MLB), Florida Panthers (NHL), plus local coverage of the Big East, Atlantic Sun, Conference USA, and Atlantic Coast athletic conferences. | SportsChannel Florida | Shares broadcast rights with co-owned Sun Sports. Last FSN network to discontinue the SportsChannel name. |
| Indiana | Central Indiana | Indiana Pacers (NBA), Indiana Fever (WNBA), Cincinnati Reds (MLB) and local coverage of minor league baseball and collegiate sports featuring the Big 12, Conference USA, Southeastern, Western Athletic, Missouri Valley, and Horizon League conferences. | Formerly part of FSN Midwest; Was Prime Sports Network prior to that | Due to the Pacers moving to FSN fulltime FSN Indiana has become an independent station from FSN Midwest |
| Midwest | Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and western Kentucky. | Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), Kansas City Royals (MLB), St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), St. Louis Blues (NHL), and local coverage of minor league baseball and collegiate sports featuring the Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Southeastern, Western Athletic, Missouri Valley, and Horizon League conferences. | Prime Sports Midwest | FSN Midwest also airs Cardinals games in portions of West Tennessee. Royals coverage is run through the team's RSTN subsidiary, and is not seen in Kansas City on FSN Midwest (instead on Metro Sports); for this reason, some KC-area media outlets refer to FSN Midwest as "FSN St. Louis". They have garnered this moniker due to devoting most of their coverage to Saint Louis sports, while largely ignoring the rest of the state. However, RSTN will cease operations after the 2007 season, and Royals broadcasts will return to FSN Midwest in the Kansas City market. |
| New England | Massachusetts, eastern and central Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. | Boston Celtics (NBA) and local college sports. | SportsChannel New England | As of April 30, 2007, 100% owned by Comcast. |
| New York | New York, northern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, southern Connecticut. | New York Islanders (NHL), New Jersey Devils (NHL), plus local coverage of the Big East, Northeast, and Metro Atlantic athletic conferences. | SportsChannel New York | Co-owned with MSG, which carries the New York Knicks (NBA), Buffalo Sabres (NHL), New York Rangers (NHL), New York Liberty (WNBA), Red Bull New York (MLS), plus regional collegiate football and basketball. Owned by Cablevision. |
| North | Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. | Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Minnesota Swarm (NLL) and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), plus local coverage of the Big Ten, Big East, and Horizon League athletic conferences. | WCCO II, Wisconsin Sports Network, Midwest Sports Channel | Regional subfeeds for the Minnesota/Dakotas region, and for the state of Wisconsin not included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market. The Wisconsin feed is operated under FSN Wisconsin as of April 2007 and originates from Fox O&O WITI-TV in Milwaukee. |
| Northwest | Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, parts of Wyoming, and parts of northern Nevada. | Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle SuperSonics (NBA), Seattle Storm (WNBA), Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), plus local coverage of the University of Washington, Washington State University and Gonzaga University | Northwest Cable Sports, Prime Sports Northwest | Produces FSN Detroit's Detroit Sports Report. Acquired by Liberty Media as part of its purchase of DirecTV. [2] |
| Ohio | Ohio (with the exception of the Toledo region, where FSN Detroit and FSN Pittsburgh is carried), parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Northwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and extreme Southwestern New York. | Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), plus local coverage of the Big East, Southeastern, Atlantic 10, Mid American, Metro Atlantic, Great Midwest, Conference USA, Atlantic Coast, and Missouri Valley athletic conferences. | SportsChannel Ohio | FSN Ohio also airs Reds games in Nashville, Tennessee and its surrounding areas, including western North Carolina. |
| Pittsburgh | Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Southwestern New York, western Maryland and eastern Ohio. | Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA—via FSN Ohio), Washington Wild Things (Frontier League), plus local coverage of the Big East, Big Ten, Atlantic 10, PIAA, WPIAL and Horizon League athletic conferences. | KBL Sports, Prime Sports KBL. | Produced Midwest Sports Report for FSN Midwest until its move to St. Louis in 2006. Acquired by Liberty Media as part of its purchase of DirecTV. |
| Rocky Mountain | Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, western Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Montana, Nevada and New Mexico. | Colorado Rockies (MLB), Colorado Mammoth (NLL) and Utah Jazz (NBA) plus local coverage of the Big 12, Big Sky, Western Athletic, Conference USA, and Mountain West athletic conferences. | Prime Sports Rocky Mountain, Prime Sports Intermountain West | A sub-feed for Utah (FSN Utah) carries the Utah Jazz (NBA), Phoenix Coyotes (NHL—via FSN Arizona), Real Salt Lake (MLS) and local collegiate sports. |
| South | Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, parts of Kentucky and most of North Carolina. | Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Atlanta Braves (MLB), Nashville Predators (NHL) plus local coverage of Atlantic Coast, Southeastern, Conference USA, Big South, and Southern athletic conferences. | (Original) SportSouth | Purchased Turner South in May 2006; Turner South carries the Braves, Hawks and the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL). |
| Southwest | Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, parts of New Mexico, and Arkansas. | Dallas Mavericks (NBA), Dallas Stars (NHL), Texas Rangers (MLB), FC Dallas (MLS), San Antonio Spurs (NBA), San Antonio Silver Stars (WNBA), plus local coverage of the Southland, Big 12, and Conference USA athletic conferences. | Home Sports Entertainment, Prime Sports Southwest. | A sub-feed is offered for Southeast Texas (FSN Houston), which operates evenings and weekends, and is home to the Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Comets (WNBA), and local collegiate sports. |
| West | Southern California, southern Nevada, and Hawaii. | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Anaheim Ducks (NHL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), Chivas USA (MLS), and local coverage of the Pacific 10, West Coast, Mountain West, Western Athletic, and Big West conferences. | (Original) Prime Ticket, Prime Sports West | Shares programming with FSN Prime Ticket, which serves the same area. |
| Prime Ticket | Southern California, southern Nevada, and Hawaii. | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Anaheim Ducks (NHL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), Chivas USA (MLS), and local coverage of the Pacific 10, West Coast, Mountain West, Western Athletic, and Big West conferences. | FSN West 2 | Shares programming with FSN West, which serves the same area. |
Former FSN networks
| Name | Region served | (Former) Home to | Former Name | Other |
| Chicago | Northern Illinois, northern Indiana, and eastern Iowa. | Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Fire (MLS) Chicago Rush, (AFL), Chicago White Sox (MLB), local and national collegiate sports, including those from FSN Detroit. | Sportsvision, SportsChannel Chicago | Closed on June 23, 2006. Was the production and origination point of the Chicago, Ohio, and Bay Area Sports Report programs (all 50% owned by Rainbow Sports/Cablevision). Comcast SportsNet Chicago now occupies the former FSN Chicago facility located at 350 North Orleans Street, and has acquired the rights to air the nationally-distributed FSN programs. The old Chicago Sports Report set was purchased (and is now used as the main news set) by WREX in Rockford, IL. |
Other FSN-owned/affiliated Networks
| Name | Region served | Home to | Former Name | Other |
| Sun Sports | Florida. | Orlando Magic (NBA), Miami Heat (NBA), Florida Marlins (MLB), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL). | Sunshine Network | Originally a Prime Network affiliate, it is now owned by Fox Sports Net. |
| SportSouth | Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and parts of North Carolina. | Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), Atlanta Thrashers (NHL). | Turner South | Previously owned by Time-Warner as part of the TBS family, sold to News Corporation (parent company of Fox Sports Net) in 2006. Renamed to SportSouth on October 13, 2006. |
Fox College Sports (FCS)
FSN also offers Fox College Sports (formerly Fox Sports Digital Networks) for digital cable subscribers. These are three channels (marked Atlantic, Central, and Pacific) that provide programming (primarily colleigate sports, plus minor league sports) that would be carried from each individual FSN network, as well as each affiliate's regional sports reports and individually-produced programming (such as coaches shows, team magazines, and documentaries). More or less, these three networks are condensed versions of the 22 FSN-affiliated networks, including Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, though the channels also show international events that fit too oddly on FSN or Fox Soccer Channel, such as the Commonwealth Games, World University Games, and the FINA World Swimming Championships.
The FCS Channels offers the FSN feeds on the following channels:
- Atlantic: New England, New York, Pittsburgh, South, Florida, Sun Sports, CSN Mid-Atlantic and MSG Network
- Central: Detroit, Southwest, North, Midwest, Indiana, and Ohio.
- Pacific: Bay Area, Arizona, Rocky Mountain, Northwest, West, and Prime Ticket.
See Regional sports network for those regional sports channels which are not part of Fox Sports Net.
FOX Boxes
FSN has often been the testing ground for the innovations that FOX comes up with graphically and the source of inspiration that other networks have for their graphics. They were the first U.S. sports channel to introduce the bar score/time graphic on the top of the screen. Since FSN came up with the top-screen bar graphic, many other major networks have abandoned the corner box graphic in favor of the bar.
Programs broadcast nationwide
Live national play-by-play
- Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball (Sunday nights)
- Big 12 Conference college football
- Pacific-10 Conference college football
- Pacific-10 Conference college basketball (Thursdays, Saturdays and Pac-10 conference tournament)
- Women's college basketball from the Big 12, Pac-10 and ACC
New show added in 2007
Toughest Cowboy is a series of weekly competitions in which rodeo cowboys attempt to ride in bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding. Each of those three disciplines is a round in the event, and this show tours arenas throughout the United States.
New shows added in 2006
- FSN has unveiled two shows that tie in to college football's Bowl Championship Series, for which four of the five games will be televised by Fox Sports. In September 2006, FSN premiered BCS Breakdown, a preview of that week's top games, with an eye on how they might influence the BCS standings. Tom Helmer is the host, with analysis from Gary Barnett and Petros Papadakis. On October 15, 2006, it debuted The Official BCS Ratings Show, an expansion of the earlier announcement on the broadcast network. The on-air team is the same for this show.
- On June 26, 2006, FSN debuted In Focus, which effectively replaces Beyond the Glory, a program in the vein of Biography and SportsCentury which ran from 2001 until early 2006. This new half-hour takes a look at the impact of a particular sports event, mostly told through the medium of still photography. Dick Enberg is the host.[3]
- On July 3, 2006, FSN debuted FSN Final Score, the first national sports news program on the network since the cancellation of the National Sports Report. FSN veterans Van Earl Wright, Barry LeBrock, and Andrew Siciliano have been joined by newcomers Greg Wolf and Danyelle Sargent. Rick Jaffe, the show's executive producer, promised that the half-hour program will focus on showing game highlights, without additional analysis or interviews.[4]
Other shows seen on FSN across the country are The Best Damn Sports Show Period, The Chris Myers Interview, FSN Pro Football Preview, Totally Football, and FSN Baseball Report. The Sports List and Beyond the Glory are still seen in reruns in most markets.
In addition, FSN airs an extensive lineup of poker shows, including Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament and MansionPoker.net PokerDome Challenge.
Defunct programs
These programs once aired on FSN, but have since been cancelled:
- I, Max: Talk show hosted by Max Kellerman. A combination of poor ratings and the repercussions of the death of Kellerman's brother caused the show's demise.
- The Last Word: Another talk show. Originally, this had a bicoastal format, with Wallace Matthews hosting in New York City and Jim Rome in Los Angeles. During this show's run, Matthews was removed and Rome hosted by himself.
- Totally NASCAR: A daily show about NASCAR racing. This program received access to race highlights denied to ESPN2's RPM 2Night. Whether this decision was related to RPM 2Night's cancellation in 2003 remains debatable, but this show was itself cancelled after the 2004 season. A modified version of this show, called Around the Track, now airs on many, but not all, FSN affiliates.
- Two game shows: The Ultimate Fan League, hosted by Bil Dwyer; and Sports Geniuses, hosted by Matt Vasgersian.
- You Gotta See This, a compilation of unusual video highlights from the world of sports.
- FSN Across America, which was a newsmagazine show. When one of its co-hosts, Carolyn Hughes, was revealed to have an affair with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe in 2004, Hughes was dropped from the show and released by the network. FSN cited a violation of a morals clause in Hughes' contract. The show died shortly after that.
- Before that, another magazine, Goin' Deep, had aired from 2000 to 2001 with Joe Buck, then Chris Myers, as host. That show resembled Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel with its hour-long format and focus on contentious issues in sports.
Pay-per-view
On November 10, 2006, FSN distributed its first pay-per-view event. Evander Holyfield, former heavyweight boxing champion, defeated Fres Oquendo in an unanimous decision at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The fight was also distributed free of charge on the FoxSports.com website outside the United States.
FSN HD
FSN HD is a high definition simulcast of the best programs from Fox Sports Net including live sports and series. Each regional channel has its own separate HD feed.
See also
- Broadcasting of sports events
- Comcast SportsNet
- Fox Broadcasting Company
- Fox Sports
- Fox Sports en Español
- Fox Soccer Channel
- Fox Sports en Latinoamérica
- Fox Sports World Canada
- Fox Footy Channel
- List of DirecTV channels
- List of Dish Network channels
- NESN
- Regional sports network
- Rogers Sportsnet
References
- ^ http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/17/spt_fox_sports_net.html
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/12/22/afx3278224.html
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/extras/la-spw-tvcol9jun09,1,5606619.column?coll=la-sports-extras
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/extras/la-spw-tvcol2jun02,1,2395341.column?coll=la-sports-extras
External links
