Murdoch and Fox going to try to compete with ESPN

No matter how much money Rupe throws at this, though, it's gonna boil down to clearances. Is Pac-12 Networks still off DirecTV? How about the Lakers channel on non-Times Warner systems in SoCal? And two more words: Longhorn Network.

Fox has sold a lot of its RSNs in recent years as well. The two networks in NorCal to Comcast as well as Seattle, Pittsburgh and Denver becoming Root Sports comes to mind.

 

What are CBS and NBC getting for fees for their all-sport channels? They're both on DirecTV and they both went the route of rebranding existing channels (CBS College Sports & Versus).

 

No idea, but I love that the NBC one has a 20 minute package where I can see scores and highlights without getting conjecture and BS.

 

This is also a rebranded channel. It's Speed.

(And yes, the Pac 12 Network is still not on DirecTV, which means there's an excellent chance I'll be ditching DirecTV this fall if they don't get it together.)

 

I know. Assuming their carriage fee ask isn't out of line with what CBS & NBC are getting I doubt DirecTV will drop Fox 1.

Was trying to point out that it's not really accurate to compare Fox 1 to the LHN or the PAC 12 Net. Both are essentially regional or niche channels. Fox 1 isn't.

 

Re: Murdoch and Fox going to try to with ESPN

Depends on the contract. The new deal with MLB allows for games on pay TV staring in 2014, which also means the out-of-market FOX games will be available on Extra Innings and MLB.tv.

 

I remember back when Speed was my favorite channel. It used to have all kinds of car shows and auto racing. I believe Speed showed most of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona live because the Earnhardts were competing. Then Speed became all-NASCAR, all the time and it went downhill.

 

That's my thought. I have yet to see someone lay out how another sports network could take down ESPN. Even if a network put together a better nightly highlight/news show, ESPN has the programming (NFL, MLB, NBA, top shelf college football and bball) that none of these other networks have. And the cable/satellite subscriber fees guarantee that ESPN can win a bidding war against these guys for contract rights.

 

New Fox Network is a big driver behind the Catholic 7/Big East split. Fox is essentially giving Catholic 7 their marching orders to start next year ... a year earlier than they really want.

 

I'm trying to figure out how you try and be the "anti-ESPN." No yell fests? No Interactive programs? No hyping stuff on your own network and blowing everything else off?
I would give Glazer his own show, title it "According to Sources..."

 

The good news, there's more than enough sports to go around for a second network to fill up its programming.
The bad news, there's more than enough sports to go around for people to be able to watch it all. Every home pro team has a regional cable deal. Every pro sport has its own network. There's no way you can build a second national destination network. No way.