Fox Sports 1 strikes deals with DirecTV, Dish and TWC

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-15/fox-sports-1-said-to-debut-on-tv-systems-without-new-fee-accords.html?cmpid=yhoo

This is a bit more accurate, but still not exactly right.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Something like 609 - with FS2 on 618.  (You don't need the sports pack to get them though.)

Chicos, will they get to move it nearer to the other sports channels in the low 200s? 

Channels can change....it's definitely part of the negotiation.  It's going to be in the 200's, but there are better positions in the 200's if you know what I mean.  A lot of moving parts right now.  Best way to read this is Fox did not want to launch their new baby and not have 45 million customers not with the channel, so the leverage was with Directv, Dish, and TWC...for once.  Thus the channel will be launched on Saturday under favorable past terms.

Now in this business we often use a term about getting pregnant.  Once you launch the channel, you are pregnant with them and the leverage shifts to the other side.  It is very difficult to take a channel down once you have launched it....it can be done and we have been successful at it, but not without causing a lot of customer disruption, unhappiness, etc, etc.  So we'll see how this plays out over the next few years.  Fox made a wise decision in my opinion. 

[real chili 83]

Got this e-mail today from Comcast:

Coming Soon: FOX Sports 1



Beginning August 17th, FOX will replace SPEED with FOX Sports 1, America's new 24-hour sports network featuring original programming, news, highlights and live coverage of sporting events including: 
■  NASCAR
 
■  UFC
 
■  College Football
 
■  College Basketball
 
■  World Class Soccer and more

This new network will be included as part of your current XFINITY® TV subscription, available in the same channel location currently occupied by SPEED. 
LEARN MORE ►

[mu-rara]

Chicos,

Is there a future where the distributors have less leverage?

I understand your argument regarding the economics of distribution in the present.  Is there a disruptor looming, where ala carte choice of content providers becomes economical?

[SaintPaulWarrior]

214...according to this.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/mavtv-changing-to-channel-214-on-directv/

FS2 is apparently going to stay in Fuel's old position at 618.

Thanks Sultan.....I guess I should have put that in teal about MAVTV although I do love Formula 1.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos,

Is there a future where the distributors have less leverage?

I understand your argument regarding the economics of distribution in the present.  Is there a disruptor looming, where ala carte choice of content providers becomes economical?

Content makers have most of the leverage most of the time....we turned that on its head a bit with Viacom last year and Time Warner is trying now with CBS, but typically if you have power content you have the leverage. 

I don't see that changing any time in the near future.

[GGGG]

Chicos, could it be that Fox knew they weren't going to get anything much out of the distributors, but wanted the "bang" of making sure everyone knew they were going to be on the air?  There seems to be a lot of buzz about FS1 the last couple of days....

[sailwi]

That clip of Erin Andrews was a lot easier on the eyes then the one I saw of Gus Johnson and Rafferty.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos, could it be that Fox knew they weren't going to get anything much out of the distributors, but wanted the "bang" of making sure everyone knew they were going to be on the air?  There seems to be a lot of buzz about FS1 the last couple of days....

Absolutely....that's what I was trying to convey.  Content providers used to just push distributors over and everyone would cave in. Problem is that people pay the distributor directly for their service, not the content provider.  When their bills go up every year, people aren't saying "damn that Viacom...damn that Disney...screw you Fox...screw you AMC and HBO, etc, etc"

Fox has a shiny brand new toy that they have pumped up for months now but there were several of us that had to remind them that they don't get to just swap out Speed for FS1 since the contracts with Speed say they can't, and certainly not at triple the price.  Many distributors are pushing back very hard right now, which is why you see TWC pushing on CBS.  Just the latest, but there have been many in the last 24 months whether is is Pac 12, CSN Houston, AMC, Viacom, Disney, etc.  The SEC launch will be the next big battle.

Fox made a wise decision

As for the channel, I believe FS1 will be on channel 219...for now. 

[brewcity77]

That clip of Erin Andrews was a lot easier on the eyes then the one I saw of Gus Johnson and Rafferty.

Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.

[Groin_pull]

Absolutely....that's what I was trying to convey.  Content providers used to just push distributors over and everyone would cave in. Problem is that people pay the distributor directly for their service, not the content provider.  When their bills go up every year, people aren't saying "damn that Viacom...damn that Disney...screw you Fox...screw you AMC and HBO, etc, etc"

Fox has a shiny brand new toy that they have pumped up for months now but there were several of us that had to remind them that they don't get to just swap out Speed for FS1 since the contracts with Speed say they can't, and certainly not at triple the price.  Many distributors are pushing back very hard right now, which is why you see TWC pushing on CBS.  Just the latest, but there have been many in the last 24 months whether is is Pac 12, CSN Houston, AMC, Viacom, Disney, etc.  The SEC launch will be the next big battle.

Fox made a wise decision

As for the channel, I believe FS1 will be on channel 219...for now. 

So, have we seen the last of those local-team cable mega contracts? Was that huge Dodgers deal the tipping point?

[4everwarriors]

Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.

For sure, you're the only one.

[JakeBarnes]

Looks like at midnight, Comcast Chicago will have FS1 as channel 237.  Lotta UFC programming on deck

[source?]

Looks like at midnight, Comcast Chicago will have FS1 as channel 237.  Lotta UFC programming on deck

I think they have the rights to the UFC library, and I would guess that is a lot of what they have available until other sports start their season. Say what you want about us, but we turn out for the fights, and unlike boxing fans we support more than the top 3-4 guys. I'm pretty sure UFC/MMA fans were the only ones watching Versus, at least until they lost their fight content.

[JakeBarnes]

I think they have the rights to the UFC library, and I would guess that is a lot of what they have available until other sports start their season. Say what you want about us, but we turn out for the fights, and unlike boxing fans we support more than the top 3-4 guys. I'm pretty sure UFC/MMA fans were the only ones watching Versus, at least until they lost their fight content.

I don't doubt that will be one of the big draws first.  Nice to see college football live will also be part of the rotation on saturday.  Just happy to see it's gonna be online and look forward the inaugural Fox Sports Live (I think that's the sportscenter competitor with the TSN guys hosting?)

[ChicosBailBonds]

So, have we seen the last of those local-team cable mega contracts? Was that huge Dodgers deal the tipping point?

I doubt the last, sports content is DVR proof which is why it costs so much and the price put so high.  My guess is you will see a few more. 

[Jet915]

[NavinRJohnson]

Well, Fox Sports Live cannot possibly not be better than Sportscenter, can it? That in and of itself may be enough to get name to tune in.

[Tigidal]

Next step: Have an ESPN3-like situation in place so we can watch games online that are not available over the air.

I got very, very spoiled the last couple of years being able to watch every MU game!

Sounds like it's in the pipeline...

http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/fox-sports-tv-everywhere-service-is-no-show-as-espn-beefs-up-ipad-app-1200578851/

[GGGG]

Well, Fox Sports Live cannot possibly not be better than Sportscenter, can it? That in and of itself may be enough to get name to tune in.

After watching it once, I am not optimistic.

[forgetful]

After watching it once, I am not optimistic.

Given how early it is and still working out some of the kinks, I liked it.  The panels were great the content was good. 

They just had a little too much forced humor that really flopped.  They tighten that up and I think it is an improvement over sportscenter.

[StillAWarrior]

Given how early it is and still working out some of the kinks, I liked it.  The panels were great the content was good. 

They just had a little too much forced humor that really flopped.  They tighten that up and I think it is an improvement over sportscenter.

While I don't disagree with anything you said, I think a review of "if it gets better it will be an improvement over Sportscenter" is not exactly what they were going for.  Needing a ladder to clear such a low bar must be a little disheartening.

[NavinRJohnson]

After watching it once, I am not optimistic.

I agree. It seemed almost like they were trying to out-clown or out- booyah SC. I was very disappointed. Still hopeful they can work it out though.

[NavinRJohnson]

Am I the only one who's getting sick of her? Not that she isn't easy enough on the eyes, but all those damn ProBiotics commercials. If I hear her say "in your gut, where your immune system lives" one more time I'm gonna puke. She's gone from innocuous, attractive sideline reporter to ridiculously annoying blathering woman. Just shut up and find a product to endorse that lets you stand there and look pretty.

I am. I don't care much about the commercials, but athetics aside, she was very good at the sideline job, not very good at all in the anchor/host roll. That college football show she started doing on Fox is an absolute train wreck (problems with that show obviously run deeper than her).

[Tigidal]

I agree. It seemed almost like they were trying to out-clown or out- booyah SC. I was very disappointed. Still hopeful they can work it out though.

Agreed...  The anchors are thick on the Canadian accent as well, which annoys me.