View Full Version : Fox Soccer Channel to air 7-FEB
Mikeymike15
11 Jan 2005, 12:55 PM
Not sure if this is the most appropriate forum to place this article, but we'll give it a shot....
FOX Soccer Channel to debut on February 7
January 11, 2005
FOX Sports World (US) will be rebranded FOX Soccer Channel on February 7.
FOX Soccer Channel General Manager David Sternberg explained the rebranding to Multichannel News: "Given that 80%-85% of programming hours are devoted to soccer, we needed to bring the image of the network in line with what people are tuning in to watch."
According to Multichannel News, rugby will continue to air on FOX Soccer Channel through August 2005.
gleaned from soccerTV.com
bigredfutbol
11 Jan 2005, 05:36 PM
Although I'm happy to know that I will soon be free of Formula One and Cricket highlights, I have to wonder where rugby fans will go for what little coverage they were getting. And I will miss Aussie Rules.
NEKSoccer
11 Jan 2005, 05:41 PM
Not sure if this is the most appropriate forum to place this article, but we'll give it a shot....
FOX Soccer Channel to debut on February 7
January 11, 2005
FOX Sports World (US) will be rebranded FOX Soccer Channel on February 7.
FOX Soccer Channel General Manager David Sternberg explained the rebranding to Multichannel News: "Given that 80%-85% of programming hours are devoted to soccer, we needed to bring the image of the network in line with what people are tuning in to watch."
According to Multichannel News, rugby will continue to air on FOX Soccer Channel through August 2005.
gleaned from soccerTV.com
As much as I love soccer, I'm sorry that rugby, Aussie Rules, etc. will suffer because of the re-branding. I wanted to see the channel cover a wide array of sports, not just my beloved game of footy. I would have kept airing plenty of soccer, but I would have liked to have seen other sports get their due as well. I wish that Fox could devote more resources to covering ALL international sports. I wish that the FSW Report didn't just re-air stuff they showed at the top of the show 45 minutes later! There could be room for other things.
babytiger2001
11 Jan 2005, 06:26 PM
This topic is already being discussed over in Business & Media. However, as it's pertinent to the wider USA Men's forum as well, I'll keep this thread open here.
And on that thread (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161176), it appears that fans of Aussie Rules, rugby and other niche sports aren't going to suffer. Case proven by NYR Metros' post (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3916221&postcount=65):
"The soccer channel will devote about 80 percent of its programming to first-run soccer games and programs, dropping motorsports coverage from its current lineup but retaining limited coverage of sports like rugby."
Motorsports belonged on Speed Channel anyway. I am glad that rugby and maybe AUssie Rules won't be dropped completely, but I am concerned by the "limited coverage" considering how limited the coverage was to begin with.
So it seems, for the most part, the "re-branding" is taking place in name and appearance only.