Fox Sports

[JohnsonTV]

The Sunday Telegraph reports former England captain Ian Botham will join Fox Sports’ Inside Cricket as a panelist during the Ashes series, alongside Allan Border, Mark Waugh, Brendon Julian and Robert Craddock. Botham doesn’t want to work for Nine this summer because he loathes Ian Chappell.

Also, the 2017-18 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman/Ironwoman Series begins this weekend at Queenscliff in NSW. This summer it has become part of the new Ocean6 multi format series. Fox Sports will again cover the Nutri-Grain series with the final round live.
Round One: 28th-29th October, Queenscliff NSW
Round Two: 18th-19th November, Coolum Sunshine Coast QLD
Round Three: 16th-17th December, North Wollongong NSW
Round Four: 12th-14th January, Torquay & Fairhaven Beaches, VIC
Round Five: 3rd-4th February, Surfers Paradise QLD
Round Six: 24th-25th February, North Cronulla NSW

[sammy123]

@JohnsonTV

Botham doesn’t want to work for Nine this summer because he loathes Ian Chappell.

Botham did once work Nine a long time ago and never commentated with Chappell on that occasion. They’ve been in a feud for the past 30+ years!

[JohnsonTV]

This Wednesday (November 15) Fox Sports 501 will show a feature interview with former tennis star Jelena Dokic, who revealed the physical and verbal abuses she suffered during her career, mainly from her father. The interview will premiere at 6.30pm AEDT and repeated at 10.30pm AEDT. Her autobiography Unbreakable, co-written by News Corp sports writer Jessica Halloran, will be released tomorrow (November 13) by Random House.

[TV.Cynic]

ACCC won’t oppose the proposed merger of Fox Sports and Foxtel

The ACCC has decided to not oppose the proposed merger of Fox Sports and Foxtel after finding the transaction would not substantially lessen competition.

Currently, News Corporation (News) (ASX:NWS) owns 100 per cent of Fox Sports and owns Foxtel jointly with Telstra (ASX:TLS). Under the merger, Foxtel and Fox Sports will be brought together under common ownership, with News holding 65 per cent of the merged entity. Telstra will hold the remaining 35 per cent interest. The merged entity will also enter a number of agreements with Telstra.

“The ACCC won’t oppose this merger after finding that the commercial incentives of Foxtel, Fox Sports, News, and Telstra will not be substantially altered. Therefore, the change in ownership structure is unlikely to substantially lessen competition,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“Foxtel and Fox Sports have a close and long-standing relationship, operating within the ownership of News and Telstra. Given News’ current interests in both Foxtel and Fox Sports, it would be unlikely that Fox Sports would be made available to competitors of Foxtel in the absence of the merger.”

The ACCC considered how the merger would affect a number of different markets and took into account feedback from a range of market participants in reaching this decision.

“We focussed on the acquisition of sporting content and concluded that the proposed merger was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in this market,” Mr Sims said.

The ACCC also considered the effect of the merger and related agreements on the supply of triple play bundles of voice, broadband, and audio visual content by broadband and mobile providers. As part of the merger transaction, Telstra is appointed the exclusive telecommunications agent for Foxtel’s digital products.

“An important consideration was that consumers will still be able to access Foxtel’s digital products even if they acquire broadband or mobile services from Telstra’s competitors. Also, generally, where triple play bundles are offered consumers still have to pay to acquire premium packages and there are alternative sources of content for other telecommunications suppliers wanting to offer triple play bundles,” Mr Sims said.

Further information is available on the ACCC’s public register: Merger of Foxtel and Fox Sports

[JohnsonTV]

FIFA Club World Cup 2017

The impressive line-up features six confederation champions, including UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid, New Zealand’s Auckland City, Mexican heavyweights Pachuca, Brazilian powerhouse Gremio, African side Wydad Athletic Club, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, along with tournament hosts Al Jazira.
The tournament began this morning when Al Jazira beat Auckland 1-0 in the quarter final playoff.

Remaining schedule
(all times AEDT)
Sun 10 Dec: Quarter Final 1, Pachuca v Wydad Athletic Club: LIVE at 12.00am on FOX SPORTS 501
Sun 10 Dec: Quarter Final 2, Al Jazira v Urawa Red Diamonds: LIVE at 3.30am on FOX SPORTS 501
Wed 13 Dec: 5 v 6 Playoff: LIVE at 12.30am on FOX SPORTS 501
Wed 13 Dec: Semi Final 1, Gremio v Quarter Final 1 winner: LIVE at 3.30am on FOX SPORTS 501
Thu 14 Dec: Semi Final 2, Real Madrid v Quarter Final 2 winner: LIVE at 3.30am on FOX SPORTS 501
Sun 18 Dec: 3 v 4 Playoff: LIVE at 12.30am on FOX SPORTS 501
Sun 18 Dec: Final: LIVE at 3.30am on FOX SPORTS 501

[tihsamikah]

Mate who works at foxtel confirmed to me, that depending on how the next right deal for cricket goes, foxtel are looking at doing a cricket channel…

freeking sweet!

[cmo]

Cricket Australia would do themselves a disservice involving themselves with fox sports.

Any sort of simulcast deal will also be complete shit as well.

The BBL only rates for a commercial network because its exclusive.

[JKD]

oh god no…

[njr]

Would make sense. There’s enough cricket year round for Fox to broadcast, and Optus haven’t struggled with filling up a cricket channel on their fetch box. I wouldn’t oppose giving Fox access to replays and the back catalogue, like they did a few years ago.

That said, CA have their heads screwed on right when it comes to Pay TV. They’ve seen the damage its done to the game in England, and the effect that televising the BBL on Channel TEN exclusively has had on the tournament.

There’s a lot more money on the table now, and CA now have the option to go OTT when it comes to subscription services. I reckon that last option could be Fox Sport’s undoing.

Plus, Fox Sports need to sort out their merger with Foxtel soon, now that Sky News has been settled I reckon this’ll happen in the next few months, whether a deal is cut before then is the question…

Let’s also not forget that the ICC has been repositioning the way broadcast rights are being sold in order to make a cricket.tv streaming service, which could foreseeably allow fans to watch any cricket happening in the world.

[tihsamikah]

@cmo

Cricket Australia would do themselves a disservice involving themselves with fox sports.

actually, if it wasn’t the viewers on foxtel when the BBL started (which rated great on fox), it wouldn’t have have the leg up to FTA if it wasn’t so successful.

disservice?

so…not having Sheffield shield, and JTL cup broadcast ANYWHERE by channel 9… what is that doing exactly?

[tihsamikah]

@njr

Let’s also not forget that the ICC has been repositioning the way broadcast rights are being sold in order to make a cricket.tv streaming service, which could foreseeably allow fans to watch any cricket happening in the world.

If that happened - fantastic - have a streaming service to view all games, I would pay for that!
once a cricket game has been broadcast… you will most likely never see it again…

let fans pay for that access to view old games

[Jeffmister]

Interestingly, a Cricinfo interview with James Sutherland (CA’s chief executive) was published today dealing with both of the things raised in the past few posts

Regarding Fox Sports being a broadcast partner:

The question mark now is how much do they want, what do they want and what are they interested in. While we understand they may be interested, it is then a matter of how that fits with everything else. Clearly the observation I’d make right now is that cricket’s blessed to have all of our valuable content on free-to-air television and two partners in Nine and Ten who do it in their own special way and both attract huge audiences and are extremely professional and care a lot about their production of cricket. We’re in a really good position, hopefully the product is still sought after by them and others as well."

As to going OTT:

One option there is where we become a production house and produce it all, BCCI does some of that for international cricket but not the IPL. Tennis do their own production for the Australian Open. We could become the production and then sell the feed to the different broadcasters … That’s one option but you can then take it to the next level where you actually do the production and then you sell the option over the top direct to customer. Is it foreseeable? The first step is more foreseeable than the second one, the second one depends on how the market plays out.

---

Something else which the article reveals is that a further 14 BBL games will be played next year and the competition will stretch until mid-February so that the finals aren’t overshadowed by international ODI/Twenty20 matches which are held around where they’re currently scheduled at the end of January

[pelican]

(edit: aaand I just realised the comments I was replying to were 19 days old)

I’ve said time and time again over the last five years that free to air exposure is worth more than upfront pay TV money. I think the NRL, especially any team which isn’t the Broncos, is out at a disadvantage by having select games locked out of free coverage routinely. I think it would be much more viable for two commercial networks, like Nine and Ten, attempt to air all matches live on FTA, much like the AFL had with Nine and Ten back in the day.

Look at the A-League, which has been relegated to pay TV and subsequently failed to attract an audience. This isn’t the UK, where the Premier League can still attract massive audiences on Sky and BT. They need to attract an audience in the first place.

I know the Big Bash started out on Fox but it really didn’t get cemented as an early summer juggernaut until Ten Sport. Even so, T20 cricket is dispensible enough that no one will bother buying a Fox Sports package just for T20 either.

There’s also the problem that Foxtel’s marketplace relevance has fallen in the past few years. Streaming has overtaken it. You can bet that any bid on CA would mean further cutbacks against the already measly entertainment options. We already saw this with Foxtel trying to afford the AFL and NRL deals. Another top-tier sport is possible but Foxtel’s entertainment channels are a nightmare so they risk alienating non-sports subscribers even further (at which point you’d have to ask why they would bother with entertainment at all - merge Fox Sports and Foxtel and just turn Foxtel into a purely sport dedicated service).

CA shouldn’t bother tbh.

[stmookeyj027]

@Jeffmister

Something else which the article reveals is that a further 14 BBL games will be played next year and the competition will stretch until mid-February so that the finals aren’t overshadowed by international ODI/Twenty20 matches which are held around where they’re currently scheduled at the end of January

Although next year there will likely be 10 days in January where they wouldn’t be able to play owing to D/N test matches vs Sri Lanka (one is just about confirmed in Brisbane, the other seemingly likely in Canberra).

As for the possibility of a dedicated Fox Cricket channel, the way it will work is if the Australian O/S matches are all on it and they somehow find a way to get IPL rights (which are out of reach of most media outlets in Australia). With the new calendar and leagues about to take effect the period between March-May is a dedicated IPL window and without it there wouldn’t be content to show from anywhere.

[bacco007]

Fox need cricket more than CA need Fox - unless CA wants greater coverage of their ‘fringe’ competitions that they currently webcast then Fox is probably a likely location but CA are going to have to throw something in with a bit of meat to make it worthwhile.

[Frankie]

I’d be more interested to know what’s behind Optus Sport’s cricket channel and their future plans in taking on Fox Sports.

[sammy123]

@Frankie

Optus Sport’s cricket channel

Also note that it is only available during summer.

[JohnsonTV]

HSBC Sydney Rugby Sevens

Every game across both competitions exclusively live on FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel
Cam Clark and Nicole Beck make FOX SPORTS commentary debuts
LIVE coverage of classic Wallabies v Classic Fiji featuring Drew Mitchell and Radike Samo
Fans taken closer to the action with certain players mic’d up on the field

The fast and furious HSBC Sevens World Series returns to Sydney over the Australia Day long weekend, and FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel, will be the only place to watch the action unfold LIVE.

Coverage begins from 9.30am EDT on Friday (January 26), and continues across the weekend, with every game from both the men’s and women’s competitions LIVE, with no ad-breaks during play and in HD on FOX SPORTS 506.

And with Foxtel’s new streaming service, Foxtel Now, fans can be signed up and streaming all the action LIVE within minutes. To try two weeks for free, go to www.getfoxsports.com.au.

Former Rio Olympian and Waratahs’ winger Cam Clark and the Olympic gold-medal winning Nicole Beck will make their FOX SPORTS commentary debuts, offering their expert insight and analysis on the pre and post-game panel with Nick McArdle and Rod Kafer.

Greg Clark, Sean Maloney, Scott Stevenson, Karl Te Nana and Willie Lose will team up to call the men’s action, with Louise Ransome delivering updates from the sideline.

The women’s commentary box will feature Tiana Penitani, Sue Day, Hugh Cahill and Ken Laban, with Natalie Yoannidis capturing all the reaction from the players on the field.

In addition to LIVE coverage of every game across the weekend, rugby fans will also witness a collection of former rugby stars in action, including Drew Mitchell, Adam Freier and Radike Samo, for a Classic Wallabies v Classic Fiji clash, kicking off at 6.20pm on Sunday.

The FOX SPORTS player mic will also return, with players from an unprecedented seven teams, including the Aussie men’s and women’s teams, wearing a microphone in various games throughout the weekend.

The footage will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS across the three day competition, offering fans a unique perspective of the on-field action.

FOX SPORTS is exclusively available on Foxtel.

HSBC SYDNEY SEVENS BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
FRI 26 JAN: LIVE from 9.30am on FOX SPORTS 506
SAT 27 JAN: LIVE from 8.30am on FOX SPORTS 506
SUN 28 JAN: LIVE from 9.30am on FOX SPORTS 506

[Frankie]

@sammy123

Also note that it is only available during summer

Yes, but it signals some interest but TBH I’d have thought they might have secured an overseas tour or two by now.

[JohnsonTV]

Brisbane Global Rugby Tens return live and only on Fox Sports

Expanded competition with four-team women’s tournament
Every men’s and women’s game LIVE, EXCLUSIVE and with no ad-breaks during play on FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel
Friday 9 – Saturday 10 February, 2018

Rugby’s best local and international stars descend on Suncorp Stadium today (Friday 9 February) for the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens, and FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel, will be the only place to watch the action unfold.

The two day rugby extravaganza will feature all nine Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, along with the Fijian national team, Top 14 heavyweights Pau, and Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights.

Plus, Rugby fans will be able to watch Australia’s best female players LIVE in action with all four Super W teams squaring off in the women’s competition.

FOX SPORTS will show all the explosive rugby action LIVE, with no ad-breaks during play and in HD, including every game from both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

A number of big names will feature throughout the competition, including current champions Will Genia, Rory Arnold and Julian Savea, along with Rugby legends Conrad Smith and FOX SPORTS’ Drew Mitchell, who will lace on the boots as a wildcard for the Waratahs.

FOX SPORTS’ expert commentary team will be on hand to guide viewers through the action, which kicks off at 2.30pm EDT today and continues from 1.30pm EDT on Saturday.

Nick McArdle and Rod Kafer will host FOX SPORTS’ coverage, offering their expert insight and analysis across the two day tournament.

Tim Horan, Greg Martin, Stephen Hoiles and Kafer step into the commentary box alongside Greg Clark, Sean Maloney and Andrew Swain, with Louise Ransome stationed on the sideline.

And with Foxtel’s new streaming service, Foxtel Now, fans can be signed up and streaming all the action LIVE within minutes. To try two weeks for free, head to www.getfoxsports.com.au.

In addition, Australia’s number one multi-sports website, foxsports.com.au, will provide the best analysis, opinion and video highlights.

FOX SPORTS is EXCLUSIVELY available on Foxtel.

FOX SPORTS’ BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Brisbane Global Rugby Tens
Friday 9 February: LIVE from 2.30pm EDT on FOX SPORTS 505
Saturday 10 February: LIVE from 1.30pm EDT on FOX SPORTS 505

The full tournament schedule can be found here (Brisbane times)