FOX Sports Media Group Reaches Long-Term Rights Agreement with NFL
Nine-Year Deal Keeps Prestigious NFC Package on FOX Sports Through 2022 Season
Network to Broadcast Super Bowls LI (51), LIV (54) & LVII (57)
New York & Los Angeles, December 14, 2011 - FOX Sports has served as America's No. 1 NFL network since 1994, anchored by one of the top properties in the history of television, the prestigious Sunday afternoon NFC rights package. The network looks to continue that amazing streak through the 2022 season after agreeing to a new nine-year multi-platform media rights agreement with the National Football League beginning in 2014. The announcement was made today by David Hill, Chairman, FOX Sports Media Group. The rights agreement between FOX and the NFL currently in-force runs through the 2013 season.
In addition to remaining the network home of the NFC regular-season package, the new agreement also awards FOX Sports with postseason rights to NFC Wild Card games, Divisional Playoff games, the NFC Championship Game and three Super Bowls (LI, LIV & LVII). The agreement also includes fully authenticated "TV everywhere" rights, which enables FOX Sports to offer games it broadcasts and other NFL on FOX related content on FOXSports.com, tablets and other digital platforms, excluding mobile phones.
"The National Football League is the greatest television property in the world and we are thrilled that it remains the cornerstone of FOX Sports and the FOX Network well into the next decade," said Hill. "Everyone at FOX Sports looks forward to presenting the NFL, television's ultimate reality programming, providing our viewers with the finest pregame, game and postgame coverage possible for many years to come."
Flexible scheduling, which the NFL initiated to ensure quality matchups in all Sunday time slots and as it relates to FOX gives NFC teams a chance to play their way into the late-afternoon 4:15 PM ET window, expands in 2014. Included in the changes is a limited ability for the NFL to move games between FOX and CBS that would bring regional games to wider audiences. Further details on enhanced flexible scheduling are still in development.
This marks the fourth media rights deal between FOX Sports and the NFL dating back to the landmark agreement struck in December 1993 that essentially solidified FOX as a major broadcast network.
The NFL on FOX has set viewership records in each of the last two seasons, and is currently on pace for a third straight. AMERICA'S GAME OF THE WEEK, the 4:15 PM ET window on FOX's doubleheader Sundays, is television's No. 1 show in any day-part, in households and across every major male and adult demographic. The strength of FOX's NFC package has enabled the FOX NFL SUNDAY pregame show to rank as America's No. 1 pregame show for 18 straight seasons and THE OT postgame show often ranks among prime time's top-20 programs.
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About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the flagship network of the FOX Sports Media Group. As America's top-rated network for sports for 14 straight years (1997-2010), FOX Sports boasts rights agreements with each of the nation's highest-rated sports. FOX Sports is the exclusive national over-the-air television rights holder for Major League Baseball, including the All-Star Game, alternating League Championship Series and World Series (2007-2013); the National Football League's NFC package, including the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowls XLVIII, LI, LIV, LVII (through 2022 season); NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from February through May, including the Daytona 500 (2007-2014); Ultimate Fighting Championship (through 2018); the Big Ten Football Championship Games (2011-16); a minimum of eight regular- season Pac-12 football games (2012-22); the Pac-12 Football Championship Game (even years from 2012-22); the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and the UEFA Champions League Final. Since its inception in 1994, FOX Sports has earned 85 Emmy Awards for production excellence. David Hill, Eric Shanks and Doug Sellars are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports. For the latest sports news, opinion and video, log on to www.FOXSports.com.
About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation's wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox's 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching almost 39 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox's interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Skybox restaurants. In Oct., FSMG acquired the exclusive U.S. media rights to FIFA World Cup football across all platforms (including radio) from 2015 to 2022, which includes the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and other FIFA events.
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