Fox Sports & ESPN to split rights to 2016 & 2018 European World Cup Qualifiers

Fox Soccer Channel may be closing down in a few months, or at least converting over to FXX, but that isn't stopping Fox Sports from going after more soccer coverage. The home of the CONCACAF Tournaments and the soon to be home of the World Cup is expanding their soccer stakes. Fox has been granted exclusive rights to broadcast European World Cup Qualifying matches during the years 2016 and 2018. Tey have turned around and sublicensed 50% of the games to ESPN. Below is the press release. 

FOX SPORTS AWARDED MULTI-MEDIA RIGHTS TO EURO 2016 & 2018 WORLD CUP EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS

Inventory Split 50/50 with ESPN in Sublicense Arrangement

New York -- FOX Sports Media Group and UEFA have entered into a multi-media rights 

agreement for all UEFA EURO 2016TM and 2018 FIFA World CupTM European qualifying 

matches, it was announced today by David Nathanson, Executive Vice President, FOX Soccer. 

Simultaneously, FSMG has agreed to sublicense half the game inventory to ESPN for carriage 

on its television and digital assets. The rights are exclusive in the United States, non-exclusive 

in the Caribbean.

“The journey for a country to be represented in two of the most prestigious soccer tournaments 

in the world is some of the most exciting soccer played each year,” Nathanson said. “There 

are no two media properties better fit to showcase these matches than ESPN and FOX Sports 

whom already have the broadcast rights to the UEFA EURO 2016TM and the 2018 FIFA World 

CupTM respectively. The UEFA European Qualifiers adds a new dimension of depth to our 

robust portfolio of soccer broadcast rights.”

Qualifying matches for the UEFA EURO 2016TM begin in September 2014, while 2018 FIFA 

World CupTM qualifiers begin in September 2016. The rights retained by FSMG and those 

granted to ESPN are identical. FOX Sports and ESPN each have rights to over 270 matches 

total for both cycles. Each package includes:

- 129 UEFA EURO 2016TM Qualifiers (Sept. 2014 – Nov. 2015) 

- 129 2018 FIFA World CupTM Qualifiers (Sept. 2016 – Nov. 2017) 

- 15 international friendly matches over the term (2014-2018)

ESPN, the UEFA EURO 2016TM rights holder, plans to offer its more than 270 qualifying 

matches across ESPN networks – ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN and ESPN3. ESPN 

has also attained highlights rights for studio programs including SportsCenter, ESPN’s new daily 

soccer program ESPN FC on TV and the company’s global soccer digital hub ESPN FC. During 

the UEFA EURO 2016TM qualification cycle, ESPN has first selection from each week’s pool of 

games leading into its tournament coverage.

“UEFA has gone to great lengths to organize these critical and competitive matches,” said Scott 

Guglielmino, ESPN senior vice president for programming. “We are delighted to work with 

UEFA and FOX to bring fans in the United States all the qualifying matches in Europe for UEFA 

EURO 2016TM and the 2018 FIFA World CupTM.” 

FSMG is home to the 2018 FIFA World CupTM, the first of two FIFA World Cup tournaments 

FOX Sports gained rights to in 2011. Qualifying matches for the UEFA EURO 2016TM and 2018 

FIFA World CupTM are slated for carriage across several FOX Sports platforms, including FOX 

Sports 1, America’s new sports network premiering Aug. 17; FOX Sports GO, a groundbreaking 

mobile sports experience launching this summer; FOX Soccer Plus; and FOX Soccer 2Go. 

During the World Cup qualification cycle, FOX Sports has first selection from each week’s game 

pool leading up to its coverage of the 2018 FIFA World CupTM

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. Built with brands 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 Sports 1; Fox’s 22 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FUEL TV; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FSMG also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com, FOXSportsNext.com and 

Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint -venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Skybox restaurants.

ESPN and Soccer in the United States:

ESPN is committed to offering comprehensive coverage of the world’s premier soccer events in the United 

States. ESPN is the English-language television home – and other languages, except Spanish – in the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Confederations Cup and other FIFA events through 2014. The media company is also the English- and Spanish-language home of the UEFA European Football Championship through 2016™, and a collection of FIFA World Cup qualifying matches from UEFA nations – Spain, Germany, France and more. ESPN’s multimedia platforms also provide extensive coverage of a myriad of top-tier international leagues and Major League Soccer in the U.S., as well as telecasts of the United States National Team and Mexican National Team matches, international friendlies, and more.

National Women's Soccer League coming to Fox Sports Media Groups this summer

The news was made about a week ago, but since I'm in a part of the country where we don't here much about the NWSL, I just picked up on it today. The National Women's Soccer League and Fox Sports Media Groups have entered into a 1 year deal wherein Fox Soccer Channel will broadcast 9 games- 6 regular season games and all 3 playoff games (2 semifinals and the championship). At least that's how other people are portraying it. Here is the official announcement from the NWSL website.

NWSL, FSMG ANNOUNCE NATIONAL TV AGREEMENT

FSMG will air six regular-season matches and all three playoff matches

CHICAGO (April 18, 2013) - The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) announced today a one-year agreement to televise nine games this year, the NWSL’s inaugural season. As part of the agreement, FSMG will air six regular-season matches and all three playoff matches, which include the two semifinal games on August 24 and 25, and the championship game on August 31.

"We are very pleased to announce this media agreement with FSMG," said NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey. "The opportunity to highlight the race for the playoffs and the three biggest games of the season that will decide the first league champion on national television is important for the growth of the league. Our fans will get the chance to see the high caliber of women’s soccer, and we also hope to create many new fans who will appreciate the amazing athletes and personalities in the league."

Beginning July 8, FOX Soccer will televise one game per week over the final six weeks of the season, leading up to the NWSL Playoffs. The schedule will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

"The agreement with the NWSL showcases our support of women’s soccer and the growing popularity it’s experiencing in the country," said David Nathanson, General Manager of FOX Soccer. "We are excited to be the network home for the sport’s top level players, many of whom will be featured on FOX Sports at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup."

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is an eight-team Division-I women’s professional soccer league featuring players from Canada, Mexico and U.S. The founding clubs are the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC, the Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash. Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the United States Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football.

FOX Soccer, part of the FOX Sports Media Group, offers the most comprehensive multi-media coverage of world-class soccer available in the United States. Encompassing FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus, FOXSoccer.com and FOX Soccer 2Go, the network serves as the primary television, online, and mobile smart phone and tablet destination in the U.S. for elite competitions including England’s Barclays Premier League and FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, the Scottish Premier League, and the Australian Hyundai A-League in addition to such prestigious tournaments as the CONCACAF Champions League and CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as the future home of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Flagship FOX Soccer is Nielsen-rated and available to service providers in High-Definition, reaching over 50 million cable and satellite households nationwide.

FOX Soccer Plus is a premium network providing the core fan with even more international and domestic high-level sports competitions in HD. In addition to live, exclusive soccer matches from the best leagues in the world, FOX Soccer Plus delivers premium rugby from the RaboDirect PRO 12 League, Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup, among other competitions. Additionally, FOX Soccer Plus carries the world’s top rugby league competitions, including Australia’s National Rugby League and State of Origin Series, along with Europe’s Stobart Super League and Carnegie Challenge Cup. FOX Soccer Plus is also home to rugby league’s World Club Challenge and the Australian Football League. Live match coverage is available for fans on-the-go via premium broadband service FOX Soccer 2Go, online and via mobile and tablet applications. For more information - as well as news, features, analysis stats and more - visit one of America’s most-visited online soccer destinations at FOXSoccer.com, and the network’s Facebook page and Twitter feed (@FOXSoccer).

Basically this will be the last big soccer event Fox Soccer holds, though I expect Fox Sports 1 to snag the playoffs. The press release clearly states that Fox Sports Media Groups has agreed to air 9 games and that the 6 regular season games will air on Fox Soccer. If the NWSL decides to reup with Fox sports, it'd only make sense that they want their playoffs on the national sports channel- Fox Sports 1, and not the dying Fox Soccer. I guess we'll all see how it unfolds when they announce the schedule in the upcoming weeks.