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Fox Soccer

From Alfawiki
Fox Soccer
Company typeCable television network
IndustrySports broadcasting
PredecessorFox Sports World
Founded1997
Defunct2013-09-02
FateDiscontinued; programming rights moved to Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2
SuccessorFXX (entertainment channel)
Headquarters
United States
Area served
United States
Owner21st Century Fox

Fox Soccer—initially known as Fox Sports World and later as Fox Soccer Channel—was a specialized American television network dedicated to soccer, owned by 21st Century Fox. Operating from 1997 until 2013, the channel originally featured rugby and Australian rules football but eventually narrowed its focus exclusively to soccer.

After Fox consolidated its cable sports broadcasting rights onto the broader networks Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, and following the loss of U.S. Premier League rights to NBC, Fox Soccer discontinued its service on September 2, 2013. It was succeeded by FXX, an entertainment channel affiliated with FX. The majority of the remaining sports programming migrated to Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, both launched in August 2013. Meanwhile, the spin-off channel Fox Soccer Plus, which debuted in 2010, remains operational.

History

The channel debuted on November 1, 1997, under the name Fox Sports World. It underwent rebranding to Fox Soccer on February 7, 2005, and subsequently dropped "Channel" from its title in August 2011. Fox Soccer offered U.S. soccer league content primarily through collaborations with external production companies.

Much of the programming outside the CONCACAF region consisted of international broadcast feeds for which Fox Soccer held U.S. rights. For instance, A-League matches were produced by Fox Sports (Australia), while English soccer coverage was sourced directly from IMG Sports Media, Input Media, and The Media Company—the producers responsible for Premier League, FA Cup, and England national team broadcasts.

In addition to live games, Fox Soccer aired reruns of Dream Team, a British drama centered on a fictional Premiership club, alongside a live soccer talk program called Fox Football Fone-in, which featured viewer calls and Premier League forecasts. The network also created studio shows aligned with its live match coverage during the Premier League season.

By 2006, Fox Soccer had discontinued coverage of non-soccer sports such as Super Rugby, the Australian Football League, and Australia's National Rugby League. After Setanta Sports USA ceased operations in 2010—where Super 14 matches had been broadcast—News Corporation acquired many of Setanta’s rights and launched Fox Soccer Plus as a supplementary channel.

Initially, Fox Sports World showcased a broad range of programming including motorsports, cricket, pool, darts, and various extreme sports. It also televised the Euroleague Final Four basketball tournament, now primarily covered by NBA TV. Coverage of cricket, pool, and darts eventually transitioned to specialized channels such as Willow and ONE World Sports.

Until mid-2012, paid programming filled morning hours outside of game broadcasts and some afternoon time slots; later these were replaced with continuous loops of Fox Soccer News and Sky Sports News.

In January 2010, Fox Soccer introduced a high-definition simulcast in 720p. Jimmy Hodson was recognized as the network’s distinctive promo voice.

Programming

The channel’s content centered on international soccer. In its final year of operation, all broadcasting rights were transferred to Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.

United Kingdom

  • Premier League (1998–2013): Weekly live and delayed broadcasts, alongside magazine programs such as Premier League World, preview shows including Premier League Preview Show and Matchday, and recap series like Premier League Review and Goals on Sunday. Matches were shown on Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes, and Fox Soccer Plus, with up to three games per season available live without subscription on Fox. Additionally, up to 74 matches each season were sublicensed to ESPN, Inc. The contract concluded in May 2013, after which broadcasting rights transferred to NBC Sports/NBCSN.
  • FA Community Shield coverage was live through August 2017; subsequent editions moved to Fox Sports 1 or 2.
  • FA Cup broadcasts continued until May 2013, with some fixtures aired on Fox Soccer Plus.
  • England under-21: Selected home games aired through May 2013; other matches available on Fox Soccer Plus.
  • England national football team: Selected home friendlies were televised through May 2013, and FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifiers through October 2013 (later shifting to Fox Sports 1 or 2); additional home fixtures were shown on Fox Soccer Plus.

Australia

Japan

  • J. League featured a weekly highlights program titled Gambare!.

United States

Other events

Sky Sports News

Fox Soccer obtained programming from its corporate partner Sky Sports News based in the United Kingdom. Beginning in 2007, Fox Soccer broadcast this feed live at 2 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. Eastern Time; the 7 p.m. edition was shifted to Fox Soccer Plus in September 2010. This lineup delivered current soccer updates alongside coverage of international sports including rugby, cricket, and British horse racing.

Between May and August 2010, during the international off-season, the 2 a.m. live simulcast was replaced by a tape-delayed airing of Sky News at Ten from sister channel Sky News, likely because ESPN held highlight rights for the 2010 World Cup and due to Sky Sports News transitioning to high-definition broadcasts. The simulcast of Sky Sports News recommenced in August 2010 with the commencement of the European soccer season.

All simulcasts of Sky Sports News concluded on July 1, 2013, coinciding with Fox Soccer's operational wind-down and the decision not to continue airing the program on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, or Fox Soccer Plus.

Fox Soccer Report and Fox Soccer News

From September 2002 until August 16, 2012, Fox Soccer's premier studio show was Fox Soccer Report (initially called Fox Sports World Report), anchored by Michelle Lissel, Eoin O'Callaghan, Asa Rehman, and analyst Bobby McMahon. Production was managed by Shaw Media-owned Fox Sports World Canada at CKND studios in Winnipeg.

Following the closure of Fox Sports World in April 2012, Fox Soccer collaborated with Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet to develop a successor program. The newly produced Fox Soccer News debuted on August 17, 2012, with hosts Brendan Dunlop, Kara Lang, Ben Ennis, and analyst Thomas Rongen; McMahon remained involved to ensure continuity. This show aired nightly at 10 p.m. Eastern Time with occasional re-broadcasts.

With the introduction of Fox Sports 1, Fox Soccer News was discontinued on August 19, 2013, and replaced by an internally produced soccer news show titled Fox Soccer Daily. Meanwhile, Sportsnet continued airing the previous format under the name Soccer Central. However, by the end of that year, Fox Soccer Daily was canceled and supplanted by NFL and NASCAR content as well as later a simulcast of Mike Francesa's radio program.

Former programming

Relaunch as FXX

After losing the U.S. broadcasting rights for the Premier League (which went to NBC), Serie A, Ligue 1, and the EFL Championship (acquired by beIN Sports), Fox Soccer ceased operations on September 2, 2013, and was succeeded by FXX, a companion entertainment channel to FX. The remaining sports content was transferred to Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, both of which debuted on August 17, 2013. FXX primarily dedicates its programming to comedy series, alongside selected films and dramas.

The final program on Fox Soccer was a complete airing of Being: Liverpool, concluding at midnight Eastern Time on September 2. This seamlessly led into FXX’s inaugural broadcast featuring the pilot episode of Parks and Recreation. The official handover was marked by a symbolic video clip showing FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi being interrupted by a character from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, representing the launch of FXX.

The network's last live international broadcast was a UEFA Champions League match between Celtic F.C. and FC Shakhter Karagandy on August 28. The very last live event aired on August 31 was the National Women's Soccer League championship game between Portland Thorns FC and Western New York Flash.

See also

External links

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