Fox Sports and Fox Interactive are joining forces to
create Fox Sports Interactive (FSI), to create and market a
multi-platform line of interactive sports games. FSI will
launch a line of products in '98, including Fox Sports
Hockey, Fox Sports Golf, Fox Sports Tennis and Fox Sports
Soccer. The games will be available for multiple formats
including Sony PlayStation and PC CD-ROM, and will be
supported by a number of major partners and endorsements,
including the NHL and NHLPA for the Fox Sports Hockey,
available at the start of the '98 season (Fox Sports). FSI
President Jon Richmond said the new venture "can be a
significant competitor to EA and Sony." In N.Y., Scott
Hettrick reported that FSI "hopes to introduce a baseball
game in time for the" '99 season. However, "one hang-up" on
a potential FSI football game is that Fox's John Madden has
his own football video for EA Sports, which has been "one of
the best-selling titles ever." Richmond said that while the
NHL's endorsement is non-exclusive, FSI "will enjoy a
tighter relationship with the league in marketing and
promoting its games than other publishers with the licensed
NHL name" (Scott Hettrick, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/16).
