Fox Sports World To Go All Soccer, All The Time

Fox’ Super Bowl XXXIX pregame show will include a segment “trumpeting the following day’s conversion of Fox Sports World (FSW) to Fox Soccer Channel (FSC),” according to R. Thomas Umstead of MULTICHANNEL NEWS. The segment will showcase “the service’s new look and logo,” as well as feature Mia Hamm and United F Freddy Adu “talking up the network as ‘America’s Soccer Channel.’” FSW last year premiered several new soccer shows, including an MLS game of the week and the ChampionsWorld Series. FSW also has rights to the English Premier League, United Soccer Leagues, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Toyota Intercontinental Cup and World Cup qualifying matches for England and the U.S. Fox Cable Exec VP/Affiliate Sales & Marketing Lindsay Gardner said that affils “have been notified of the change and will remain on board.” FSW is “primarily carried on digital basic or digital sports tiers” and has a carriage deal with every major MSO. FSC GM David Sternberg said the net will continue to be “active” in the soccer rights marketplace – “including a potential bid for future World Cup rights.” Umstead noted ESPN and ABC hold English-language U.S. rights to the ’06 World Cup (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 1/10 issue).