Anthem Media Group CEO Leonard Asper said that he "received a license in Canada to start a fantasy-sports broadcast network," and will "be starting FNTSY Sports Networks in both Canada and the United States next March," according to Kent Gibbons of MULTICHANNEL NEWS. Asper is "pursuing carriage deals with U.S. multichannel distributors and Anthem has already acquired a pair of Web sites, RotoExperts.com and SportsGrid.com, to tie in with the channel and provide content." He said that "video-on-demand and streamed video programs are key components of the FNTSY plans." Asper said, "We don’t need a big carriage deal to launch." Asper "envisions studio and on-location shows related to major sporting events." He added that the net will be "a combination of CNBC and CNN for fantasy sports, with some reporting, 'a lot of predictions' and on-air personalities." Pro Football HOFer Chris Doleman is "on board for on-air and development roles." FNTSY Sports Networks could face "potential competition" from another fantasy-sports net "with launch plans." Former Paxson Communications President of Cable Distribution Steve Friedman and former Paxson President & CEO Jeff Sagansky are backing Fantasy Sports Zone TV, which "also would target 35 million fantasy-sports players, with 3,000 hours of original programming" (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 12/2 issue).
