Asia – Within a year of its acquisition of the sports business, FOX International Channels (FIC) Asia, 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business and Asia’s leading pay-TV network, has boosted its sports channels FOX Sports and STAR Sports, resulting in higher viewership and returns.
The sports network is integrating with FIC’s existing bouquet of entertainment, factual and lifestyle channels with the acquisition of signature sports events such as the Bundesliga and Formula E, the creation of localised sports hubs, and new programming.
FIC has secured the rights of some of the most exciting and popular events around the globe such as:
Tennis (French Open): The latest multi-year acquisition of the French Open across all major markets in the region cements its position as the ‘Home of Tennis’, making it 3 out of 4 tennis Grand Slams as it already showcases The Championship, Wimbledon and The Australian Open across its networks.
Football (Bundesliga): FOX Sports, through its parent company, 21st Century FOX, recently announced a mega global partnership under which football fans in Asia will be offered the most exciting and quality football from the very popular German league featuring top clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the respective current holders and runners-up of the UEFA Champions League.
Golf (PGA Championship and World Golf Championship): Reinforcing its position as the singular destination for Golf in Asia with all 4 Golf Majors, FOX Sports recently showcased The PGA Championship. Adding to this, FOXSports has recently acquired rights to the various events of the World Golf Championship across multiple markets.
World Championship in Athletics: Looking at the growing interest for athletics in Asia, both in participation and viewership, FOX Sports has secured the rights to showcase the leading biennial event. Covering sports across various disciplines, this event features leading athletes from across the globe.
Formula E (Motor sports): With the acquisition of the rights of this new FIA sanctioned auto racing event, FOX Sports gives motor sports fans one more reason to enjoy the speed rush in addition to its broadcast of F1, MotoGP, NASCAR and SuperBike.
IBL (Badminton): It successfully acquired and recently broadcast the inaugural season of Indian Badminton League featuring top players from the world and the region.
FIC has created two new local sports hubs responsible for creating and distributing localised feeds. Since October 1, 2013, Taiwan has been broadcasting three dedicated sports channels in Mandarin as well as producing a Taiwan version of FOX Sports’ flagship news show FOX Sports Central. In addition, Hong Kong has also started to broadcast sports channels in HD from October 1. 2013.
Additionally, FOX Sports Plus HD can now be accessed through mobile and through the internet.
Joon Lee, Executive Vice President of Content and Communications, Asia Pacific and Middle East at FOX International Channels said, “With the successful acquisition of multiple new rights of top tier sports properties, creation of multiple local sports hubs, and enhanced programming well ahead of plan, our sports business is in a significantly better position than we were at even six months ago. We are very well placed to continue to offer fans and our business partners the most comprehensive sports entertainment offering across the region”.
