Singapore – FOX International Channels (FIC) announced on July 4 that it will implement a wide-scale upgrade to its FOX Sports Asia network, effective August 15. The change will see the network rebrand its portfolio of channels which currently include FOX Sports, FOX Sports Plus HD, STAR Sports to FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports 3, all of which will be available in both SD and HD. This change will take effect in all countries across Asia where FOX Sports network channels are available, with the exception of China and South Korea where the STAR Sports brand will be offered. FOX Sports News and FOX Football Channel HD will remain unchanged and FOX Sports Play and FOX Sports Mobile will continue to be the network’s non-linear play.
Since launching FOX Sports in Asia in January 2013, FIC has been steadily committed to its mission of changing the sports broadcasting landscape in this region and bringing to audiences not only the sports they want to see, but also the best possible viewing experience. The launch of FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports 3 along with the following upgrade plans all underscore this commitment:
3 new channel brands in HD
With this trio of premium sports channels, all available in HD, viewers no longer have to choose when more than one of their favourite sports are on at the same time. In addition, each channel will cater to distinct group of sports fans.
- FOX Sports – The Flagship Channel
Top tier sports, most popular sports locally, and pivotal games, matches and races will all be on this flagship channel, such as the Barclays Premier League (BPL), La Liga, UFC, Tennis Grand Slam semis & finals and F1 main races.*
- FOX Sports 2 – Hit & Run
Go-to sports channel for athletics and ball & racquet sports, such as Tennis Grand Slams, Golf Majors, European and Asian football leagues, Major League Baseball (MLB), Indian Badminton League (IBL) and International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) events.*
- FOX Sports 3 – Feel the Rush
Top destination for adrenaline fuelled motorsports, combat and extreme sports such as F1, MotoGP, One FC and Extreme Games Asia.
More sports content that viewers want*
With all four golf majors, three of the four tennis grand slams, a stellar football offering with the Barclays Premier League, La Liga, Eredivisie, AFC Champions league, AFC Cup, Suzuki Cup and Asia Cup and all the top motorsports such as F1, MotoGP, Superbikes and Nascar, FOX Sports is the undisputed top destination for sports fans. Understanding that tastes differ across the region however, FOX Sports is also committed to catering to local preferences by bringing locally relevant and popular sports to specific countries, such as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in Indonesia and Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) games in the Philippines. In addition, FOX Sports will be adding a yoga and fitness content block.
More languages
To make sports viewing more accessible to fans all across Asia and deliver a premium viewing experience in a more personal and localised manner, FOX Sports has invested in multi-language commentary across all its key broadcasts. Available languages include English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia and Thai.
More investment in presentation
When most sports channels are rebroadcasting the generic international feed provided by the rights holder, FOX Sports will be on site at all major sporting events to report directly from the heart of the action. The network is investing in producing pre-and-post shows on-the-ground with the aim of presenting fans across Asia with a more customised viewing experience. In addition, FOX Sports re-launches on August 15 with a brand new state-of-the-art 1500 square feet studio in Singapore, with a video wall and 95 inch touch screen along with a new 1100 square feet virtual studio.
Commenting on why FIC is implementing these sweeping changes to the FOX Sports Asia network Joon Lee, EVP of Content & Communications for APAC and Middle East said, “Since we’ve taken over ESPN STAR Sports in 2012 and re-launched it as FOX Sports, our vision has always been to shake things up and change the sports broadcasting paradigm is this region. Sports viewing is surprisingly relatively low across Asia but those who do watch are passionate sports fans. Our aim is to service those die-hard fans but also open up sports viewing to new audiences in a big way. Watching sports in Asia should be a family affair, it should speak to women as much as it does traditionally to men, we should be inspiring kids to play sports and be active. We can only start to change the way these audiences think about sports viewing by doing things differently like making sports more accessible through offering the content in as many local languages as possible, and making it more relevant by bringing to screens in each country across Asia sports that are locally popular.”
He adds, “In less than 2 years since we brought the FOX Sports brand to Asia we have made strides in improving the product through better content, availability on multi-screens etc. Now, we’re ready to take the brand to the next level and really invigorate the excitement, entertainment and just pure enjoyment of watching sports amongst traditional and new viewers in Asia.”
*Availability differs across countries.
