New Era: Fox Sports 1 To Launch August

Officially Debuts in Over 90 Million Homes

Today, FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) makes television history, officially unveiling plans to launch a new, national, multi-sport network called FOX Sports 1. The announcement  was made by FSMG Co-Presidents and COOs Randy Freer and Eric Shanks. Set to debut on  Saturday, Aug. 17, just as FOX Sports kicks off its 20th anniversary year, FS1 is available in over  90 million homes, making this the biggest sports cable network launch in history, and one of the  largest network launches ever. At the outset, FS1 boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news  and original programming annually.

“Our ‘secret,’ admittedly a very poorly kept one, is now revealed,” said Shanks. “Fans are ready  for an alternative to the establishment, and our goal for FS1 is to provide the best in-game  experience possible, complemented by informative news, entertaining studio shows and  provocative original programming.”

A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX Sports 1’s programming from Day 1,  with college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer and UFC all on tap between launch  and year’s end. In fact, the schedule on Aug. 17 features live events morning, noon and night  including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan and “UFC on FS1 1” in  prime time. In 2014, FSMG’s new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and  postseason games to FS1.

FOX Sports 1 Programming Highlights

• COLLEGE BASKETBALL – Dozens of exclusive prime time games on Monday and Thursday nights, plus Saturday and Sunday coverage of the Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA.

• COLLEGE FOOTBALL – Led by Notre Dame at Stanford, the Big Ten Championship Game and Pac-12 Championship Game (2014) on FOX, dozens of exclusive, live games from the Pac-12, Big 12 and Conference USA on Thursday nights and Saturdays; triple-and quadruple-headers on Saturdays; Saturday pre- and postgame coverage.

• MLB – Beginning in 2014, select League Championship Series and Division Series games; regular-season games over 26 Saturdays; live game-in-progress look-in show.

• NASCAR – Select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as soon as 2015; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; NASCAR Sprint All-Star race; all Speedweeks events  leading up to the Daytona 500 including: Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at  Daytona (2014, 2017-22) and the Budweiser Duel, now in prime time; NASCAR Sprint  Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions; NASCAR RaceDay, providing  pre- and post-race coverage; NASCAR Victory Lane, a weekly wrap-up show; and Race  Hub, a daily mid-day studio show with the latest from drivers, owners and garages.

• SOCCER – Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday afternoon coverage of the world’s most prolific  club soccer competitions, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and CONCACAF Champions League featuring many of the world’s greatest and most  successful clubs; the world’s oldest soccer competition, the FA Cup; CONCACAF Gold  Cup; CONCACAF Qualifiers, FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage in 2015 and 2019; FIFA  Men’s World Cup coverage in 2018 and 2022; delayed matches in prime time; weekly  magazine and highlights shows.

• UFC – Featured on Wednesday nights; live FIGHT NIGHTS through 2014, the first is scheduled for launch night, Saturday, Aug. 17; FOX event preliminary cards; UFC Tonight, the weekly authority for UFC news and information; 14 Saturday pay-per-view preliminary cards; hundreds of hours of library programs and events.

Regis Philbin

In addition to live events and studio programs, FS1 introduces FOX SPORTS LIVE, a 24/7 news  franchise providing around-the-clock coverage through regularly scheduled programs, hourly  updates and an information-rich ticker that provides a network agnostic sports event television  schedule. Thousands of hours of news programming are expected annually from newly minted  sets including a nightly program at 11:00 PM ET or immediately following events. A morning  newscast is expected to launch in January 2014 in conjunction with FSMG’s expansive coverage  of Super Bowl XLVIII.

Complementing FS1’s live events and news coverage at launch are several original programs,  highlighted by RUSH HOUR, hosted by Regis Philbin, airing live weekdays (5:00-6:00 PM ET).  Originating in New York City, Regis leads the charge along with a panel of sports professionals,  celebrity guests and die-hard fans in this brand new, unpredictable, talk show.