2018 fifa world cup spearheads fox sports’...

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP SPEARHEADS FOX SPORTS’ PACKED PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

NFC Championship, Daytona 500, BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Championship,

MLB All-Star Game & U.S. Open Highlight Network’s Sports Calendar After delivering sports fans several historic milestones, FOX Sports readies itself for another impressive season of premier sporting events and original studio programming. This summer marks the 5th anniversary for FS1 and FS2, and 24th for FOX Sports on the FOX broadcast network. All of which continue to present the highest standard of television production quality, characterized by groundbreaking technology alongside Emmy Award-winning on-air personalities. FOX Sports’ unrivaled soccer portfolio continues to offer fans some of the year’s most exciting matches, highlighted by this summer’s 2018 FIFA World Cup, featuring 32 teams and global icons including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. FOX Sports offers unprecedented coverage for the tournament including daytime and late-night studio coverage originating from a state-of-the art facility in Moscow’s iconic Red Square, with studio hosts Kate Abdo, Rob Stone and Fernando Fiore. Viewers will also experience the latest technological advances such as Virtual Reality and daily digital content featuring original series on FOX Sports GO. Through our partnership with National Geographic, FOX Sports presents an in-depth look at Russia, its people and rich culture, curated by its globally recognized photographers, videographers and journalists. Additional soccer coverage includes Major League Soccer, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Bundesliga. FOX Sports delivers a strong finish to its 2017-18 NFL season, as teams jockey for position on the final day of the regular season on Sunday, Dec. 31. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the network presents a full slate of postseason action starting with the NFC Wild Card round and continuing with the NFC Divisional matchups and NFC Championship Game, showcasing the league’s best teams as they fight for a berth in the big game. The FOX broadcast network and FS1 deliver NASCAR fans the most comprehensive primary and shoulder programming in the industry, beginning with the season-opening Daytona Speedweeks, which culminate with the 60th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18, live on FOX. Marked by the network’s 18th consecutive season broadcasting the MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES and its 15th Daytona 500, FOX NASCAR’s presentation of Daytona Speedweeks features approximately 100 hours of multi-platform programming, including THE CLASH AT DAYTONA, CAM-AM DUEL AT DAYTONA, and NASCAR XFINITY SERIES and NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES season openers. Each race on FOX and FS1 is preceded by a dedicated pre-race program highlighted by live driver interviews, features and up-to-the-minute reports from pit road, followed by complete post-race coverage. FS1 also carries live practice and qualifying sessions for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series during FOX’s portion of the season alongside NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice and qualifying sessions, in addition to support programming, historical documentaries and specials. The leader in motor sports coverage, FOX Sports also is the exclusive home to the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Monster Energy Supercross and several other major racing leagues. FOX Sports carries the full BIG EAST men’s basketball schedule, plus top games from the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, plus select BIG EAST and Big 12 women’s contests throughout the

year. This March, FOX Sports once again televises the entire BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament from Madison Square Garden, including the championship game on the FOX broadcast network. FS1 also carries three Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament Games, including the championship. Big 12 and BIG EAST women’s tournament games can also be seen on the FOX Sports family of networks this March. FOX Sports offers the most comprehensive coverage of Major League Baseball. The network slides head-first into the opening half of the season and MLB’s All-Star Game. Following the Mid-Summer Classic, FOX returns to showcase the top teams vying for the chance to play in October with the FOX SATURDAY GAME OF THE WEEK. FOX continues its exhilarating postseason televising the National League Division Series before the network’s exclusive coverage of the National League Championship Series. FOX wraps up the season with the exclusive presentation of the 114th World Series. In 2018, the FOX broadcast network and FS1 remain the exclusive television home to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, presenting the biggest and best cards in mixed martial arts. FOX Sports’ live UFC coverage and signature studio programming is highlighted by a number of hotly anticipated fight cards taking place in just the first few months of the year. All told, FS1 will telecast about 20 UFC Fight Nights and 13 Pay-Per-View Prelims, while the FOX broadcast network will broadcast 4 more UFC Fight Nights. FOX Sports enters its fourth year as the principal domestic media partner of the United States Golf Association, airing golf’s greatest championships throughout the summer. The season tees off in May with the U.S. Women’s Open Championship, followed by the network’s first presentation of the Curtis Cup. In June, the FOX broadcast network and FS1 televise the 118th U.S. Open Championship from the Hamptons’ historic Shinnecock Hills, with golf action continuing throughout the season with the U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and more. In its second year televising the prestigious event, FOX Sports continues to be a pillar of canine programming with the highly-anticipated Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show airs in prime time live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden. FOX Sports offers expanded coverage of Westminster Week with nearly 30 combined hours on FOX, FS1, FOX Sports GO and Nat Geo WILD, including the Masters Agility Championship on the FOX broadcast network for the first time ever. The 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show airs live on FS1 Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 12-13 from Madison Square Garden. Co-founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz, the BIG3, a 3-on-3 league for retired NBA players will be televised live on Friday nights, with six windows on FS1 and four windows on the FOX broadcast network. Each week, the BIG3 will play four games back-to-back on Friday evenings, three of which will be broadcast live by FOX Sports and streamed concurrently on FOX Sports GO. For the 2018 season, BIG3 has announced expanded rosters and that each team will add an additional co-captain. FS1 offers an impressive lineup of studio shows for avid sports fans, featuring some of the most outspoken and iconic personalities in the sports world today. Weekday mornings kick off with FIRST THINGS FIRST WITH CRIS CARTER AND NICK WRIGHT, featuring Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter, celebrated sports media personality Nick Wright and longtime broadcaster Jenna Wolfe. Next up is SKIP AND SHANNON: UNDISPUTED, featuring award-winning journalist Skip Bayless, NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and host Joy Taylor, debating the hottest and most controversial topics in sports. THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD provides three hours of thought-provoking sports talk, featuring varied segments and debates with passionate callers

and guests. Cowherd fans can also catch him on SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, alongside journalist Jason Whitlock and a rotating panel of guests. The discussion and opinion-based studio program covers all the headlines across the world of sports. NASCAR RACE HUB airs Monday through Thursdays, covering the biggest stories in the racing world, in addition to UFC TONIGHT, which runs weekly news and information covering the UFC. Additionally, FOX Sports GO provides live streaming of a wide variety of FOX Sports content so fans can take the games with them wherever they go. Subscribers of participating video providers can enjoy access to live games and events in FOX Sports GO year-round and on desktops through FOXSportsGO.com. Further information on all of FOX Sports properties and shows can be found at www.FOXSports.com/presspass

THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD

FACT SHEET

ON AIR: Weekdays, 12:00 PM ET

ORGINATION: Los Angeles, CA

CONCEPT: This daily show is a thought-provoking, opinionated,

and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories

of the day. Cowherd’s unique take on the sports world

and unprecedented storytelling ability entertains

audiences around the country while making them think,

laugh, and immediately react.

PREMIERE: Tuesday, September 8, 2016

CAST: Colin Cowherd, Kristine Leahy

PRODUCED BY: FOX Sports

COORDINATING PRODUCER: Azzie Mackenzie

PRESS CONTACTS: Anne Pennington 212-556-2588

[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --

mailto:[email protected]

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF

FACT SHEET



CONCEPT: This discussion and opinion-based studio program

covers all the headlines from across the world of sports

through the lens of the always-outspoken Colin

Cowherd and Jason Whitlock.

PREMIERE: Monday, June 13, 2016

CAST: Colin Cowherd, Jason Whitlock, and Jason McIntyre


COORDINATING PRODUCER: Kyle Libby

PRESS CONTACTS: John Stouffer 310-369-2606

[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


UFC TONIGHT

FACT SHEET

ON AIR: Wednesdays, 8:00 PM ET


CONCEPT: UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and

information show of the Ultimate Fighting

Championship. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title

contender Kenny Florian and current UFC light

heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier host the show

weekly on FS1. The two are joined by veteran combat

sports journalist Karyn Bryant.

PREMIERE: Tuesday, January 3, 2012

CAST: Kenny Florian, Daniel Cormier and Karyn Bryant


VP, PRODUCTION: Steve Becker

COORDINATING PRODUCER: Sonnie Sallberg

SENIOR PRODUCER: Donovan Tar

PRESS CONTACTS: John Stouffer 310-369-2606

[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


MLB WHIPAROUND

FACT SHEET



CONCEPT: This nightly program expands FS1’s commitment to

baseball coverage with quick-turnaround highlights of

in-progress games, MLB news and analysis.

PREMIERE: Monday, March 31, 2014

CAST: Kevin Burkhardt, Chris Myers, Mike Hill, Alex

Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, A.J. Pierzynski, Nick

Swisher, Dontrelle Willis, Eric Karros, Mark Sweeney,

Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal


EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: John Entz

PRODUCERS: Bardia Shah-Rais, Kent Camera, Jonathan Kaplan,

Royce Dickerson and Scott Riddell

PRESS CONTACTS: Eddie.Motl 212-556-2486

[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


NASCAR RACE HUB

FACT SHEET

ON AIR: Monday-Thursday, Live 6:00 PM ET ORIGINATION: Charlotte, NC CONCEPT: NASCAR RACE HUB, FOX Sports’ flagship

NASCAR news and information show and NASCAR’s most-watched daily program, takes viewers closer to the inner workings of NASCAR than ever before. With the FOX Sports studio just minutes from most NASCAR race shops, this program offers casual interviews and features with the sport’s hottest drivers, owners and teams at and away from the race track.

PREMIERE: Monday, October 12, 2009 (on SPEED) CAST: Co-hosts Adam Alexander and Shannon Spake;

analysts Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond, Andy Petree, Michael Waltrip and a rotating cast of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers and crew chiefs; reporters Alan Cavanna and Kaitlyn Vincie

PRODUCED BY: NASCAR Productions/FOX Sports COORDINATING PRODUCER: Lindsey Mandia PRESS CONTACTS: Erik Arneson 704-501-5795

[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


SKIP AND SHANNON: UNDISPUTED

FACT SHEET

ON AIR: Weekdays, 9:30 AM ET


CONCEPT: The morning debate-based studio program covers

current hot topics across the sporting spectrum.

Award-winning journalist, TV host and author Skip

Bayless and three-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro

Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe lead FS1's

opinion and debate show moderated by Joy Taylor.


CAST: Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, Joy Taylor


COORDINATING PRODUCER: Chris Healey


[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


FIRST THINGS FIRST WITH CRIS CARTER AND NICK WRIGHT

FACT SHEET

ON AIR: Weekdays, 6:30 AM ET

ORGINATION: New York, NY

CONCEPT: Live from New York each weekday, FIRST THINGS

FIRST brings viewers the first opinion on the day’s

most interesting sports stories. Featuring fresh faces,

spirited dialogue, quality opinions and a dose of

inspiration in the AM, Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris

Carter, celebrated sports media personality Nick

Wright and longtime broadcaster Jenna Wolfe lead

FS1’s first foray into early morning television.


CAST: Cris Carter, Nick Wright, Jenna Wolfe


COORDINATING PRODUCER: Matthew Ketaineck


[email protected]

-- FOX SPORTS --


ERIC SHANKS

PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, FOX SPORTS

Eric Shanks is President, COO and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. Shanks oversees all entities within FOX Sports, including FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports Regional Networks, FOX Deportes and all digital ventures. Shanks was a driving force behind the historic and successful launch of FS1 and FS2, on Aug. 17, 2013. As Executive Producer of all FOX Sports productions, Shanks is responsible for the look, sound, editorial content and superior quality of FOX Sports’ studio and game broadcasts. Named to the position in June 2010 at age 38, he is believed to be the youngest president of a broadcast network sports division ever. Shanks is the third president of FOX Sports since its inception in December 1993, succeeding David Hill and Ed Goren. Initially joining FOX Sports in 1994 as a broadcast associate, Shanks’ appointment is the very definition of the American corporate success story. A multiple Emmy Award-winner and a member of the Sports Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” Hall of Fame, Shanks assumes the day-to-day responsibilities of the FOX Sports broadcast network. He oversees programming, production, field and studio operations, marketing, promotion, communications, business and legal affairs for America’s top-rated network sports. He also directs all aspects of FOX Sports’ television investments and partnerships. In addition, Shanks spearheads the division’s strategy of pursuing major event programming to ensure FOX Sports’ position as a premier network sports broadcaster. Shanks served as executive vice president for entertainment for DIRECTV from 2004-2010, overseeing business activities related to the development of DIRECTV’s original entertainment, advanced products and advertising sales. In addition, he also was responsible for the DIRECTV Sports Networks business unit comprised of regional sports networks in Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh. In that role, Shanks developed innovative content and services that were compelling and distinct. His advances include the launch of DIRECTV on DEMAND; The 101 Network, which among other programs, features the Dan Patrick Show; DIRECTV’s exclusive NASCAR package; the creation of the NFL RedZone feature to DIRECTV’s exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET package and its 3D programming initiative; and created the partnership between DIRECTV and Augusta National for the multiscreen coverage of The Masters. In 2006, Shanks formed DIRECTV’s first in-house advertising sales team. He originally joined DIRECTV in 2004 from FOX as senior vice president of Advanced Services and Content, responsible for business activities related to the development of DIRECTV receivers and advanced services such as digital video recording, interactive television and high-definition television. Prior to joining DIRECTV, Shanks served as a producer at FOX Sports and as vice president of Enhanced Programming for FOX Television Networks. Shanks also served as Executive Producer

of Sky Sports 1 & 2 where he launched Sky TV’s soccer coverage in Italy. His accomplishments there include producing NFL Europe coverage and FSN’s THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD, in addition to launching Sky Sports 1 and 2 for the Sky Italia platform in Italy. Shanks originally joined FOX Sports in 1994, the network's inaugural NFL season. He also served on production crews for FOX Sports’ coverage of the NHL and MLB. Shanks helped develop the FOXTrax “glowing puck” and yellow first-down line that is a staple of today’s televised football coverage. He began his sports television career as a broadcast associate at CBS Sports in 1993. Born Sept. 30, 1971, in Brazil, IN, Shanks lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Brenda, daughter Maisie, and sons, Jack and David.

-- FOX SPORTS --

-- FOX SPORTS --

JOHN ENTZ

PRESIDENT, FOX SPORTS PRODUCTION & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, FOX SPORTS John Entz was elevated to President, Production, FOX Sports in April 2015. He is responsible for all live event production, pre- and postgame coverage, as well as studio and technical operations. The multiple Sports Emmy Award-winning producer also serves as Executive Producer of FOX Sports alongside FOX Sports President Eric Shanks. He is the fifth executive producer in FOX Sports’ history, joining David Hill, Ed Goren, the late Doug Sellars and Shanks. Entz’s responsibilities include all studio and event production for the networks and entities including FOX Sports, FS1, FS2, FOX Sports Regional Networks and FOX Deportes. He also serves in an advisory capacity to the Big Ten Network. Combined, these networks produce more than 3,000 events annually. Entz previously served as Senior Vice President of Production for MLB Network beginning in September 2008, helping to launch the network on Jan. 1, 2009. He was responsible for overseeing the look and presentation of MLB Network’s studio programming and game coverage. In MLB Network’s first year on the air, Entz oversaw 2,300 live hours of programming, including the network’s signature “MLB Tonight” studio show and coverage of breaking news and special events. In March 2010, Entz was honored as one of Sports Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” Entz formerly was a Vice President and Executive Producer at FOX Sports Net, where he produced the MLB ALL-STAR GAME RED CARPET SHOW and BCS PREGAME SPECIAL for FOX Sports, and also worked on FOX Sports’ Super Bowl pregame coverage. He also oversaw daily production of THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD and the show’s Top 50 Countdown specials. Prior to joining FOX in 2005, Entz worked at ESPN as an associate producer and Production Assistant on “SportsCenter,” “Baseball Tonight” and “NFL Primetime,” winning a Sports Emmy Award.

2018 fifa world cup spearheads fox sports’...

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