The LA Times reports that Fox Sports 1 will be seen by subscribers of DirecTV, Dish Network and Time Warner Cable. The Sports Business Journal also added Bright House Networks as a distributor that will carry Fox Sports 1.
Although deals with Bright House Networks, DirecTV, Dish Network and Time Warner Cable have not been signed, its expected that each will carry FS1 to its subscribers. The accords with the distributors means that Fox’s proclamation that the network would be available to 90 million households will hold true on Saturday.
Payout Perspective:
All’s wells that ends well. That sounds familiar. While many believed that an agreement would occur by Saturday, the deals cut close to FS1’s launch which probably gave some Fox execs concern. With the deals seeming in place, FS1 (and FS2) will be available to most satellite/cable subscribers. It will be interesting to see how UFC Fight Night 26 on the network’s inaugural night.
It’s fortunate for the UFC that the deal was done a couple of days out from the event. That gives people the opportunity to find the channel.
So now ratings can be compared directly to that of Bellator on Spike
Bellator better worry about not getting canceled than keeping up with the UFC.