T-Minus 100 Days & Counting to Launch Of
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T-MINUS 100 DAYS & COUNTING TO LAUNCH OF FOX SPORTS 1 Day 1 Schedule Set; Key Talent Hires Made; New Programs Developing New York – Today marks the start of the 100-day countdown to the historic launch of FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports’ new national multi-sport network, and much has been accomplished since its official unveiling just over two months ago. The channel’s launch schedule is set, key talent and production hires have been made, and programs have been developed. The Day 1 schedule and initial programming highlights are presented here, while the latest information on talent and programming developments are being announced in separate releases bundled and issued today to mark the milestone. “We’ve been working for months now, but a lot has come together in the time since we officially unveiled our plans for the launch of FOX Sports 1 in March,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports’ Co- President and COO. “The programming schedule has been solidified, and we really come out of the gate incredibly strong from Day 1.” “Obviously, we knew from the start that finding highly skilled and talented senior production executives and talent to fill key roles would be essential to our success,” added FOX Sports Co- President and COO Randy Freer. “It’s fun to see the team take shape, and there’s an incredible energy and enthusiasm present that people share when they’re working on something they’re passionate about.” FS1 officially launches at 8:00 AM ET on Saturday, Aug. 17 and includes 18 hours of original programming on Day 1, 16.5 hours of which are live, kicking off with NASCAR LIVE from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. Seven hours of NASCAR programming follows, highlighted by live flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES race from MIS (12:30-2:30 PM ET). UFC takes center stage beginning at 5:00 PM with UFC TONIGHT, followed by UFC ON FS1 SATURDAY PRELIMS (6:00-8:00 PM ET) before the main event in prime time, UFC ON FS1 SATURDAY, live from TD Bank Garden in Boston (8:00-11:00 PM ET). FS1’s Day 1 wraps with the maiden telecast of FOX SPORTS LIVE, the network’s flagship news, opinion and highlights program. FS1’s Day 1 schedule is as follows (all times ET; L denotes Live): Time Event/Program 8:00-8:30 AM NASCAR LIVE (L) 8:30-9:30 AM NASCAR SPRINT CUP PRACTICE (L) 9:30-11:00 AM NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES QUALIFYING (L) 11:00 AM-12:00 PM NASCAR SPRINT CUP FINAL PRACTICE (L) 12:00-12:30 PM NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK RACE PRE RACE (L) 12:30-2:30 PM NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RACE (L) - more - FS1 DAY 1 LAUNCH SCHEDULE – PAGE 2 Time Event/Program 2:30-3:30 PM TRACKSIDE LIVE (L) 3:30-4:00 PM UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER 4:00-5:00 PM UFC UNLEASHED 5:00-6:00 PM UFC TONIGHT (L) 6:00-8:00 PM FOX UFC SATURDAY PRELIMS (L) 8:00-11:00 PM FOX UFC SATURDAY (L) 11:00 PM-12:00 AM FOX SPORTS LIVE (L) 12:00 AM-1:00 AM FOX SPORTS LIVE (L) 1:00-2:00 AM FOX SPORTS LIVE (L) Once past the launch, the stage is set for several major premieres on Monday, Aug. 19, including CROWD GOES WILD (formerly Rush Hour), starring Regis Philbin (weekdays 5:00- 6:00 PM); FOX FOOTBALL DAILY, hosted by Curt Menefee and Jay Glazer (weekdays, 6:00- 7:00 PM); and FS1’s MONDAY NIGHT FIGHTS franchise (9:00-11:00 PM), with bouts from Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. FS1’s exclusive live coverage of the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League season begins on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21 (2:00-5:00 PM ET), providing the preeminent competition in world club soccer greater with early round exposure than ever before. Later on Aug. 21, live coverage of the NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES race from Bristol Motor Speedway is on display in prime time (7:30-10:30 PM). The prime time schedule on Thursday, Aug. 22 features exclusive live action from CONCACAF Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in North American soccer (8:00-9:30 PM). Next up is the first UFC-branded Wednesday night on Aug. 28 featuring a FOX UFC WEDNESDAY LIVE event and prelims scheduled from 8:00-11:00 PM ET. The 2013-14 college football season premieres on Thursday, Aug. 29 (8:00-11:30 PM), followed by a game on Friday, Aug. 30 (8:30 PM ET-12:30 AM ET) and a tripleheader on Saturday, Aug. 31 (12:00-4:00 PM; 4:00-8:00 PM; and 10:00 PM-2:00 AM). Game action on Aug. 31 is preceded by the weekly two-hour FOX COLLEGE SATURDAY pregame show (10:00 AM-12:00 PM). Between the late afternoon and late night games are two hours of hard-hitting UFC 164 Prelims (8:00-10:00 PM). FS1’s third live UFC event comes Wednesday, Sept. 4, with an action-packed two hours preceding the season premiere of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER (10:00-11:00 PM ET). As previously announced, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, UFC’s signature reality series, moves to its new Wednesday 10:00 PM home that night, where it anchors the network’s Wednesday prime time UFC block. The coming season features UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Cat Zingano as coaches. -- FSMG -- About FOX Sports Media Group FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FOX Sports 1; Fox’s 22 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FUEL TV; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FSMG also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com, FOXSportsNext.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Skybox restaurants. .