As a sports media expert, I‘m here to give you an all-access look at Fox Sports and exactly how to access FS1 and FS2 on your DirecTV lineup. Beyond just channel numbers, we‘ll dive deep on programming, industry landscapes, channel personalities and more. Whether you‘re a casual viewer flipping through games or a hardcore fan, this intel will help you get the most out of Fox Sports.
Fox Sports Channel Reference
First, here is the basic channel reference to access FS1 and FS2 in your DirecTV guide:
| Network | Channel # |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) | 219 |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) | 618 |
As a quick primer, FS1 serves as the primary Fox Sports outlet, airing major live events from pro and college leagues across sports. FS2 works as an overflow network, picking up FS1 programming that runs long.
Now let‘s dive deeper on what you can expect from these channels.
Fox Sports Background
While Fox Sports as a consolidated brand is less than a decade old, Fox has aired sports since acquiring NFL rights in 1994.
Looking to expand their sports offerings, Fox execs launched two new dedicated sports channels, FS1 and FS2, in 2013 by rebranding existing channels. This marked Fox Sports‘ big entry into directly competing with veteran sports networks like ESPN.
Since then, Fox Sports has steadily acquired rights to air more live events and rolled out new opinion shows. And ratings reflect solid viewer interest – a 2021 MLB League Championship series saw FS1 draw over 4 million viewers.
Beating the Competition
So how does Fox Sports look to stand out against sports media titans like ESPN?
Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch pointed to "fun, opinionated personalities" central to FS1‘s strategy in a 2021 earnings call. He also noted production upgrades, including a new Los Angeles studio launching in 2023.
Analysts see these moves as crucial for FS1 and FS2 to close viewership gaps relative to ESPN‘s networks. Stats from 2020 show just how wide that gap is now:
| Network | Average Viewers |
| ESPN | 1.57 million |
| FS1 | 463,000 |
Bringing in former ESPN host Colin Cowherd and his popular show The Herd demonstrates part of Fox Sports’ talent strategy. Cowherd also landed a $6 million per year deal – evidence that Fox is willing to pay up for big names.
FS1 and FS2 Regular Programming
Beyond live events, Fox Sports airs popular commentary shows to keep audiences engaged. FS1 flagships include:
- Skip and Shannon: Undisputed – Skip Bayless debates hot takes with Shannon Sharpe, drawing heavily from Bayless‘ days arguing on ESPN’s First Take.
- The Herd – Colin Cowherd shares opinions on the latest sports headlines.
- First Things First – Nick Wright and Chris Broussard co-host this morning talk show.
FS1 also produces documentaries under its Magnify series banner. Subjects have ranged from Dale Earnhardt Jr’s plane crash to pulls back the curtain onsrmchair psychology analyze the psychology and motivation of teams and athletes.
Plus, FS1 has been ramping up soccer coverage with the 2022 World Cup. Its plans include a daily preview show from Qatar along with a USMNT centric program.
Meanwhile FS2 offers niche sports like football, rugby, wrestling and serves as the main overflow outlet when FS1 events run long.
Big Numbers on Flagship Shows
Fox Sports‘ big name personalities draw viewers too. Colin Cowherd’s radio show alone tallies over 2.5 million weekly listeners.
Skip Bayless pulls big numbers with Undisputed as well. In 2021, the debate show averaged 316,000 viewers. While that significantly trails ESPN juggernaut First Take (734K viewers), Undisputed saw its audience grow since 2020, indicating rising popularity.
Skip Bayless debates Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed. (Image Credit: Fox Sports)
This type of engaging content strengthens viewer loyalty and tunes viewers into checking FS1 often. Nabbing Cowherd and Bayless demonstrates Fox Sports’ willingness to invest serious money to get talent who moves the needle.
Fox Sports‘ Live Event Draw
But perhaps the biggest pull for audiences lies with FS1 and FS2‘s live events coverage. Fox Sports holds long term deals with numerous major sports leagues across pro, college, and international play.
Some key sports and events regularly featured on Fox Sports networks include:
- MLB regular season and playoff games
- Saturday primetime college football matchups
- FIFA World Cup and Women‘s World Cup
- Premier Boxing Champions fights
- NASCAR‘s Daytona 500
- Big Ten and Pac-12 college sports
- MLS games
- USGA events like the U.S. Open
Rights deals with MLB and FIFA run through 2028, ensuring Fox Sports remains a prime destination for baseball and soccer. College sports deals grant access to crucial conferences like the Big Ten well into the 2030s too.
Nabbing the World Cup and USMNT
Fox made noise by outbidding ESPN for FIFA World Cup rights through 2026. This gives Fox the next two World Cups – a huge win as the tournament‘s viewership expands more globally and in the US.
Landing World Cup rights also includes matches involving the US Men‘s National Team. FS1 aired the dramatic United States vs Iran match that saw the USMNT qualify for the 2022 knockout round. This broadcasts smashed FS1 records with nearly 9 million tuning in.
The USMNT also qualified to play in the 2024 Copa America tournament. So fans can expect major viewership and advertising dollars flowing on Fox Sports soccer coverage.
The USMNT clinched a spot in the 2022 World Cup knockout stage on FS1. (Image Credit: Mashable)
Top European soccer leagues like the German Bundesliga and South American World Cup qualifiers round out FS1 and FS2‘s growing soccer portfolio as well.
Delivering Production Upgrades
Fox execs note technical upgrades allow them to showcase live events with new camera angles, stats integrations and commentary.
A recent MLB game introduced "High Home" – a camera perched high atop the stadium for sweeping views of game action. NBA style on-screen stats also stood out.
Augmented reality graphics overlaid on football fields garnered attention during college games. And puck tracking tech now highlights hockey shots and passes.
These production enhancements aim to attract younger, second screen audiences accustomed to flashier broadcasts. Expect tech offerings to multiply as Fox launches their new LA studio facility.
Breaking Down Fox Sports‘ Revenue
Rights fees and advertising sales drive the bulk of Fox Sports‘ revenue. UBS analysts estimated FS1 alone grossed over $1.8 billion in ad revenue in 2018.
DirecTV and other providers also pay Fox annual affiliate fees to carry FS1 and FS2. Affiliate fees topped $6 per subscriber as of 2018 – lower than ESPN‘s $9 per subscriber rate but with room to grow.
Here’s a snapshot of key Fox Sports revenue figures:
| Metric | Amount |
| Est. FS1 Yearly Advertising Revenue | $1.8+ billion |
| FS1/FS2 Affiliate Fees Per Subscriber | $6+ |
| Recent MLB Postseason Ad Revenue | $90 million |
Buoyed by live events like MLB playoff games, Fox Sports has plenty revenue streams to continue expanding programming and talent acquisitions until they can seriously challenge ESPN.
But with media landscape shifts looming as digital outlets enter sports broadcasting, Fox Sports still has lots of ground to gain to match their largest competitor:
ESPN still doubles Fox Sports’ average viewership (Image Credit – ESPN Press Room)
Betting and Streaming Could Boost Growth
Pending legalization, sports betting advertising also offers untapped revenue for TV networks. Fox already sells ads to DraftKings and FanDuel but expects more sportsbook money as betting expands.
Streaming remains another key focus. FS1’s TV Everywhere app allows authentication for streaming through providers like DirecTV. Offering mobile and smart TV access helps Fox Sports pivot toward younger demographics.
Negotiating higher affiliate fees also remains an ongoing priority. Raising FS1 and FS2’s subscriber rate towards $10 would mean hundreds of millions in added revenue.
Finding Fox Sports on Your DirecTV Lineup
Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on Fox Sports programming and business models, here’s a quick reminder on finding FS1 and FS2 on your DirecTV channel guide:
| Network | DirecTV Channel |
| FS1 | 219 |
| FS2 | 618 |
Add these channels as favorites to quickly tune into the latest games and shows.
I hope this guide has covered everything about navigating Fox Sports on DirecTV and given you extra insight on the networks‘ direction. Enjoy all the live action while gaining more perspective on the production and strategic decisions made to shape Fox Sports.
When will your team be playing next on FS1 or FS2? Check the listings so you can catch every minute.
