Fox Sports 1 remains a pillar of modern sports broadcasting, leveraging expanded channel access and maturing streaming technology to deliver must-see live events. This guide will overview how to watch FS1, the tech and infrastructure powering distribution, top programming details, and Fox Sports‘ competitive strategy in the evolving TV landscape.
FS1 Channel Placement on Major Distributors
Since the 2013 rebrand from Speed network, FS1 has aggressively ramped household reach to cement itself as a top mainstream sports outlet alongside ESPN. Fox Corp secured vital carriage deals to gain millions of new eyeballs and make FS1 easily accessible for fans.
Here are the standard channel slots for FS1 across major TV distributors:
| Provider | Channel Number |
|---|---|
| Spectrum | 71-97* |
| DirecTV | 219 |
| Dish Network | 150 |
| Verizon Fios | 83 |
| Optimum (Cablevision) | 44 |
| Comcast Xfinity | 74 |
| Cox Communications | 73 |
| AT&T U-verse / DirecTV Stream | 621 |
*Spectrum assigns a different FS1 channel position per market as seen on the chart above
In 2013, FS1 debuted in just under 90 million homes – an impressive feat for a nascent network. Within 6 years, subscriptions swelled beyond 95 million households thanks to expanded basic tiers and digital transition.
FS1‘s nationwide availability allows it to reach a majority of US viewers ©Aaron E via Flickr
Let‘s explore the technology and delivery infrastructure allowing this availability and powering FS1 into the streaming era…
The Technology Behind FS1 Distribution
Whether through cable/satellite or internet streams, sports programming demands reliable infrastructure to ensure glitch-free transmission. This is especially vital for live event broadcasting which can‘t be edited or replayed from a recording.
At a high level, regional Fox Sports affiliates produce FS1‘s sports content from on-site stadiums and production trucks. Video gets encoded as digital signals and transported to Fox control centers via satellite or fiber links.
Here, master control rooms aggregate multiple incoming feeds – perhaps several NCAA football games at once. Directors seamlessly switch between events and pace the action so no single game dominates air time.
Fox Sports master control directs multi-feed broadcasts ©Sterling Communications
Now ready for distribution, FS1 streams out to cable/satellite operations centers as well as internet delivery networks (CDNs). CDNs cache content at regional edge servers to improve streaming quality – important for time-sensitive sports viewing.
At Spectrum and other television providers, bidirectional fiber optics and coaxial cable carry hundreds of channels like FS1 into neighborhoods using hybrid fiber-coaxial architecture. Signals enter homes through wired connections or satellite dishes.
More recently, sports networks face pressure to meet modern streaming demands. Platforms like fuboTV, Hulu Live and YouTube TV simulate cable bundles without infrastructure constraints. Fox aggressively courts these emerging partners to get FS1 streams in as many digital homes as possible.
That concludes our deep dive into how FS1 makes it into your living room. Now onto the shows and competitions that make channel-surfing all worthwhile!
FS1 Programming and Sports Rights
While technology clears hurdles to make FS1 widely available, compelling content converts that accessibility into viewership. Fox earmarks billions for extensive rights deals across live events and personality-driven shows.
In 2021 alone, FS1 and sister network FS2 televised over 1,300 live games and housed over 25,000 programming hours. Fox networks carry double the live events of other national sports outlets. Rights to heavy-hitting properties like the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and FIFA World Cup will keep this live tally high.
But beyond the courts and racetracks, Fox also realized the opportunity for supplemental shoulder programming.
| Daypart | Sample Shows | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mornings | Skip and Shannon: Undisputed | Debates between outspoken pundits on trending sports topics |
| Late Mornings | The Herd with Colin Cowherd | Sports talk radio-esque show with strong opinions, interviews and analogies |
| Afternoons | NASCAR Race Hub | News and analysis around latest NASCAR storylines |
| Evenings | WWE Backstage | Weekly show covering WWE wrestling news with insider interviews |
| Overnights | Club Shay Shay | Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe hosts current/former players in relaxed discussions |
These shows and others like Speak for Yourself, MLB Whiparound and Big Noon Kickoff provide supplementary programming to occupy airtime between events. And based on ratings, viewers crave both the action and hot takes in equal measure.
FS1 Ratings Success and Revenue Growth
Since establishment in 2013, FS1 continually improved viewership and ad revenue. 2021 marked a fifth consecutive year posting record numbers. In primetime alone, FS1 averaged 7.2% more viewers than 2020 topping key demographics.
Fox also paradrops high-profile contests onto free broadcast network to build awareness. Strategic plays like MLB World Series and NFL Thursday Night Football showcase FS1‘s portfolio.
According to market research firm S&P Global, FS1 and FS2 may surpass $2 billion in annual ad revenue by 2025. Profitability is further fueled by hero subscription fees from TV partners. This diverse revenue mix subsidizes expensive rights deals – enabling FS1 to bid competitively for top-tier leagues.
With Fox Corp projecting sports ad spend bouncing back post-pandemic, FS1 is poised to start its second decade on solid financial footing.
Competing in the Era of Streaming Wars
Cord-cutting acceleration makes for a brave new world as audiences migrate to internet outlets. This ongoing “streaming war” pits old-school cable against digital disruptors like Netflix and Amazon.
Legacy programmers face rollout decisions between enhancing existing systems or launching standalone products. Fox sidesteps this concern leaning on the Hulu bundle for direct-to-consumer reach.
The FS1 app provides complimentary functionality like authenticated TV everywhere and some additional shoulder fare. However, Fox largely sustains the linear network model that‘s currently profitable while making calculated technology plays like buying streaming firm Tubi.
Rivals like ESPN+ foray deeper into standalone while struggling with subscriber losses over at Disney-owned ESPN. With its rights portfolio continuing to expand, Fox Sports adopts a patient streaming approach to stay where the world is, not overly fixate on where it‘s heading.
FS1 carved an enviable position showcasing sports leagues that define American culture. It outflanked early skepticism by leveraging broadcast synergies and calibrating event/studio ratios to keep fans engaged 24/7/365.
Whilethey awaits technology standardization before full-on streaming service rollout, Fox Sports sustains healthy linear economics. This allows for aggressing bidding on predictably strong NFL/MLB fixtures.
Yet by partnering with Hulu/YouTube TV, FS1 also interacts with emerging digital behaviors. This balanced distribution strategy cements Fox Sports as gatekeeper to premium modern sports consumption.
So whether by broadcast, cable box or laptop, locate FS1 today to enjoy the games you love and opinions you didn‘t know you needed. Let the live action and heated discussions continue!
