Fox Soccer Plus Announces Carriage Deals

LOS ANGELES: Fox Soccer Plus rolled out today as a premium network on DIRECTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS, while its online complement, Foxsoccer.tv, has expanded the slate of content available through its broadband player.

Announcing the carriage deal for the channel, which will feature a range of soccer and rugby coverage from around the world, Mike Hopkins, the president of affiliate sales and marketing at Fox Cable Networks, stated: “Fox Soccer Plus is a dynamic new network that will provide our distribution partners with the ability to profitably reach an extremely passionate subscriber base. Soccer and international sports fans will thoroughly enjoy the diverse and compelling lineup of live events.”

Meanwhile, Foxsoccer.tv, the online complement to Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus, will expand its premium broadband video offering to feature a variety of live and on demand soccer competitions from the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Italy’s Serie A, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Coca-Cola Championship, the England Men’s National Team and the Argentine First Division. It will also deliver rugby’s Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup and Magners League.
 
“Foxsoccer.tv was redesigned to manage an influx of new live and on demand rights,” said Bhavesh Patel, VP of interactive media for Fox Sports International. “The enhanced site will offer up to eight live soccer and ruby competitions at once and provide for the ultimate broadband viewing experience.”
 
Matches to be streamed live in the first week of the new Foxsoccer.tv including England vs. Egypt, Arsenal hosting Burnley and AS Roma against AC Milan. Viewers can purchase a Championship Pass, offering all matches through May 31, 2010, for $44.95; a Monthly Pass for $14.95; or a Day Pass for $4.95.