Fox Soccer Channel and sister network Fox Sports en Espanol have signed a three-year deal for English-language and Spanish-language TV rights for Italy's Serie A. Kicking off in late August, the networks will showcase up to four matches from Serie A each weekend. In addition, there will be preview and recap shows and some select midweek matches.
The pact marks a homecoming of sorts for Fox Soccer and a loss for GolTV, which is being acquired by Dave Checketts' SPC Worldwide. Until 1999, Fox Soccer forerunner Fox Sports World held the U.S. rights to Serie A and then owned part of it for a while. Over the past two seasons, primary Serie A rights in the United States have been held by GolTV, except for the home matches of Catania, Lazio, Cagliari and Torino, which have been airing on Fox Soccer and Fox Sports en Espanol.
David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of the two services, said the rights acquired from Milan sports agency Media Partners & Silva gave the Fox networks exclusive rights to two of the three best leagues in the world. GolTV controls U.S. TV rights to Spain's La Liga through the 2008-09 season.
''The exclusivity will provide a competitive edge for us — will broaden the audience and advertising base for both networks,'' said Sternberg. ''There are a lot of passionate fans of European soccer that are not as into the EPL as they are Serie A. There are also many Latin American players in Serie A who will draw interest among are Hispanic viewers.''