Versus officially rebranded to the NBC Sports Network two years ago, and Fox Sports 1 launched almost six months ago. In honor of the milestones, Ad Age has put together a state of the networks this week, examining both sports nets as they stand.

According to the article, Fox Sports 1 has improved in total viewers over the channel it took over, the racing-oriented network Speed, averaging more than twice the viewers in the coveted 18-49 demo. While it’s not comparable to the ratings garnered by ESPN, Ad Age makes a point that the sports network should more accurately be compared to smaller nets like MLB Network, NBA TV or NBC Sports Network. Fox Sports 1 beats out those three channels during primetime, but is close to rival NBC Sports Network in the 18-49 viewership.

Those numbers are expected to rise as Fox Sports 1 enters into spring season, with the Big East and MLB to look forward to, along with coverage for the Super Bowl at Fox this February. The problem area, according to Ad Age, remains its in-studio shows like “Fox Sports Live,” which have yet to gain a loyal following.

NBC Sports Network, now two years old, is aiming for a niche audience - instead of trying to compete with sports giants like ESPN, the channel wants to be the place to find sports that aren’t easy to find elsewhere. “Our goal is to first make it a destination for the sports we carry,” said NBC Sports Group CMO John Miller. “If we are able to be a destination for one of your favorite sports, the hope is we are able to become a destination for another.”

NBC Sports currently has exclusive cable rights to the NHL as well as lucrative deals to show the Premier League and Formula One. It is with those franchises that the sports net plans on luring niche audiences to the channel. The Premier League, for example, got its own U.S. promotion, encouraging soccer fans to pick an overseas team and introducing American sports fans to the game via “SNL’s” Jason Sudeikis.

Read more at Ad Age.

Brief Take: While Fox has the Super Bowl this February, NBC has the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which NBC Sports Network plans on taking full advantage of. Both could use the opportunities to bring exposure to the sports channels and gain viewers in the seasons to come.

[Image courtesy of Fox Sports 1]

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