When the Fox/Disney deal was first reported by CNBC, it was noted that the deal would not include the Fox broadcast network, Fox News, and Fox Sports. Now CNBC is saying that the renewed talks do include Fox’s regional sports networks. While the existing company would retain national sports networks such as FS1 and FS2, the regional networks that cover local teams would become part of Disney, and presumably branded ESPN.
Disney did try to create “ESPN West” when they owned the Angels and Ducks, but dropped out due to competition from Fox’s already established regional networks. These smaller networks could easily bolster ESPN’s upcoming ESPN Plus direct-to-consumer service while giving the network even more leverage in cable negotiations.
The current owned-and-operated Fox regional sports networks are:
- Fox Sports Arizona
- Fox Sports Carolinas
- Fox Sports Detroit
- Fox Sports Florida
- Fox Sports Indiana
- Fox Sports Kansas City
- Fox Sports Midwest
- Fox Sports New Orleans
- Fox Sports North
- Fox Sports Ohio
- Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Fox Sports San Diego
- Fox Sports South
- Fox Sports Southeast
- Fox Sports Southwest
- Fox Sports Sun
- Fox Sports Tennessee
- Fox Sports West
- Prime Ticket
- Fox Sports Wisconsin
- SportsTime Ohio
- YES Network
While the deal has yet to be announced, and many things could change between now and then, this new detail does provide a bit of insight as to what Disney may be looking to gain out of a deal with 21st Century Fox.