OU football: FX loves the Sooners
FX, one of Fox’s cable networks, has signed on for Big 12 football. And FX loves the Sooners. The eventual plan is for FX to stage a weekly nationally-televised Big 12 game at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
Only three FX games have been slotted for television so far. All three involve the Sooners and all three at Owen Field. OU-Tulsa on Sept. 3, OU-Missouri on Sept. 24 and OU-Iowa State on Nov. 26.
FX is not a traditional sports channel. It’s not a destination for sports fans wondering what might be on. You don’t flip to it automatically like you do ESPN, ESPN2 or Fox Sports Net.
But OU athletic director Joe Castiglione not only defends the addition of FX as a Big 12 outlet, he says it’s a very promising sign for Big 12 profiles.
“That’s one of their (Fox’s) strong cable networks,” Joe C. said. “They have almost 100 million subscribers. That’s a strong presence. It’s historically been their movie channel, their special program channel. But they have done sporting events, most notably NASCAR and Major League Baseball.”
Indeed. FX was used as an outlet for the baseball playoffs from 2001-2005, when baseball occasionally would schedule two playoff games at once.
“I really don’t think people criticizing that have any grounds to support that notion,” Castiglione said. “Heck, it’s been a place, too, where they have launched many of their popular shows.”
Maybe so. But clearly, FX is not destination television for sports fans. While its on virtually every basic cable system, FX’s distribution can be problematic. My brother already is concerned; he’ll be in the Carolinas on Sept. 24 and has asked me how many hotels have FX on their cable system. The answer is, less than half, at least from my experience. So that’s a problem.
However, the Big 12 can change that. You’ve got to start somewhere, and FX can become a Big 12 brand. No reason to delay. Jump right into it. Truth is, OU-Tulsa and OU-Iowa State would not be marquee games nationally no matter what network is broadcasting. OU-Missouri could be intriguing enough that fans in Michigan, California, Georgia and New Jersey will find it.
The FX package is part of the commitment by Fox Sports Net, which signed that huge cable deal with the Big 12 earlier this year that gives the conference confidence about its future. The contract is worth $90 million a year and provides 40 televised games a year. When the ABC contract comes up in 2015, the Big 12 is expected to reap close to all the bounty that has gone to the Pac-10, Big Ten and SEC in recent years.
This is one more step toward every Big 12 game being televised. Most Saturdays, the Big 12 will have four windows — Fox Sports Net at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., ABC at 2:30 p.m. and FX at 7 p.m. There also will be an occasional ESPN game, purchased from Fox. Think about it. Fox bought 40 games a year, which are spread out over 13-14 weeks. That’s three per Saturday. They can’t all go on Fox Sports Net.
Now, I’m all for Fox regular — the over-the-air network that broadcasts the NFL and MLB — taking on the Big 12. But until that happens, FX is very much needed. FX really just gives the Big 12 a bigger platform, even if we have to look a little harder for it at first.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
Berry, you missed the fact that the Pac-12 will be on FX too. Either a Big 12 or a Pac-12 game will be on FX.
Swing and a miss. Welcome to the internet age Mr. Tramel. I got to Saturday in the cablevision, direct tv or internet tv guide. I restrict my search to sports and: “Viola!” There are all the football games. To get a carrier with 100 million television sets to televise OU vs. Iowa State is nothing but a win-win for both schools. Every time. OU-Tulsa televised nationally on one of Fox’s flagship stations? As a fan I will take that every time. However, I do prefer ABC/ESPN coverage. Why? Because of ESPN3! Watching free reruns of OU’s stretch run from last year is the only thing that keeps me sane during the summer. Fox needs to get on the internet broadcast bandwagon now. Then life would be sweet for fans of OU football. Even though I frequently disagree with Tramel, I would rather read 5 of his worst pieces than one of Carlson’s best.
@panhandle,
We’ll let you watch the inbred horn network. The rest of us are content to watch OU’s new network when it is unveiled in early 2012.
@robert,
H-o-r-r-e-n-d-o-u-s.
As for all three FX telecasts, I’ll be at the games anyway. So, personally, it wouldn’t matter which network it’s on. At least we’re no longer subjected to only having two or three OU games on national TV every year, a la back in the early 1980′s and before!
Joe C., I have grounds. Last year’s Oklahoma @ Texas A&M “national telecast” on Fox Sports Net was pre-empted here in the Twin Cities on Fox Sport North. No, it wasn’t pre-empted for Minnesota Gophers football. No, it wasn’t pre-empted for a Big Ten game. It was pre-empted for University of North Dakota vs. Minnesota-Duluth HOCKEY… early season (to read: meaningless), small region (let’s hear it for Fargo and Duluth, whoop!), HOCKEY.
And why is it that we rarely hear anyone say they prefer Fox game broadcasts over ABC-ESPN or CBS? I would argue that is because of second-tier talent. Not that they aren’t decent, they’re just not up to the same level in my opinion. That’s my “notion”, and I’m sticking to it.
I also read Big12 games will be featured on SoapNet. Their 75 million subscribers also provide the conference with another avenue to reach fans. Many will be able to catch up on Saturdays Young and Restless or One Life to Live episodes from earlier in the week then watch their favor teams play later. This is a definite win/win for the Big12.
Bobby….. you’re obviously really young or just immature.
OU’s stats are awesome over the years, and its always fun to listen to those who have never been to the dance try to minimize a team that basically lives in the top 5 !
Better luck next time.
Boomer Sooner Baby 
This was the same experiment TBS tried several seasons ago, whats the difference between then and the new Big 12
Be sure and tune in to the Longhorn Network.