Fox Cable Networks will soon deliver soccer games and related programs to viewers in HiDef.
A Fox Soccer Channel companion network called Fox Soccer Plus will launch on March 1 in HiDef as a premium service (extra fee). And Fox Soccer Channel, which itself is transitioning to HiDef, will premiere two new HiDef studio shows, one debuting on Monday.
The availability of all these networks and programs, of course, is subject to your TV service provider.
The Fox additions arrive as fan interest in soccer heats up heading into the 2010 World Cup that begins in June.
During its first week of broadcasting in March, Fox Soccer Plus will feature England’s Barclays Premier League games as England’s FA Cup quarterfinals are taking place and Italy’s Serie A is in full swing. The UEFA Champions League will also be part of the exclusive match content on FSPlus.
The two new Fox Soccer Channel shows featuring expert analysts will focus specifically on coverage of the World Cup: the one-hour live “Ticket to South Africa,” premiering June 10, and “Passport to South Africa,” which debuts at 6:30 p.m. PT this Monday (Jan. 18).
“Ticket to South Africa” will be anchored by the presenter of Great Britain’s Sky Sports’ flagship Barclays Premier League program “Super Sunday” Richard Keys and feature Sky Sports’ Andy Gray. They will be joined by Fox Soccer Channel’ commentators Christopher Sullivan (former U.S. National Team midfielder) and Warren Barton (former Newcastle United and England National Team defender) in offering a complete recap of every game, previews of future matches and reports from Fox Soccer Channel’s correspondents at the venues.
“The addition of Andy Gray and Richard Keys to our on-air talent team means viewers will hear from two incredibly knowledgeable sources who have covered the game at its highest levels – on location in Europe and beyond – for years,” said Dermot McQuarrie, Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for Fox Soccer Channel.
Complementing “Ticket to South Africa” during the month-long tournament, Fox Soccer Channel will feature expanded coverage from “Fox Soccer Report” and “Sky Sports News,” both featuring teams reporting live from South Africa.
The nine-episode 30-minute series “Passport to South Africa” that begins on Monday focuses on the 32 nations competing for World Cup glory this June and July, exploring each country’s grouping, how it qualified and its chances to take home the title. The program will include in-depth analysis, features and predictions from Fox Soccer Channel’s commentators including Sullivan, Barton and Bobby McMahon (“Fox Soccer Report” lead analyst), plus special guests.