News has begun to leak out on the future of Fox Soccer Plus (FSP) and programming carried by it, including Aussie rules football. We caution everyone that what follows is uncertain, not confirmed by any official source at Fox or the AFL, but based on information we have gleaned from multiple sources and web sites. We will update this story as more information becomes available. Updated 8/13/13 with more recent info on the schedule on FUEL/FS2; updated 8/14/13 with more on FS2 availability. This post is about US coverage only and no impact is expected to Canadian coverage. Updated 8/28/13 with confirmation of some details from FOX via the AFL.
Beginning tomorrow (8/13/13), AFL programs will begin appearing again on FUEL later this week.. On Saturday morning (8/17/13), FUEL will become Fox Sports 2 (FS2). This weekend live AFL coverage, not just repeats, are expected to begin on FUEL / FS2. We are working to add the schedule we've obtained to our web site TV page. Be patient, there is much to do, and we will get it fully updated over the next few days. (As of 8/13/13, we have added all of the FS2 coverage we are aware of but further updates are expected.) At this time, we do not know if it will continue on FSP in parallel to FS2 or disappear from FSP at some point. Initial indications are that FS2 will carry a limited AFL schedule and FSP will continue. We do not know if it will affect Grand Final coverage but we are confident we will have live Grand Final coverage on FSP or FS2 or both. Update: As of 8/28/13, we have the following from FOX via the AFL, in part:
"...It will remain on FOX Soccer Plus, as this network is not going away. We will continue to air at least 2 live matches per round, and ... FOX Sports 2 will also carry between 1-2 live matches per round where the schedule allows – anything that airs on the new network live will also air delayed on Plus when we can. As for the Finals Series, it looks like we may split the matches between Plus & FOX Sports 2, with the Grand Final airing live on Plus as it did last season..."
At this time, it isn't clear which cable and satellite companies will carry FS2 though based on TV and cable industry sources, we expect most companies that offer FUEL will continue to carry it as FS2. Since Fox is not asking for any increased fees for the new FS2 it can make the change in most cases without a new carriage agreement. (This is in contrast to the new FS1 which does not, as of this writing, have carriage on many of the largest cable and satellite companies.) We would further caution fans that FUEL is not widely available in HD whereas FSP currently is HD in many markets. Overall, FUEL is currently in about 39 million homes or about 35%; this is actually less than FSP but because FSP is a premium channel more fans overall might have access to FS2 when it debuts. Companies carrying FUEL and which will probably carry FS2 include DirecTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Brightouse.
The AFL has yet to offer any information on what we should expect however we are in touch with them. The AFL has advised they have contacted Fox regarding footy coverage. We have contacted FOX numerous times in recent weeks regarding this issue but have yet to receive any official response. We will continue to contact them for schedules and clarification of these issues.
Fans are encouraged to contact their cable and satellite providers, as well as FOX, to inquire about future carriage / coverage and to share with AFANA any responses. Please e-mail (forward) those to us or use our contact form on the web site (cut and paste) rather than post comments.
Article last changed on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 11:01 PM EDT
Comments
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Fred,
Thanks. There might not be any. However, at the time this was posted that was not yet clear and since then Fox has updated their online schedule further. We will update this article later today (8/13/13). The situation is changing rapidly.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
The new Fox Sports 2 had a live game on overnight...almost simoultaneously Fox SP had a replay of a prev ious game...not bad....
Dennis....
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
AND...FS2 was free!!!!....
Dennis....
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
I notice this coming weekend sees 4 different live games between the two channels....plus a few replays.....this must surely be the best coverage ever....but I guess it won't last?!...
Dennis....
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Dennis and all,
We have both the FSP and FS2 schedules updated on the TV page as fully as we know them and both have live and repeat coverage. For now, the majority of the coverage will remain on FSP. Beyond the next two weeks, we expect every finals match to be carried live on one of the channels. We don't know about 2014 and we'll not speculate. I think the current coverage is excellent by historical standards but having said that, I know some of you will strongly disagree.
We will continue to update the above article, if warranted, for another week or so. The TV schedules page is constantly revised with confirmed information as we can get it. My early experience with Time Warner is the same as with almost every other provider: do not assume the on-screen guide is accurate or current or that your DVR is going to automatically catch changes on both channels.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Gregg,
Thanks for your post. Let me comment on several of your points.
I would not read anything into the excerpt from their FAQ, Aussie rules is not mentioned and from that you can conclude nothing. While it is disappointing, we have yet to get any definitive answer from either Fox or the AFL on the future direction of coverage. All the evidence we have indicates that FSP will remain the primary outlet for the remainder of 2013. Fox Sports has a contract though the end of the 2014 season. You are probably correct that Fox has yet to make final decisions.
I would never rely on their web site as a primary source of information on AFL coverage anymore now than I would have relied on that of Prime, ESPN, Fox Sports World, Setanta, etc. since we started AFANA in 1995. We have always believed that the best information comes directly from those that make decisions: company executives, programming managers, and the AFL. That's why we report articles such as this one (and post schedules) the way we do. We have found company web sites to often be out of date and incomplete. You'd expect by 2013 that wouldn't be the case but it still is.
Contrary to your point of view, AFANA is pleased that a more general coverage outlet without a premium price tag now has live AFL coverage. AFANA's goal, from its founding, has been to spread the word about what we feel is the best sport in the world. Live coverage on any outlet has been something serious fans have asked for over and over. Since the coverage went to FSP, a perusal of comments on this site would show that most fans have been very unhappy (and roasted not just Fox but AFANA) that they had to spend more to get the sport. While I think that it is hard to see how we avoid that given the sport's past poor ratings and lack of sponsorship, a move away to a cheaper alternative is a positive sign. Fox has increased weekly match coverage this year from 2 matches to 3 or 4. Surely, you must be pleased about that. Far from an insult, it is in fact a compliment to the audience response to the coverage this past 18 months. I find it hard to believe you would be unhappy if they moved it all to a cheaper outlet for you so you could stop paying extra for FSP. The audience for the sport has almost doubled in the past two weeks.
Fan reaction to us offline and on Facebook on the changes has been unusually positive. For once, yours is an isolated message of disapproval.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Gregg,
I have no disagreement that if you had to pay a second premium fee that would be unacceptable to AFANA and I imagine to the AFL also. I believe, from the reports I've seen, that Fox is insisting that FS2 be available in sports tiers and packages and not as a stand alone channel. This should mean that beyond subscribing to your provider's sports channels, you should not have to pay extra for it. I would certainly keep FSP for now.
Thanks for the words of support. I would agree that Fox has done an excellent job promoting the sport and providing quality coverage for it this year. The increase in matches was very welcome.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Rob and company.. .just wondering about Fox Sports 1... just recently the Speed Channel became FS1 on Comcast here in the Pittsburgh area. Any word of any AFL coverage on FS1?? Especially the Grand Final?? It seems I've been snake bit the past number of years because of Comcast not picking up channels (Fox Sports World, Setanta, Fox Soccer Plus, etc.)... I have asked them a number of times over the years but no luck whatsoever!! We never had the FUEL channel, now FS2. I'm gonna try my luck again and call them about it. Wish me luck!! Anyways, just want to thank you for all the hard work. I feel eventually it will pay off and all of us will have our footy!!
Don Lutes
Monongahela, PA
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Don,
Given the public statements by Fox about the plans for FS1, I do not expect to see any AFL coverage there anytime soon. I'm hoping we get a simulcast of the Grand Final on FSP and FS2 so it would be more than remarkable if we get FS1 instead.
As for Comcast, they announced in February they would be adding the missing Fox Sports channels (now FS1 and FS2) across the country but from all indications they are not exactly jumping on it. Lots of Comcast customers complaining on the web about this.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Rob and Dennis,
Thanks for your replies. Dennis, before the changeover, I searched through Comcast's channel listings here and could not find the FUEL channel. We always had the SPEED channel however, which is now FS1 and it's on channel 857. Funny 856 is an open channel. You would think they would put FS1 and FS2 next to each other? 858 is the NHL Network by the way. Guess I can only hope here!
Don
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Thanks for the heads up. Apparently it was a free preview. I hope that changes as it doesn't make much sense to charge separate premiums for both FS2 and FSP. There was a time when I loved DirecTV but lately not so much.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Whew, that got me worried...had to rush and check FS2 on Verizon...was still free....
I very nearly paid for FSP until I saw on here this afternoon that my game was on FS2...oh boy...
Dennis...
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hey Don...just checked Comcast for my area again this morning and it has FS2 (Formerly Fuel) listed at channel 166.....
Dennis.........
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Rob....
.I notice you have the Swans/Hawks game listed here as being on FS2 on Friday morning whereas my Verizon on screen schedule places it on FSP at the same time.,..with no footy at that time on FS2????!!!!....
Dennis....
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Hi Dennis,
We spend hours last night working on this after we became aware that some guides were showing a radically different schedule than we had. We still have queries into Fox and we've exchanged multiple e-mails with the AFL. I believe, based on messages we have seen between the AFL and FOX, that we have the correct schedule. This means virtually every on screen guide is wrong! Here's what I posted on the our Facebook page last night:
OK, here is what we now believe will air. Please note that probably no electronic guide anywhere has this right:
Haw v Syd live 9/6 5:30 AM EDT FS2 (air delayed on FSP 9/8 at 5:00 PM)
Geel v Fre live 9/7 12:00 MN FS2 (delayed on FSP at 9/8 at 8:00 PM)
Coll v Port live 9/7 5:30 AM FSP
Rich v Carl live 9/8 1:00 AM FSP
If you have questions, let us know & we'll try to help.
Now, it may turn out that what Fox does and what it says are different. There are lots of teething pain at Fox Sports right now and they have been very confused by the finals format, terminology, changing times (due to the Australian Federal Election on Saturday), etc. Lots of folks at Fox are in new jobs. As with the screw up on the one match last weekend, anything is possible.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Rob...My on screen guide for Verizon is now in agreement with your listings...let's hope that is it for this week. Either way...a good coverage it may well be!...
Dennis...
Re: Changes Coming to AFL Coverage This Week
Don...I live in Monroeville and only this week had a Comcast salesman at my door trying to get me to return to Comcast after 2 years on Verizon Fios...I told him that to even think about that I would need to know that Comcast had Fox Sports 2 AND Fox SP! At least for this year. He could not guarantee me FSP but assured me that they now had Fuel...just changed to FS2...so...you should have access to the over in Monongahela??!!
Dennis...