Stadium College Sports Explained

Stadium College Sports
Picture Format:720p (HDTV)
(HD feeds downgraded to letterboxed 480i for SDTVs)
Owner:Diamond Sports Group
(a joint venture between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group)
Country:United States
Area:Nationwide
Language:English
Former Names:Fox Sports Digital Networks (2001–2004)
Fox College Sports (2004–2021)
Sister Channels:Tennis Channel
Bally Sports
Stadium

Stadium College Sports (formerly Fox College Sports) was a group of three American sports networks. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group (under the joint venture Diamond Sports Group), the three channels aired college and high school sporting events and programming. The channels were divided into three feeds—Atlantic, Central, and Pacific. Programming was drawn from the Bally Sports regional sports networks and Stadium. The channels were shut down on December 31, 2023.

History

The three networks were originally launched in June 2001 as Fox Sports Digital Networks as a complement to Fox Sports Net for digital cable subscribers, since they did not have access to out-of-market regional sports networks that were available on satellite. The majority of the programming presented on the networks originated from the various Fox Sports regional networks and affiliates. The networks focused on college sports, but also had out-of-market baseball games (which would be phased out after the first few years).[1] In 2004, the networks were relaunched as Fox College Sports to emphasize their college sports programming.[2]

On June 18, 2021, more than a year after the networks sold to Sinclair after having been sold to Disney as part of the 21st Century Fox purchase, and the rebranding of the FSN networks as Bally Sports in late-March of that year, the channels were quietly rebranded as Stadium College Sports, taking their name from Sinclair and Silver Chalice's national sports channel Stadium.[3] In August 2021, Verizon Fios became the first major provider to provide the networks in high-definition.

On December 31, 2021, YouTube TV announced that the three channels would be removed from their Sports Plus tier on January 1, 2022.[4] Coverage of ACC sports was lost with the move of those rights to The CW. With Sinclair's sale of their stake in Stadium in full to Silver Chalice and the Stadium network being replaced over-the-air with The Nest, Stadium College Sports was quietly and ultimately wound down on December 31, 2023.[5]

Programming

The channels are divided into three geographical areas, which are Stadium College Sports Atlantic (formerly FCS Atlantic), Stadium College Sports Central (formerly FCS Central), and Stadium College Sports Pacific (formerly FCS Pacific). In addition to the events, the network features weekly coach's shows for various universities, programs from the various conferences and schools that highlight their athletes, and the regional sports reports from Bally Sports and other regional sports channels not within the Bally Sports system. Also featured are high school basketball and football games, and some state championships for these sports.[6]

Major events include:

The three Stadium College Sports channels generally air simulcast and live games produced by the Bally Sports networks or by Stadium through the digital only WCC Network and Mountain West Network.

Former Programming

Previously, each network sourced its programming from the various Fox Sports Networks as follows:

Notes and References

  1. News: Fox Set to Rename Cable Sports Service TVWeek . 15 April 2021 . TV Week.
  2. News: Fox Shuffles Cable Offerings . 15 April 2021 . The New York Times . 26 May 2004.
  3. News: Fox College Sports to become Stadium College Sports . 14 June 2021 . Bend Broadband . 14 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Gurwin . Jason . 2021-12-31 . YouTube TV Drops CNBC World, NECN, and Stadium College Sports . 2024-01-02 . The Streamable . en.
  5. Web site: France . Erin . 2023-12-21 . Stadium College Sports Channels Shutting Down . 2024-01-02 . MIDTEL . en-US.
  6. News: Fox College Sports Name Change: Fox College Sports will become Stadium College Sports on June 18, 2021. All programming will remain the same. . 10 June 2021 . Rainier Connect. 10 June 2021.