Network Begins 2011 with Record-Breaking Ratings Due to World-Class Exclusive Programming
LOS ANGELES, February 4, 2011 – FOX Deportes – FOX Deportes’ premiere boxing series, “Top Rank Live,” knocked-out the competition by delivering the highest boxing ratings in U.S. Latino sports-cable network history. With nearly 400,000 viewers, the network was first for the night in Prime and Late Fringe on Saturday, January 29th. The heavy-hitting two-hour broadcast featured a throw down between top contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Billy Lyell, and ranked #1 among Spanish Cable networks for the evening.
“With a strong start in 2011 due to exclusive programming like Top Rank, we continue to be 100% focused on best serving our multi-lingual and multi-generational Latino viewers who expect and deserve the highest caliber content,” said Vincent Cordero, Executive Vice President and General Manager, FOX Deportes. “We’re thrilled to be associated with Top Rank, who continues their legacy of delivering some of the most exciting and memorable fights in the world.”
Adding to the excitement and authenticity of this series, many of the fights aired on FOX Deportes feature well-known Hispanic boxers, like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and at least one broadcast per month will originate directly from Mexico. Former world champions, world-class contenders, and up-and-coming prospects are scheduled to appear in future shows.
“This demonstrates Julio’s great popularity in the US and Mexico,” said Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank. “Top Rank is proud of our partnership with FOX Deportes and consistently delivering our series to the US Hispanic audience on a regular basis.”
These record breaking ratings come on the heels of Fox Deportes achieving the highest rated Barclays Premier League soccer match in Network history, with the January 16th Tottenham vs. Manchester United match which delivered nearly 200k viewers.
In addition to delivering the biggest Live Events that matter most to U.S. Latinos, Fox Deportes has equally demonstrated its commitment to delivering the best Live News programs in the business. On January 8th, the network continued that legacy by launching “Fox Deportes Extra”, a weekend daytime sports News show, produced in Los Angeles specifically for U.S. Latinos. Since its debut, “Fox Deportes Extra” has outperformed prior-year and prior-quarter time-period ratings by 50% to 200%.
“Our ratings leadership clearly validates our mission to exclusively deliver the absolute best in both sports Live-Event and News/Talk content,” said Cordero.
FOX Deportes rated as the #1 U.S. Latino sports-cable network in primetime in 2010, as well as being the only U.S. Latino sports-cable network to grow year-vs.-year in all key dayparts, including Total Day, Prime and Late Fringe. Additionally, FOX Deportes had 17 of the top 25 highest rated sports programs in its coverage area in Spanish cable.
About FOX Deportes
Reaching more than 18 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which almost 6 million are U.S. Latino, FOX Deportes is the leader in Spanish-language sports media. FOX Deportes features premier soccer programming with exclusive coverage of Fútbol Liga Mexicana, Barclays Premier League, Italian Serie A, UEFA Champions League, Copa Santander Libertadores and Copa Nissan Sudamericana; coverage of the Major League Baseball regular season, All-Star Game, League Championship Series and World Series; Top Rank Boxing, UFC® and mixed-martial arts; FORMULA 1™ across four compelling media platforms. Boasting more than 2,100 hours of live and exclusive programming, a robust web site brimming with streaming video and portable content from FD Móvil, FOX Deportes is the first name in the U.S. Latino sports space. For more information, visit FOX Deportes online at Foxdeportes.com.
About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.
About Top Rank
Las Vegas-based Top Rank is the country’s premiere boxing promotions company. Founded by CEO and International Boxing Hall of Fame member Bob Arum nearly half a century ago, Top Rank has nurtured some of the sport’s all-time greats, from Muhammad Ali to Oscar De La Hoya, and produced some of boxing’s most exciting events.. Currently, Top Rank’s stable of champion fighters includes Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa,and Miguel Cotto.
