News Corp's sports channels to cover US

Monday 23 June 1997 23:02 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

News Corporation, run by Rupert Murdoch, and TeleCommunications of the US are to pay $850m (pounds 510m) for a 40 per cent stake in Cablevision Corp's sports TV business to create a national US chain of cable-television sports channels.

News Corp and TCI already own nine regional cable networks, called Fox Sports, through their Fox/Liberty Networks venture. Cablevision's Madison Square Garden subsidiary owns the MSG Network, seven regional networks called SportsChannel and the New York Knicks basketball team.

Linking the channels will help the three companies compete with Walt Disney's ESPN, the biggest American sports channel. Analysts expect the deal to launch News Corp and TCI into the prime media markets of New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

"Fans will continue to get their home teams, now along with the great national sports programming supplied by Fox Sports Net,'' said David Hill, chief executive of Fox/Liberty Networks. The combined chain of 17 channels will reach about 55 million homes.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Thank you for registering

News Corp's sports channels to cover US

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering