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{{short description|American sports-based television channel}}
{{Infobox TV channel|
{{About||the former sister channel|Fox Soccer|Fox Football Channel, the defunct soccer channel in Southeast Asia|Fox Sports (Southeast Asian TV network)#Former channels|the Aussie rules channels in Australia|Fox Footy|and|Fox Footy Channel}}
name= Fox Soccer Plus|
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
logofile= FSPlus_New2011.jpg|
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
logoalt=|
{{Infobox television channel
logosize= 150px|
| name = Fox Soccer Plus
slogan= |
| logo = Fox Soccer Plus logo.svg
launch= March 1, 2010|
| logo_alt =
former names= |
| logo_size = 150px
language=English|
| launch_date = April 26, 2005
sister names = [[Fox Soccer]]<br>[[Fox Sports (USA)|Fox Sports]]<br>[[Fox Sports Net]]<br>[[Fox College Sports]]<br>[[Speed (TV channel)|Speed]]<br>[[Big Ten Network]]<br>[[Fuel TV]] |
replaced names = [[Setanta Sports USA]] (unconnected, now defunct)|
| former_names = [[Setanta Sports]] {{Small|(until February 28, 2010)}}
| language = English
owner= [[Fox Entertainment Group]] ([[News Corporation]])|
| sister_channels = [[Fox Sports 1]]<br>[[Fox Sports 2]]<br>[[Fox Deportes]]<br>[[Big Ten Network]]
web=[http://www.foxsoccerplus.com FoxSoccerPlus.com]|
| headquarters = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
terr avail=Not Available|
| owner = [[Fox Sports|Fox Sports Media Group]]<br><small>([[Fox Corporation]])</small>
picture format=[[480i]] ([[SDTV]])<br>[[720p]] ([[HDTV]])|
| website = {{URL|http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/plus}}
sat serv 1=[[DirecTV]] (US)|
| picture_format = [[720p]] ([[HDTV]])<br>[[480i]] ([[SDTV]])
sat chan 1=621 (SD)<br>621-1 (HD)|
| online_serv_1 = Fox Sports app
sat serv 2=[[Dish Network]] (US)|
| online_chan_1 = {{url|https://www.foxsports.com/live/fsp|Watch live}}
sat chan 2=407 (SD)|
| online_serv_2 = [http://www.fox.com/ FOX.com]
cable serv 1 =[[Verizon FiOS]] |
| online_chan_2 = {{url|https://www.fox.com/live/channel/FSP/|Watch live}}
cable chan 1 = 1009 (SD)|
| online_serv_3 = [[YouTube TV]]
cable serv 2 =[[Time Warner Cable|Time Warner]]<br> [[Brighthouse Networks|Brighthouse]] <br> [[Cablevision]] |
| online_chan_3 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol Television]]
cable chan 2 = Check local listings for availability and channel numbers|
| online_serv_4 = [[Hulu|Hulu TV]] via Fox Sports app
adsl serv 1=[[AT&T Uverse]]|
| online_chan_4 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol Television]]
adsl chan 1=1653 (HD)|
| online_serv_5 = [[FuboTV]]
| online_chan_5 = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol Television]]
}}
}}

'''Fox Soccer Plus''' is an American [[sports channel]] dedicated to [[association football|soccer]] and [[rugby football|rugby]]. It was formed as a spin-off of [[Fox Soccer]] when its owner [[Fox Entertainment Group]] re-acquired rights from competitor [[Setanta Sports USA]] in January 2010, putting the latter channel out of business. It launched on March 1, 2010.<ref name=launch/>
'''Fox Soccer Plus''' (formerly '''Setanta Sports''') is an American [[sports channel]] dedicated to [[association football|soccer]] and [[rugby league football]]. Launched in 2005 by the Irish sports broadcaster [[Setanta Sports]] to offer live and tape-delayed mainstream sports events in the [[United States]] and [[Caribbean]], it was rebranded on March 1, 2010, as a spin-off of the now-defunct [[Fox Soccer]] after its owner [[News Corporation]] acquired the channel and its coverage rights from Setanta in January 2010.<ref name=launch>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130224223826/http://www.multichannel.com/content/fox-soccer-plus-kicks-premium-hd-channel-march-1 Fox Soccer Plus Kicks Off As Premium, HD Channel On March 1] ''Multichannel News'' January 11, 2010</ref>

Despite the September 2013 replacement of Fox Soccer with [[FXX]], Fox Soccer Plus remains operational, although in recent years, the channel has lost many of its key events that had carried over from the Fox Soccer Channel.

==History==
Launched on April 26, 2005, by Setanta Sports, which is based in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the channel had the rights to delayed [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] matches on [[MUTV (Manchester United F.C.)|MUTV]] and [[Chelsea TV]], which were shown in segments within the channel. Any given broadcaster can only gain access to a maximum of two club channels under the current Premier League international TV rights.

As of July 27, 2009 the ownership structure of Setanta Sports North America Limited changed. Setanta Sports North America Limited was owned by Sabloss. Both Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited and Setanta Sports North America Limited were licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bci.ie/news_information/press230.html |title=BCI : BCI approves Ownership changes at Setanta Sports Channel Ireland and signs 2 new satellite content contracts with Setanta Companies |access-date=2010-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607100652/http://www.bci.ie/news_information/press230.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On January 27, 2010, Setanta Sports announced that they had reached an agreement with [[Fox Soccer|Fox Soccer Channel]] to transfer rights to select programming (soccer and rugby) that would be effective as of March 1. In addition, Setanta Sports announced that they would "cease" broadcasting the channel in the U.S. and Caribbean on February 28, 2010.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/446269-Setanta_Sports_USA_To_Go_Dark_Feb_28.php Setanta Sports USA To Go Dark Feb. 28 - Premium Network, Transferring More Programming Rights To Fox Soccer, Will Also Cease Caribbean Operations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130184910/http://www.multichannel.com/article/446269-Setanta_Sports_USA_To_Go_Dark_Feb_28.php |date=January 30, 2010 }} ''Multichannel News'' January 27, 2010</ref> The channel was rebranded from Setanta Sports to Fox Soccer Plus on March 1, 2010, at 12:00&nbsp;a.m. EST.


==Coverage rights==
==Coverage rights==
===Soccer===
===Soccer===
With the loss of many of its marquee properties, very limited content remained on the channel. As of 2019, Fox Soccer Plus's soccer programming consists of replays of [[Major League Soccer]] games shown on Fox or FS1, replays of [[FIFA]] events (although some events from lower level FIFA competitions that Fox holds the rights to are sometimes shown live) and occasionally, games from the [[Liga MX]], Italy's [[Serie B]], [[Copa do Brasil]], the [[UEFA Nations League]], the [[Coupe de France]], and the [[Canadian Premier League]].
The channel airs soccer matches from the [[UEFA Champions League]], England's [[Premier League|Barclays Premier League]], the [[FA Cup]],<ref name=launch>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/443668-Fox_Soccer_Plus_Kicks_Off_As_Premium_HD_Channel_On_March_1.php Fox Soccer Plus Kicks Off As Premium, HD Channel On March 1] ''Multichannel News'' January 11, 2010</ref> the [[Football League Cup]], England's [[Football League Championship]], and the [[Scottish Premier League]]. Moreover, Fox Soccer Plus has acquired the rights to a handful of English national team matches, for both the senior and junior squads.


===Rugby===
===Rugby League===


Fox Soccer Plus continues to air rugby league content from Australia and England.
Fox Soccer Plus has picked up rights to major rugby competitions in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Fox Soccer Plus has rights to the Europe-wide [[Heineken Cup]] plus England's [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]] and the [[Magners League]] in the Celtic nations and Italy (although Magners League matches are non-existent in Fox Soccer Plus' schedule for the first six weeks of the season). In 2010 it secured the rights to broadcast the [[2010 Rugby League Four Nations]].<ref>[http://www.rlfournations.com/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=31187 International Broadcast Information] Rugby League Four Nations official site</ref>


Currently, Fox Soccer Plus airs three of Australia's [[National Rugby League]] games per round, all three [[State of Origin]] games (often shown live on FS2 first), all playoff games, and the NRL Grand Final. With the exception of the Origin games, the broadcast source is [[Fox League]], which shares the basic video feed from [[Nine Network]] but inserts its own graphics and commentators, meaning that Fox Soccer Plus viewers do not have the option of the announcers and production values of Nine.
Starting in 2012, Fox Soccer Plus will broadcast some [[National Rugby League]], [[Super League]], and [[Australian Football League|AFL Aussie Rules]] matches live. <ref>[http://www.usarugbyleague.com/2012/02/nrl-live-on-fox-soccer-plus-march-1/ Fox Sports to televise NRL in the USA] USA Rugby League Press Release, March 1, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/03/12/Media/Fox-Soccer-Plus.aspx Fox Soccer Plus gets rights to rugby leagues] ''Sports Business Journal Daily'', March 12, 2012 </ref>

===Australian Rules Football===

Fox Soccer Plus typically carries four regular-season [[Australian Football League]] matches each week, with three of those shown live and one being a replay of the one game a week shown live first on FS2; all playoffs and the Grand Final are carried, along with preseason matches and the AFL Women's league. Fox Soccer Plus coverage comes from both [[Fox Footy]] and the [[Seven Network]].

With American-born [[Mason Cox]] playing in the league, most matches featuring [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]], Cox's current team, tend to be shown.


===Former===
===Former===
====As Setanta Sports====
Fox Soccer Plus' coverage of Italy's [[Serie A]] and France's [[Ligue 1]] ended in May 2012, as both will move to [[BeIN Sport]] starting with the 2012-2013 season.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/484698-Al_Jazeera_to_Kick_Off_Pair_of_Soccer_Channels_in_U_S_this_August.php Al Jazeera to Kick Off Pair of Soccer Channels in U.S. this August] ''Multichannel News'', May 17, 2012</ref>
=====Soccer=====
*Shared live rights with [[ESPN2]] and [[Fox Soccer Channel]] of the Barclays [[Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epltalk.com/espn-adds-premier-league-to-soccer-line-up/9899|title=ESPN Adds Premier League To Soccer Line Up - World Soccer Talk|date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> Matches were broadcast on Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET (a second live match aired on Setanta Xtra and was rebroadcast on the main channel later that day), Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and first-choice of any mid-week matches. Matches from the Saturday 10 a.m. ET timeslot that were not originally shown live on ESPN or Fox Soccer Channel were shown on tape delay in the evening on Setanta Sports.
*Shared live rights with [[ESPN3|ESPN360]] of live [[Football League Cup]].
*Shared live rights with [[Fox Soccer Channel]] of the [[UEFA Champions League]] (Setanta also had some matches delayed to later that night or the following day).
*Shared live rights with [[ESPN3|ESPN360]] of [[Football League Championship]], [[Football League One|League One]] and [[Football League Two|League Two]] matches, including playoffs.
*Live [[Euro 2012|Euro 2012 qualifiers]]. Others aired on tape delay either later on in the day, or a few days later if the live broadcast was on [[pay-per-view]].
*Live French [[Ligue 1]].
*Live [[Russian Premier League]].
*[[Scottish Cup]].
*Delayed and Live [[Scottish Premier League]] matches. The delayed matches consisted of [[Old Firm]] matches which aired live at designated bars/restaurants on Setanta Premium. On the rare occasion where neither [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] nor [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] are on, the game aired live.
*Live international soccer, including friendlies and [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] qualification matches.
*Highlights shows for most of the leagues Setanta broadcasts.


=====Rugby Union=====
Fox Soccer Plus formerly held rights to all major properties in the [[SANZAR]] countries—the [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]] involving the national teams of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia; [[Super Rugby]], involving franchises from each of these countries; South Africa's [[Currie Cup]]; and New Zealand's [[ITM Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc//binary/2010/04/07/Fox_Soccer_Plus_FAQ_v31270689818880.pdf |title=Fox Soccer ''Plus'' FAQ |publisher=Fox Cable Networks |date=2010-04-07 |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> However, in 2011, Fox Soccer Plus lost broadcasting rights for Super Rugby and Tri Nations to [[DirecTV]]. <ref>{{cite|url=http://www.superxv.com/about/rights.asp |title=International Super Rugby Broadcasters}}</ref>
*[[Rugby World Cup]].
*Live [[Guinness Premiership]], [[rugby union]] club competition of England.
*Live [[Pro14]], rugby union clubs of Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
*Live [[Heineken Cup]], rugby union club cup competition for 6 top European nations.
*Live [[Super Rugby]], rugby union clubs of, then, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. (Teams from Argentina and Japan added in later years)
*Live [[IRB Sevens World Series|IRB Sevens Rugby]].
*Live [[Currie Cup]], rugby union club cup competition for South Africa.
*[[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] rugby union competition on tape delay
*Summer and fall internationals, a mixture of live and tape delayed
*Live [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri-Nations]], international Southern Hemisphere rugby union competition.


=====Other Events=====
==Carriage==
*Selected live [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] events; delayed GAA Championship matches.
*Tape delayed [[A1GP]] - Auto racing; "world cup of motorsport"
*Same-day tape delayed [[Superleague Formula]] - Auto racing; fusion of soccer and motorsport


====As Fox Soccer Plus====
Fox Soccer Plus is available nationally on [[DirecTV]] <ref name=launchcarriage/> and [[Dish Network]], <ref name=launchcarriage/> and regionally on [[Verizon FiOS]], <ref name=launchcarriage>[http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc//binary/2010/02/26/Fox_Soccer_Plus_2-261267227914682.pdf Fox Soccer Plus Set to Launch March 1 with DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS] ''Fox Soccer Plus Press Release'' February 26, 2010</ref> [[Time Warner Cable]], <ref name=launchcarriage/> [[Brighthouse Networks]],<ref name=brighthouse>[http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/money/consumer-news/2010/06/15/bright-house-adds-hd-channels-to-lineup.html Bright House adds HD channels to lineup] ''Daytona Beach News-Journal'' June 15, 2010</ref> [[Cablevision]], <ref>[http://optimum.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2647/kw/fox%20soccer%20plus/session/L3RpbWUvMTI5MjYxNTMzMy9zaWQvYWZtR19MaGs%3D Fox Soccer Plus on iO TV]</ref> and [[AT&T Uverse]]. <ref name=uverse/>
Fox Soccer Plus' coverage of Italy's [[Serie A]] and France's [[Ligue 1]] ended in May 2012, after coverage of both moved to [[BeIN Sport]] starting with the 2012–2013 season.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120905014125/http://www.multichannel.com/article/484698-Al_Jazeera_to_Kick_Off_Pair_of_Soccer_Channels_in_U_S_this_August.php Al Jazeera to Kick Off Pair of Soccer Channels in U.S. this August] ''Multichannel News'', May 17, 2012</ref> Fox Soccer Plus also had German [[Bundesliga]] coverage until 2020 when [[ESPN]] assumed the rights.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN+ to be the new home of the Bundesliga in the U.S. beginning August 2020|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/espn-to-broadcast-bundesliga-in-the-usa-august-2020-7272|access-date=2021-09-20|website=bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website|language=en}}</ref>

Fox Soccer Plus formerly held rights to all major properties in the [[SANZAAR]] countries—the [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]] involving the national teams of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia; [[Super Rugby]], involving franchises from each of these countries; South Africa's [[Currie Cup]]; and New Zealand's [[ITM Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc//binary/2010/04/07/Fox_Soccer_Plus_FAQ_v31270689818880.pdf |title=Fox Soccer ''Plus'' FAQ |publisher=Fox Cable Networks |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=April 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415133857/http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc/binary/2010/04/07/Fox_Soccer_Plus_FAQ_v31270689818880.pdf |archive-date=April 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, in 2011, Fox Soccer Plus lost broadcasting rights for Super Rugby and Tri Nations to [[DirecTV]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.superxv.com/about/rights.asp |title=International Super Rugby Broadcasters}}</ref>

Fox Soccer Plus no longer has any rights to rugby union, previously the channel had rights to the Europe-wide [[Heineken Cup]], the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|English Premiership]] and the [[Pro14|Pro12]] in the Celtic nations and Italy (although RaboDirect Pro 12 League matches were non-existent in Fox Soccer Plus' schedule for the first six weeks of the season).

==Availability and other services==
Fox Soccer Plus is available nationally on [[DirecTV]]<ref name=launchcarriage/> and [[Dish Network]],<ref name=launchcarriage/> and regionally on [[Verizon FiOS]],<ref name=launchcarriage>[http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc//binary/2010/02/26/Fox_Soccer_Plus_2-261267227914682.pdf Fox Soccer Plus Set to Launch March 1 with DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118170233/http://static.foxsports.com/content/fsc//binary/2010/02/26/Fox_Soccer_Plus_2-261267227914682.pdf |date=January 18, 2012 }} ''Fox Soccer Plus Press Release'' February 26, 2010</ref> [[Spectrum (cable service)|Charter Spectrum]],<ref name=launchcarriage/><ref name=brighthouse>[http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/money/consumer-news/2010/06/15/bright-house-adds-hd-channels-to-lineup.html Bright House adds HD channels to lineup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618055154/http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/money/consumer-news/2010/06/15/bright-house-adds-hd-channels-to-lineup.html |date=June 18, 2010 }} ''Daytona Beach News-Journal'' June 15, 2010</ref> [[Cablevision]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://optimum.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2647/kw/fox%20soccer%20plus/session/L3RpbWUvMTI5MjYxNTMzMy9zaWQvYWZtR19MaGs%3D|title=Fox Soccer Plus on iO TV}}</ref> [[AT&T Uverse]],<ref name=uverse/> and several streaming services.

When the channel was known as Setanta Sports, it offered the '''Setanta Sports Xtra''' channel at no extra charge to DirecTV customers in case two live events need to be aired simultaneously.


===High Definition===
===High Definition===
Fox Soccer Plus's [[720p]] [[high-definition television|HD]] feed is available nationally on DirecTV (part-time),<ref name=directv>[http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=498095 DIRECTV and its Television Partners Offer More World-Class Soccer Than Ever Before] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817170013/http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=498095 |date=August 17, 2010 }} DirecTV Press Release August 10, 2010</ref> and regionally on Charter Spectrum,<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/03/15/daily38.html Time Warner adds high-def soccer channels in time for World Cup] ''San Antonio Business Journal'' March 19, 2010</ref><ref name=brighthouse/> AT&T U-verse,<ref name=uverse>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121008132635/http://www.multichannel.com/content/att-u-verse-launches-fox-soccer-plus-hd AT&T U-verse Launches Fox Soccer Plus HD] ''Multichannel News'' February 21, 2011</ref> and [[Cablevision]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.optimum.com/digital-cable-tv/hdtv/hd-channels.jsp?cat=sportshd|title=Optimum Cable TV, On Demand Movies, PPV- Optimum TV|website=www.optimum.com}}</ref>


==Former services==
Fox Soccer Plus's [[720p]] [[high definition television|HD]] feed is available nationally on DirecTV, <ref name=directv>[http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=498095 DIRECTV and its Television Partners Offer More World-Class Soccer Than Ever Before] DirecTV Press Release August 10, 2010</ref> and regionally on Time Warner Cable, <ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/03/15/daily38.html Time Warner adds high-def soccer channels in time for World Cup] ''San Antonio Business Journal'' March 19, 2010</ref> Brighthouse Networks, <ref name=brighthouse/> and AT&T Uverse. <ref name=uverse> [http://www.multichannel.com/article/464264-AT_T_U_verse_Launches_Fox_Soccer_Plus_HD.php AT&T U-verse Launches Fox Soccer Plus HD] ''Multichannel News'' February 21, 2011</ref> For unknown reasons, DirecTV only carries the HD feed for live games. <ref name=directv/>


===Setanta Premium===
==References==
As a part of Setanta Sports, '''Setanta Premium''' was available only to select commercial subscribers for Pay-Per-View events while most are broadcast delayed on the full-time channel.
* [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] Championship and League events.
* [[Scottish Premier League]].
* [[FA Cup]].
* [[Six Nations Championship]] in rugby union.
* [[Euro 2008|Euro 2008 qualifiers]], international soccer matches.
* [[FIFA World Cup qualification|FIFA World Cup Qualification]], international soccer matches.
* [[UEFA Champions League]] and [[UEFA Cup]] matches.


This service charged customers a cover charge of $10–$20 per head, depending on the match.

=== Setanta Broadband ===
During its existence as Setanta Sports, Setanta also offered a broadband subscription service, '''Setanta Broadband''', which allowed customers with a high speed internet connection to view some of the Setanta Sports channel content on their computers and includes access to pay-per-view events. [[Portuguese Liga]] soccer was available and [[Premier League]] matches were also broadcast starting the 2007–08 season on Setanta Broadband. Broadband customers did not receive [[Australian Football League]] matches as of July 2008, due to the league's new distribution deal with aussiesport.tv.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/plus}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071013111525/http://epltalk.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=240943 Interview with Setanta Sports about their DISH Network announcement]


{{Sports television in the United States}}
{{Sports television in the United States}}
{{Fox Sports}}
{{Fox Sports}}
{{Fox Entertainment Group}}
{{Fox (company)}}
{{Setanta Sports}}
{{U.S. premium television services}}
{{U.S. premium television services}}
{{Association football on television}}


[[Category:Fox Sports|Soccer Channel]]
[[Category:Fox Sports]]
[[Category:News Corporation subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2005]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2010]]
[[Category:Soccer on United States television]]
[[Category:Soccer on United States television]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 09:36, 17 December 2024

For the former sister channel, see Fox Soccer. For Fox Football Channel, the defunct soccer channel in Southeast Asia, see Fox Sports (Southeast Asian TV network) § Former channels. For the Aussie rules channels in Australia, see Fox Footy and Fox Footy Channel.

Fox Soccer Plus
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerFox Sports Media Group
(Fox Corporation)
Sister channelsFox Sports 1
Fox Sports 2
Fox Deportes
Big Ten Network
History
LaunchedApril 26, 2005
Former namesSetanta Sports (until February 28, 2010)
Links
Websitewww.foxsports.com/soccer/plus
Availability
Streaming media
Fox Sports appWatch live
FOX.comWatch live
YouTube TVInternet Protocol Television
Hulu TV via Fox Sports appInternet Protocol Television
FuboTVInternet Protocol Television

Fox Soccer Plus (formerly Setanta Sports) is an American sports channel dedicated to soccer and rugby league football. Launched in 2005 by the Irish sports broadcaster Setanta Sports to offer live and tape-delayed mainstream sports events in the United States and Caribbean, it was rebranded on March 1, 2010, as a spin-off of the now-defunct Fox Soccer after its owner News Corporation acquired the channel and its coverage rights from Setanta in January 2010.[1]

Despite the September 2013 replacement of Fox Soccer with FXX, Fox Soccer Plus remains operational, although in recent years, the channel has lost many of its key events that had carried over from the Fox Soccer Channel.

History

[edit]

Launched on April 26, 2005, by Setanta Sports, which is based in Ireland, the channel had the rights to delayed Manchester United and Chelsea matches on MUTV and Chelsea TV, which were shown in segments within the channel. Any given broadcaster can only gain access to a maximum of two club channels under the current Premier League international TV rights.

As of July 27, 2009 the ownership structure of Setanta Sports North America Limited changed. Setanta Sports North America Limited was owned by Sabloss. Both Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited and Setanta Sports North America Limited were licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.[2]

On January 27, 2010, Setanta Sports announced that they had reached an agreement with Fox Soccer Channel to transfer rights to select programming (soccer and rugby) that would be effective as of March 1. In addition, Setanta Sports announced that they would "cease" broadcasting the channel in the U.S. and Caribbean on February 28, 2010.[3] The channel was rebranded from Setanta Sports to Fox Soccer Plus on March 1, 2010, at 12:00 a.m. EST.

Coverage rights

[edit]

Soccer

[edit]

With the loss of many of its marquee properties, very limited content remained on the channel. As of 2019, Fox Soccer Plus's soccer programming consists of replays of Major League Soccer games shown on Fox or FS1, replays of FIFA events (although some events from lower level FIFA competitions that Fox holds the rights to are sometimes shown live) and occasionally, games from the Liga MX, Italy's Serie B, Copa do Brasil, the UEFA Nations League, the Coupe de France, and the Canadian Premier League.

Rugby League

[edit]

Fox Soccer Plus continues to air rugby league content from Australia and England.

Currently, Fox Soccer Plus airs three of Australia's National Rugby League games per round, all three State of Origin games (often shown live on FS2 first), all playoff games, and the NRL Grand Final. With the exception of the Origin games, the broadcast source is Fox League, which shares the basic video feed from Nine Network but inserts its own graphics and commentators, meaning that Fox Soccer Plus viewers do not have the option of the announcers and production values of Nine.

Australian Rules Football

[edit]

Fox Soccer Plus typically carries four regular-season Australian Football League matches each week, with three of those shown live and one being a replay of the one game a week shown live first on FS2; all playoffs and the Grand Final are carried, along with preseason matches and the AFL Women's league. Fox Soccer Plus coverage comes from both Fox Footy and the Seven Network.

With American-born Mason Cox playing in the league, most matches featuring Collingwood, Cox's current team, tend to be shown.

Former

[edit]

As Setanta Sports

[edit]
Soccer
[edit]
Rugby Union
[edit]
  • Rugby World Cup.
  • Live Guinness Premiership, rugby union club competition of England.
  • Live Pro14, rugby union clubs of Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
  • Live Heineken Cup, rugby union club cup competition for 6 top European nations.
  • Live Super Rugby, rugby union clubs of, then, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. (Teams from Argentina and Japan added in later years)
  • Live IRB Sevens Rugby.
  • Live Currie Cup, rugby union club cup competition for South Africa.
  • Six Nations rugby union competition on tape delay
  • Summer and fall internationals, a mixture of live and tape delayed
  • Live Tri-Nations, international Southern Hemisphere rugby union competition.
Other Events
[edit]

As Fox Soccer Plus

[edit]

Fox Soccer Plus' coverage of Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue 1 ended in May 2012, after coverage of both moved to BeIN Sport starting with the 2012–2013 season.[5] Fox Soccer Plus also had German Bundesliga coverage until 2020 when ESPN assumed the rights.[6]

Fox Soccer Plus formerly held rights to all major properties in the SANZAAR countries—the Tri Nations involving the national teams of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia; Super Rugby, involving franchises from each of these countries; South Africa's Currie Cup; and New Zealand's ITM Cup.[7] However, in 2011, Fox Soccer Plus lost broadcasting rights for Super Rugby and Tri Nations to DirecTV.[8]

Fox Soccer Plus no longer has any rights to rugby union, previously the channel had rights to the Europe-wide Heineken Cup, the English Premiership and the Pro12 in the Celtic nations and Italy (although RaboDirect Pro 12 League matches were non-existent in Fox Soccer Plus' schedule for the first six weeks of the season).

Availability and other services

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Fox Soccer Plus is available nationally on DirecTV[9] and Dish Network,[9] and regionally on Verizon FiOS,[9] Charter Spectrum,[9][10] Cablevision,[11] AT&T Uverse,[12] and several streaming services.

When the channel was known as Setanta Sports, it offered the Setanta Sports Xtra channel at no extra charge to DirecTV customers in case two live events need to be aired simultaneously.

High Definition

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Fox Soccer Plus's 720p HD feed is available nationally on DirecTV (part-time),[13] and regionally on Charter Spectrum,[14][10] AT&T U-verse,[12] and Cablevision.[15]

Former services

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Setanta Premium

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As a part of Setanta Sports, Setanta Premium was available only to select commercial subscribers for Pay-Per-View events while most are broadcast delayed on the full-time channel.

This service charged customers a cover charge of $10–$20 per head, depending on the match.

Setanta Broadband

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During its existence as Setanta Sports, Setanta also offered a broadband subscription service, Setanta Broadband, which allowed customers with a high speed internet connection to view some of the Setanta Sports channel content on their computers and includes access to pay-per-view events. Portuguese Liga soccer was available and Premier League matches were also broadcast starting the 2007–08 season on Setanta Broadband. Broadband customers did not receive Australian Football League matches as of July 2008, due to the league's new distribution deal with aussiesport.tv.

References

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  1. ^ Fox Soccer Plus Kicks Off As Premium, HD Channel On March 1 Multichannel News January 11, 2010
  2. ^ "BCI : BCI approves Ownership changes at Setanta Sports Channel Ireland and signs 2 new satellite content contracts with Setanta Companies". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  3. ^ Setanta Sports USA To Go Dark Feb. 28 - Premium Network, Transferring More Programming Rights To Fox Soccer, Will Also Cease Caribbean Operations Archived January 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Multichannel News January 27, 2010
  4. ^ "ESPN Adds Premier League To Soccer Line Up - World Soccer Talk". August 6, 2009.
  5. ^ Al Jazeera to Kick Off Pair of Soccer Channels in U.S. this August Multichannel News, May 17, 2012
  6. ^ "ESPN+ to be the new home of the Bundesliga in the U.S. beginning August 2020". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Fox Soccer Plus FAQ" (PDF). Fox Cable Networks. April 7, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  8. ^ International Super Rugby Broadcasters
  9. ^ a b c d Fox Soccer Plus Set to Launch March 1 with DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS Archived January 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Fox Soccer Plus Press Release February 26, 2010
  10. ^ a b Bright House adds HD channels to lineup Archived June 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Daytona Beach News-Journal June 15, 2010
  11. ^ "Fox Soccer Plus on iO TV".
  12. ^ a b AT&T U-verse Launches Fox Soccer Plus HD Multichannel News February 21, 2011
  13. ^ DIRECTV and its Television Partners Offer More World-Class Soccer Than Ever Before Archived August 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine DirecTV Press Release August 10, 2010
  14. ^ Time Warner adds high-def soccer channels in time for World Cup San Antonio Business Journal March 19, 2010
  15. ^ "Optimum Cable TV, On Demand Movies, PPV- Optimum TV". www.optimum.com.
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