FIC Asia boosts sports business

FOX International Channels (FIC) Asia has given its sports channels FOX Sports and STAR Sports a boost with a focused strategy that it hopes will result in higher viewership and returns.

Initiatives include the acquisition of signature sports events, the creation of localised sports hubs and new programming.

FIC has secured the rights of the French Open, adding to its tennis Grand Slams that also include The Championship, Wimbledon and The Australian Open, rapidtvnews.com reports.

FIC has created two new local sports hubs responsible for creating and distributing localised feeds.  Since 1 October, Taiwan has been broadcasting three dedicated sports channels in Mandarin as well as producing a Taiwan version of FOX Sports’ flagship news show FOX Sports Central.

In addition, Hong Kong has been broadcasting sports channels in HD since 1 October.