| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 720p (HDTV) (HD feeds downgraded toletterboxed480i forSDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | |
| Parent | Diamond Sports Group |
| Key people | David Nathanson, David Rone |
| Sister channels | Tennis Channel Bally Sports Stadium |
| History | |
| Launched | June 2001; 24 years ago (2001-06) |
| Closed | December 31, 2023 (2023-12-31) |
| Former names | Fox Sports Digital Networks (2001–2004) Fox College Sports (2004–2021) |
Stadium College Sports (formerlyFox College Sports) was a group of three American sports networks. Owned bySinclair Broadcast Group andAllen Media Group (under the joint ventureDiamond Sports Group), the three channels airedcollege andhigh school sporting events and programming. The channels were divided into three feeds—Atlantic, Central, and Pacific. Programming was drawn from theBally Sportsregional sports networks andStadium. The channels were shut down on December 31, 2023.
The three networks were originally launched in June 2001 asFox Sports Digital Networks as a complement toFox Sports Net for digital cable subscribers, since they did not have access to out-of-marketregional sports networks that were available onsatellite. The networks were managed by FOX Sports executive, David Nathanson, from 2001 to 2005[1] and David Rone from 2005 to 2007.[2] 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-marketbaseball games (which would be phased out after the first few years).[3] In 2004, the networks were relaunched asFox College Sports to emphasize their college sports programming.[4]
On June 18, 2021, more than a year after the networks sold to Sinclair after having been sold to Disney as part of the21st Century Fox purchase, and the rebranding of the FSN networks asBally 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 channelStadium.[5] In August 2021,Verizon Fios became the first major provider to provide the networks inhigh definition.
On December 31, 2021,YouTube TV announced that the three channels would be removed from their Sports Plus tier on January 1, 2022.[6] Coverage of ACC sports was lost with the move of those rights toThe CW. With Sinclair's sale of their stake in Stadium in full to Silver Chalice and the Stadium network being replaced over-the-air withThe Nest, Stadium College Sports was quietly and ultimately wound down on December 31, 2023.[7]
The channels are divided into three geographical areas, which areStadium College Sports Atlantic (formerlyFCS Atlantic),Stadium College Sports Central (formerlyFCS Central), andStadium College Sports Pacific (formerlyFCS Pacific). In addition to the events, the network features weekly coach's shows for various universities, programs from the variousconferences and schools that highlight their athletes, and the regional sports reports fromBally 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.[8]
Major events include:
The three Stadium College Sports channels generally air simulcast and live games produced by theBally Sports networks or by Stadium through the digital only WCC Network and Mountain West Network.
Previously, each network sourced its programming from the various Fox Sports Networks as follows:
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** Owned by third parties and operated by Sinclair through various operating agreements. *** Owned by Sinclair and operated byMarquee Broadcasting. JV Joint venture. | ||||||||||||||||||
