Fox CEO signals cautious approach to 2030 and 2034 World Cup rights bidding
Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch told investors on a quarterly call that the network would pursue rights to the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup in a disciplined manner, signaling the company does not intend to bid aggressively for exclusive rights. U.S. broadcasters are expected to submit initial bids to FIFA by the end of November, with FIFA aiming to select a rights holder by the end of 2026. A complicating factor for Fox is that FIFA is reportedly seeking to bundle English- and Spanish-language rights into a single package, which could disadvantage Fox given that its only Spanish-language outlet, Fox Deportes, has a limited cable audience. According to the report, Netflix, YouTube, Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon are among the parties that have expressed interest, and streamers are considered favorites due to their ability to carry both language feeds on one platform.
Fox will look at World Cup rights for 2030 and 2034 "in a disciplined manner" as broadcasters prepare to submit bids to the event .
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and advertisers planning around World Cup inventory should note that the rights landscape is unsettled and a streaming platform may control distribution by 2030.
For media: Fox's cautious posture suggests it may cede its position as the exclusive English-language World Cup broadcaster it has held since 2014, opening the door for streaming platforms to claim the marquee soccer property.
Read the full story at Awful Announcing
Sources
- Awful Announcing · Drew Lerner: Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch: Network will look at World Cup rights ‘in a disciplined manner’