On Friday, Nov. 1, the channel currently known as Prime Sports will become Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
Local viewers will notice a big change in . . . the name. What they won't notice is a big change in the programming, which will remain basically the same.Fox Sports Rocky Mountain will continue to carry Jazz basketball games, college football games and hockey. It will also continue to air everything from body building to rodeo to motor sports to coaches' shows.
The switchover slogan is "Same Game, New Attitude" - and the new attitude refers mostly to how the channel will be marketed and promoted.
The reason for the change is that Fox bought 50 percent of the seven regional Prime Sports channels from TCI. (TCI-owned Liberty Sports remains a half owner, but management of the channels is passing to the folks at Fox.)
The most intriguing immediate development we'll see will be the nightly Fox Sports News. It will also include weekend editions as well as pre-game and post-game editions.
Designed to compete with ESPN's "SportsCenter," the Fox Sports News will originate from Fox studios in Los Angeles, but will also go live to various sites around the country for breaking news, interviews and updates.
For example, viewers watching one of the other Fox Sports Net regional networks may see Hot Rod Hundley interviewing Karl Malone after a Jazz game.
(The seven Fox Sports Net channels include Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Northwest and Fox Sports Pittsburgh.)
The bottom line is that the switch from Prime Sports to Fox Sports Rocky Mountain is largely cosmetic - but opens up great possibilities for the future.
OUT FOR MORE: Look for the Fox Sports Net channels to evolve over time. Fox makes no secret of the fact that it is out there actively seeking more programming.
The teams that currently have deals with the Fox Sports Net regional channels include the Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Angels, Mighty Ducks, Diamondbacks, Mavericks, Spurs, Stars, Astros, Avalanche, Nuggets, Royals, Blues, baseball Cardinals, Pacers, Mariners, Sonics, Penguins and Pirates as well as deals with college Big 12, Pac-10, Conference USA and individuals schools including Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Missouri, Washington, Oregon, West Virginia and Penn State.
And, of course, the Jazz.
CHANGING fX: Fox has sports plans for its cable channel fX, which is available in most cable-equipped Utah homes. The channel, which was once devoted to old reruns at night and how-to shows during the day, will take on an increasing sports flavor over the coming years.
Viewers of fX have already seen events like World League Football, hockey and college football on the channel. And Fox is actively seeking other sports to add to the lineup for this cable channel as well.
The plan is to turn fX into something along the lines of TNT, which airs a lineup of old reruns mixed with NBA basketball, NFL football and other sports events.