FOX Sports

Fox's World Cup Drives Record Linear and Streaming Revenue

Fox reported a strong quarter driven by FIFA World Cup viewership across linear and streaming: total revenue was $4.21 billion (up 28% YoY) and quarterly advertising revenue rose 78% to $1.9 billion, with full-year ad revenue up 7%. Television advertising accounted for roughly $1.5 billion of the ad-revenue uplift, rising 108% YoY, and Fox News added about 400 new advertisers. Streaming gains centered on Tubi, which reached 110 million monthly active users, logged 20 million World Cup-related viewers and recorded two of its highest-traffic days. Fox reiterated its planned acquisition of Roku, expected to close in the first half of 2027, to expand streaming scale and CTV advertising reach.

FOX One Becomes Home for Del Mar Horse Racing

FOX Sports has reached a multi-year agreement with Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to bring live coverage of Del Mar’s summer and fall meets to FOX Sports beginning in 2027. Before full coverage starts in 2027, FS1 will air the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on August 22, 2026. FOX Sports already carries marquee horse racing properties including the Belmont Stakes (presented by NYRA Bets), Saratoga Race Course and coverage from the new Belmont Park, and says its horse racing coverage now exceeds 1,000 hours of live programming annually. Fox Corporation executive Michael Mulvihill highlighted Del Mar as a key summertime venue. The deal expands FOX’s growing racing portfolio alongside existing motorsports rights such as the NASCAR Cup Series and the full 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

NBC Retains Preakness Rights Over FOX, Netflix, Amazon

NBC Sports has secured a new deal to retain television rights to the Preakness Stakes, reportedly beating bids from FOX Sports, Netflix, and Amazon. Terms were not disclosed; the renewal keeps the race on NBC after more than two decades. NBC has televised the Preakness since 2001 and holds U.S. media rights to the Kentucky Derby through 2032. This year’s Preakness averaged about 5.5 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, a 22% increase versus 2025. Meanwhile, FOX Sports is expanding its horse-racing portfolio via a multi-year agreement with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club beginning in 2027 and will preview the deal by airing the Pacific Classic on August 22, 2026. The coverage landscape for major horse-racing events remains split across traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms, reflecting intensifying competition for live sports rights.