Weekday Afternoon Program Debuts In January
Fox Sports Net debuts 54321, television's first topical daily program covering the growing phenomenon of action sports, on Monday, Jan. 27. Skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, BMX and freestyle Moto-X will be primary elements as Fox Sports Net creates a new genre of sports television entertainment. The 30-minute show airs weekdays at 5 PM local time, with convenient replays each evening in prime time and late night.
"The time has come for action sports, and the growing number of outstanding athletes who participate in them, to have a regular television home. 54321 is that home by presenting all the news, highlights and personalities that make action sports so popular today," said Tracy Dolgin, President, Fox Sports Net. "This unique show treats action sports with the respect that more mainstream sports have enjoyed, and offers its fans a daily program that speaks directly to them."
54321 targets the sports, the lifestyle, and the culture that Generation Y and Americans of all ages are embracing. The talented athletes, incredible events and newest trends are all featured as part of 54321. Quiksilver Entertainment assisted Fox Sports Net in the development of the series, and will be credited as a producer. Quiksilver's Danny Kwock and Matt Jacobson will help access key action sports talent and will help keep coverage meaningful and authentic for the target audience. Five days a week, 54321 blends lifestyle, personality and insider features, with news, event highlights and analysis to give action sports fans the most comprehensive and insightful coverage of the sports they are passionate about.
Complete coverage of action sports including surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX and freestyle Moto-X is combined with in-depth looks at other sports like beach volleyball, wakeboarding, mixed martial arts and supercross. The show also reports on the culture and style associated with action sports.
Participation and interest in action sports is at an all-time high. Snowboarding has seen a 240% increase in participation in the last 10 years, and has been added as an Olympic sport. Participation in wakeboarding surged +32% in 2000, making it the third fastest growing sport in the action genre behind only skateboarding and snowboarding. In 2000, 11.7 million Americans skateboarded, and that number is expected to reach 15 million by 2005. Pro skateboarder Tony Hawk has become a cultural icon. 54321 captures all of excitement in this ever-expanding world.
FSN expects to announce talent and the production team for 54321 shortly.
Fox Sport Net Bay Area reaches more than 3.6 million households in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Fox Sports Net Bay Area's programming includes San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's baseball, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings basketball, San Jose Sharks hockey, San Jose Earthquakes soccer, "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," NASCAR, and "54321." Fox Sports Net Bay Area is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks.
Rainbow Sports Networks is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Fox Sports Net reaches more than 79 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., and Fox Entertainment Group. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow's 50% ownership in Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation's largest markets: Chicago, San Francisco, New England, Ohio and Florida.