The three networks were originally launched in June 2001 as
Fox Sports Digital Networks
as a complement to
Fox Sports Net
for digital cable subscribers, since they did not have access to out-of-market
regional sports networks
that were available on
satellite
. 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-market
baseball
games (which would be phased out after the first few years).
[1]
In 2004, the networks were relaunched as
Fox College Sports
to emphasize their college sports programming.
[2]
On June 18, 2021, more than a year after the networks sold to Sinclair after having been sold to Disney as part of the
21st Century Fox purchase
, and the rebranding of the FSN networks as
Bally 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 channel
Stadium
.
[3]
In August 2021,
Verizon Fios
became the first major provider to provide the networks in
high-definition
.
On December 31, 2021,
YouTube TV
announced that the three channels would be removed from their Sports Plus tier on January 1, 2022.
[4]
Coverage of ACC sports was lost with the move of those rights to
The CW
. With Sinclair's sale of their stake in Stadium in full to Silver Chalice and the Stadium network being replaced over-the-air with
The Nest
, Stadium College Sports was quietly and ultimately wound down on December 31, 2023.
[5]
The channels are divided into three geographical areas, which are
Stadium College Sports Atlantic
(formerly
FCS Atlantic
),
Stadium College Sports Central
(formerly
FCS Central
), and
Stadium College Sports Pacific
(formerly
FCS Pacific
). In addition to the events, the network features weekly coach's shows for various universities, programs from the various
conferences
and schools that highlight their athletes, and the regional sports reports from
Bally 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.
[6]
Major events include:
The three Stadium College Sports channels generally air simulcast and live games produced by the
Bally 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:
- FCS Atlantic: Shows
Atlantic Coast Conference
,
Big East Conference
,
East Coast Athletic Conference
,
Ivy League
and
Southeastern Conference
content from
Root Sports Pittsburgh
,
Fox Sports South
,
Fox Sports Carolinas
,
Fox Sports Tennessee
,
Fox Sports Southeast
,
Fox Sports Florida
,
Sun Sports
, and
MSG Plus
.
- FCS Central: Shows
Big 12 Conference
and
Mid-American Conference
content from
Fox Sports Detroit
,
Fox Sports Southwest
,
Fox Sports Oklahoma
,
Fox Sports North
,
Fox Sports Wisconsin
,
Fox Sports Midwest
,
Fox Sports Kansas City
,
Fox Sports Indiana
, and
Fox Sports Ohio
- FCS Pacific: Shows
Big 12 Conference
and
Pac-12 Conference
content from
Fox Sports Arizona
,
Fox Sports West
,
Prime Ticket
,
Root Sports Rocky Mountain
,
Root Sports Utah
, and
Root Sports Northwest
.
- Pac-12 Conference
football and basketball
- FCS Final Score
, a news program similar to FSN's former program
Final Score
, also aired on this network at the top of the hour; it has since been cancelled.
- The National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship
- Exclusive Home to The Paradise Jam Tournament from the Virgin Islands
- The FCS Tailgate Tour
- The NSSA College Surfing Championships
- The South Padre Invitational
- FISU
International Collegiate Olympic Games every 2 years - both Winter and Summer. FCS was the exclusive domestic television carrier for these events.