Fox Saturday Baseball

In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Fox Saturday Baseball and its impact on society. Since time immemorial, Fox Saturday Baseball has been the object of study, debate and reflection, capturing the attention of people of all ages, cultures and contexts. Throughout history, Fox Saturday Baseball has played a fundamental role in the evolution of humanity, influencing key aspects of our daily lives. Through deep and insightful analysis, we will unravel the mysteries and complexities surrounding Fox Saturday Baseball, offering a broad and enriching vision that will allow us to better understand its meaning and relevance in the modern world. Immerse yourself in this exciting journey of discovery and broaden your horizons about Fox Saturday Baseball.

For primetime baseball games on Fox, see Baseball Night in America.
Fox Saturday Baseball
The current logo for Fox Saturday Baseball.
Also known asMLB on Fox
GenreBaseball telecasts
Presented byJoe Davis
John Smoltz
Ken Rosenthal
Opening theme"MLB on Fox theme music" (1996-2010, 2020–present)
"NFL on Fox theme music" (2011–2019)
ComposersNJJ Music (1996-2010, 2020–present)
Scott Schreer (2011–2019)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons10
Production
Production locationsVarious MLB stadiums (game telecasts)
Fox Network Center, Los Angeles, California (studio segments, pregame, and postgame shows)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time180 minutes (varies depending on game length)
Production companyFox Sports
Original release
NetworkFox
FS1/FS2 (overflow coverage only)
ReleaseJune 1, 1996 (1996-06-01) –
present
Related
MLB on Fox
Baseball Night in America
MLB on FS1

Fox Saturday Baseball is an American television presentation of Major League Baseball (MLB) games produced by Fox Sports for the Fox network on Saturday afternoons.

Fox's coverage includes 4 weeks worth of coverage as of 2023. Coverage usually includes 2 to 4 separate games all starting at 4PM ET, local affiliates air the game of most interest to their audience.

History

Fox has used numerous scheduling formulas for its Saturday regular season coverage. These have often changed based on the rights granted by new television contracts, and the pregame programs that the network has chosen to air.[1][2] From 1996 to 2006, Fox began its weekly game telecasts on the Saturday before, of, or after Memorial Day weekend. The selection of games varied on a regional basis, and the start times were staggered based on region. A half-hour pregame show aired at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by game broadcasts held at 1 p.m. in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. West Coast games did not air until 4 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. in the Pacific Time Zone). All of these games were exclusive to the broadcast network, and as a result, Fox's exclusivity window lasted through the entire afternoon.

In 2007, Fox began airing games every Saturday during the season. A new scheduling format was devised, in which all of the regional games started simultaneously. Fox moved the pregame, which became part of the exclusive game window, to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. All of the Fox games would then start at 3:55 p.m. Eastern Time, regardless of region. This format gave more leeway for teams not being shown on Fox to schedule daytime games. Fox's exclusivity began at the start of the pregame at 3:30 and ran until 7 p.m. Eastern.[1][3]

Fox discontinued its pregame show in 2009,[4] with the telecasts now beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern and the game time being pushed to 4:10. Fox gave up the first half-hour of its exclusivity,[5] with its window now beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. This scheduling formula was used through 2011 for the regular season. Beginning in 2010, several of the Saturday games aired in prime time during the spring. These telecasts used an exclusivity window from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, as the network revived a pregame show for these games, airing at 7 p.m. with the game at 7:15.

In 2012, the pregame show returned full-time, prompting another change in scheduling. The normal scheduling in 2012 and 2013 was for the pregame airing at either 12:30 or 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The pregame is not a part of Fox's exclusive window, which began with the game telecast starting a half-hour later. The scheduling did not change for the spring prime time games, however, as the scheduling for these games remained the same as in 2010 and 2011. However these games began being branded as Baseball Night in America games instead of Fox Saturday Baseball.[6][7]

In 2021 and 2022, Fox did not air Fox Saturday Baseball afternoon games, instead moving its entire MLB schedule to primetime Baseball Night in America windows.[8][9] For 2023, with an increase in Fox windows, Fox returned to airing four weeks of Fox Saturday Baseball.[10]

On air staff

Main articles: List of MLB on Fox broadcasters and List of current Major League Baseball broadcasters

Play-by-play commentators

Color commentators

Field reporters

Studio

References

  1. ^ a b Edwards, Craig (February 26, 2020). "MLB's Winning and Losing Efforts to Conquer TV, Part I: The Strike". Fan Graphs.
  2. ^ "Searchable Network TV Broadcasts – Fox Sports (2000s)". rec.sport.baseball.
  3. ^ Fox makes big changes to its baseball coverage
  4. ^ "MLB On FOX, Cutting Pregame Show". Awful Announcing. December 10, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  5. ^ Jeremiah Johnson (February 2, 2010). "FOX and The Murder of Saturday Baseball". View From The Bleachers.
  6. ^ "FOX Hearkens Back to the Baseball Network with 'Baseball Night in America'". 10 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Was Baseball Night in America a success this year for Fox?".
  8. ^ "PLAY BALL: FOX SPORTS SETS SCHEDULE FOR 2021 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REGULAR SEASON".
  9. ^ "FOX SPORTS LAYS OUT ITS 2022 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE".
  10. ^ "FOX Sports Unveils Its 2023 Major League Baseball Regular Season Schedule". 23 March 2023.