A feud has reportedly broken out between bitter TV rivals Fox and ESPN over the latter’s lack of World Cup coverage.
According to Front Office Sports, a number of Fox executives are unhappy with the lack of attention their TV rival is giving the tournament across its biggest shows.
Fox and FS1 has exclusive rights to every single World Cup game in America after paying $485 million to FIFA. They took over as rights holder from ESPN in 2018.
They are said to be particularly unhappy with ESPN’s indifferent response to the USMNT’s thumping 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team enjoyed the perfect start to the tournament on home soil, destroying the South Americans in what Fox analyst Alexi Lalas described on air as ‘the perfect game’.
But Fox executives believe they saw very little coverage of the game by ESPN. ‘We’re talking about a historic performance by Team USA. Where in the hell was ESPN?’ one source questioned.
Fox are reportedly furious with TV rivals ESPN over their lack of World Cup coverage
The USMNT’s demolition of Paraguay was barely mentioned by ESPN, Fox executives believe
Meanwhile, a viewer posted on X on Sunday: ‘Just watched @SportsCenter Top 10, not one World Cup highlight, two pro softball’s, a minor league baseball game, even dog frisbee. What are we doing.’
But an ESPN source reportedly responded that FIFA’s strict media rules are preventing them from commenting. ESPN is not allowed to show any highlights until Fox’s programming for the entire day finishes.
On Tuesday morning, ‘Get Up’ host Mike Greenberg and Stephen A. Smith on ‘First Take’ both referenced the World Cup on their shows. Pat McAfee has also talked about the tournament.
Greenberg later promised that his show would ‘cover this every day for you here, because obviously this is a major international happening taking place on national soil.’
It comes just weeks after ESPN broadcast the NBA Finals, which had huge ratings thanks to the New York Knicks’ thrilling 4-1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Fox executives are also aggrieved that ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt got a ‘free pass’, despite drawing the ire of fans of Taylor Swift after the pop star was spotted at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals last week.
In an apparent hot-mic moment, McNutt was heard saying, ‘She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl.’
Her fans then jumped to her defense – pointing to Swift’s multiple past appearances at MSG for Knicks games and her residence in New York City.
Fox chiefs believed if one of their analysts had made the same comment as McNutt – who was not working for ESPN at the time – they would have been destroyed on social media.
