The Fox Sports sports brand will be permanently discontinued in Brazil starting in January 2024, marking the end of a 12-year era for the Fox Sports 2 subscription TV channel that has been operating independently since 2022, as confirmed by the Walt Disney Company.
Fox Sports will no longer be in operation in Brazil by 2024.
The discontinuation of the Fox Sports brand in Brazil is a result of Disney’s strategy following its acquisition of Fox worldwide. This move was a requirement of the merger agreement between ESPN and Fox, approved by the Cade in May 2020.
One of the responsibilities was to broadcast the Copa Libertadores by the end of 2021. Following this, the channel became ESPN 4 in January 2022. As of January 2024, the channel will be shut down to complete the removal of the Fox Sports brand in Brazil.
Fox Sports entered the Brazilian market in 2012 with exclusive rights to broadcast Libertadores and the South American Cup, establishing itself as a key player among the country’s main pay TV providers. The channel not only featured exclusive sports coverage but also showcased journalists and presenters like Gustavo Villani, who rose to prominence through their association with Fox Sports.
The new ESPN 5 signage will take the place of Fox Sports 2, with no significant programming changes anticipated. Disney will maintain its promotion of the Star+ streaming platform, where it showcases all its sports content.
