World Surf League Signs Milestone Media Rights Deal With FOX Sports

FOX Sports has agreed to a mega-deal with the World Surf League (WSL), becoming the exclusive U.S. television broadcaster for the WSL 2019 Men’s and Women’s Championship Tour (CT), as well as the Big Wave Tour.

FOX Sports will telecast more than 500 hours of WSL programming, including live contests and highlight shows, across FOX, FS1, FS2 and the FOX Sports app in 2019.

“We’re delighted with the additional coverage FOX Sports will bring to our events and millions of fans across multiple platforms,” WSL Chief Executive Officer, Sophie Goldschmidt said.

“With our athletes continuing to take the sport to new performance levels, more people than ever can now witness the excitement of professional surfing and everything that comes with our world-class events.”

WSL programming premieres on FOX and the FOX Sports app with a one-hour 2019 WORLD SURF LEAGUE PREVIEW SHOW on Saturday, March 23 at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT, highlighting the current champions, rising contenders and hard-charging rookies for the new season.

The 2019 Championship Tour begins on Wednesday, April 3 in Australia with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and Boost Mobile Pro on FS2 and the FOX Sports app.

FS2 will telecast all Championship Tour contests live or close to live throughout the year.

FS2 will also present the Vans US Open of Surfing, the premier men’s and women’s Qualifying Series contest that takes place in Huntington Beach, California each summer from July 27 to August 4.

In addition, FS1 will feature eight, one-hour highlight shows after select contests are over.