FS1, Street League Skateboarding Ink Multi-year Deal

FOX Sports 1 and Street League Skateboarding (SLS) have signed a new multi-year partnership that includes live broadcasts of the world’s premier skateboarding contest series on FOX Sports 1 and global distribution through the FOX family of networks.

Street League, founded by 20-year professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and TV personality Rob Dyrdek in 2010, features only the sport’s elite and biggest stars as they compete in an easy-to-follow contest format for street skateboarding. The 2014 SLS World Tour includes nationwide stops with dates and locations to be announced soon.

“I’m thrilled to bring Street League to FOX Sports,” says SLS Founder Rob Dyrdek. “Not only am I a fan of what they are doing with other key properties on the FOX Sports 1 network, but to have a media partner that truly believes in skateboarding as a stand-alone sport poised for long-term growth means the world to our business and the ability to grow the Street League audience globally.”

“Rob is a force of nature,” says Michael Bloom, SVP, Original Programming at FOX Sports. “His dedication to growing the sport is clearly evident in Street League. He delivers exciting contests, events and television that captivate both core skateboarders and casual viewers from beginning to end. Thanks to the innovative, easy-to-follow format and instant scoring, these contests and this programming delivers great athletic performances and thrilling finishes that have become instant classics — whether you skateboard or not. We’re excited to be partners with Rob and Street League Skateboarding and have them featured on Fox Sports 1.”

“I’m psyched on this new partnership with FOX Sports 1,” says Chris Cole, 2013 SLS Champion. “Not only is it an awesome opportunity for Street League and all the pros, but it brings the best skateboard series to a new network with a huge platform. FOX Sports believes in the long-term growth for the sport and that is our biggest goal. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

The 2014 SLS Pro Tour features the 22 most prolific street skaters in the world including 2013 Champion Chris Cole, 2010 and 2012 Champion Nyjah Huston, 2011 Champion Sean Malto, as well as other notable superstars like Ryan Sheckler and Paul Rodriguez. These pros battle it out for the most respected title in skateboarding and the largest prize purse in the sport, in world-renowned arenas transformed into custom concrete skate plazas. Each course is a unique masterpiece designed to challenge the world’s top skateboarders and showcase the continuous progression of the sport.

The winners of the first two events receive a guaranteed “Golden Ticket” spot in the Super Crown World Championship. Taking place in August 2014, the Super Crown is by far the most elite skate competition in the world: only eight pros qualify for the final event of the series, and only one can claim the title of 2014 Super Crown World Champion. The title includes a Game-7-style, winner-takes-all format for the biggest prize in skateboarding history: $200,000 and a custom gold-and-diamond championship watch and ring set. Broadcasting exclusively on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO, each event’s Final features eight finalists in 90-minutes of live programming, with international webcasts of the event streaming live on Streetleague.com.