Fox Sports University Continues to Expand, Plans Most Ambitious Semester to Date

Created quietly in 2008 with one college partner – the University of Florida – FOX Sports University targets record growth over the next few years. Opening the 2015 spring semester with 15 different universities and colleges, the program’s most ambitious semester to date, FOX Sports University continues expanding exponentially across campuses nationwide, generating measurable results, both for FOX business units and participating college students.

“The growth and success of FOX Sports University has been very rewarding,” said Chris Hannan, FOX Sports EVP Communication & Integration. “This program is a valuable resource … using our sports properties to support our collegiate partners in the academic arena. It provides unique experiences for students and universities, while allowing FOX Sports to tap into the brightest minds and freshest ideas in the country.”

Partnering with prestigious journalism and business schools, public relations and sports management programs, FOX Sports University encourages creative thinking and collaboration amongst students to develop real-world solutions, products, and campaigns that are then executed across FOX businesses.

Most recently, a regional partnership between FOX Sports North and the University of Minnesota resulted in an on-air promo campaign in support of Hockey Day Minnesota that began airing on the WILD LIVE pre-game show in December. This effort comes on the heels of an Emmy Award-winning FOX Sports University tune-in campaign collaboration between FOX Sports North, the University of Minnesota, and Elite Edge Productions for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Partnering with 27 programs total across 10 conferences during the 2014-15 school year, including national efforts with New York University, Georgetown University, Auburn University, Indiana University, California State University Northridge, Howard University, University of North Carolina and Northwestern University, FOX Sports University student-generated campaigns have earned impressive recognition, including Emmy, Telly, Addy, Golden Matrix, and Promax Awards.

Enhancing the real-world experience, FOX Sports University has hosted students at the Daytona 500, Big 12 Media Day, and other events.

“FOX Sports University has been a singular experience for me as a teacher,” said J. Robyn Goodman, Ph.D., Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Advertising, Advertising Graduate Coordinator at the University of Florida. “It is a unique opportunity to guide students through a real-world creative challenge that marries two industries – broadcast and sports teams.  Students learn how to master the challenges of working for FOX Sports, who in turn has to work for a sports team or organization, making it a truly unique challenge.”

By 2017, FOX Sports University is targeting more than 40 schools, pursuing pioneering solutions to business, technology, marketing or research challenges across FOX Sports businesses.

“For me, this class is the one I look forward to each year,” Goodman added.  “We have so much fun creating work, bouncing around ideas, and then seeing those ideas come to life.  It’s rewarding to see the students creativity grow and their infectious enthusiasm.  I have had former students tell me that this experience was their best college experience and the one that helped them most going into their current job.”

More than 30 internships and five full-time job placements with FOX Sports have emerged from the FOX SPORTS UNIVERSITY program, in addition to opportunities with other sports organizations and team partners. While FOX Sports enjoys a pipeline of innovative ideas, students graduate with a fully developed portfolio, interaction with FOX Sports executives and a truly national peer network, as all of the school programs are connected through the Twitter handle #MyFOXSportsU, where they share experiences, ideas and employment opportunities.