College Football on FOX Deportes.

FOX Deportes makes history by broadening its program offerings with the addition of American sport of college football to its telecast schedule.  The announcement was made by Vincent Cordero, Executive Vice President & General Manager, FOX Deportes.  The network’s coverage of 17 games is the most-ever carried in one season in the history of U.S. Latino media, and none have been televised on FOX Deportes since 1996.

The addition of major college football to FOX Deportes comes just a week after the network announced its plans to carry 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup races next season, including, for the first time ever, live Spanish-language coverage of the storied Daytona 500.

“We are thrilled to work with the Big 12 and Pac-12, and proud to expand our event portfolio by offering the biggest sports brands that reflect and serve today’s U.S. Latino,” said Cordero.  “U.S. Latinos are the New Face of America, representing the largest minority at our nation’s colleges, with 2.1 million students enrolled.  Latinos comprise 74% of the growth in total U.S. collegiate enrollment since 2010.” 

FOX Deportes is set to present 14 regular-season college football games live in Spanish, primarily from the Pac-12 or Big 12 conferences, plus the Pac-12 and Big Ten Football Championship games and the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, one of the oldest and most respected of all bowl games, in January.  First up is Hawai’i at No. 1 USC on Saturday, Sept. 1, live from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT).  Other early season match-ups announced today are Miami (FL) vs. K-State on Saturday, Sept. 8 (12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT) and USC at Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 15 (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT). Calling the gridiron action for FOX Deportes are veteran broadcasters Pablo Alsina and Francisco Rivera.

“The Big 12 is proud of its long-standing partnership with FOX Sports Media Group, and we welcome the opportunity this increased exposure will have in expanding and energizing the fan base of Big 12 football,” commented Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.  “Our member institutions will benefit from the exposure FOX Deportes will provide their football programs and universities to this tremendously significant demographic nationwide.” 

“We are pleased that FOX Deportes will be showcasing our exciting brand of Pac-12 football this season,” said Larry Scott, Commissioner of the Pac-12.  “FOX Deportes is a leader in Spanish-language sports media and offers us a valuable national cable platform that reaches new fans in new places around the country.”

In addition to the 14 regular-season and three postseason telecasts, FOX Deportes is producing four original half-hour programs in anticipation of the 2012 season to introduce America’s Spanish-speaking audience to college football’s long and storied history, teams and highlight who to watch as the season unfolds.  Three of the programs have already aired, one a week since Aug. 11, however the final show, a season preview, COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON FOX DEPORTES – KICKOFF, airs on Friday, Aug. 31 (9:30 PM ET).