Sports Business Journal's John Ourand
reported that Nathanson was offered a contract to stay for three more years but will pursue other opportunities in the media business.
The agreement with FIFA for English-language rights
was a coup for Fox Sports, capturing the rights from ESPN and covering the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The agreement, which also covers the Women's World Cup and other FIFA events, was extended to
include the 2026 World Cup after FIFA switched the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the summer to late fall.
Fox Sports became an MLS rights-holder in 2015 under an eight-year
agreement that also includes ESPN and Univision as national broadcasters. Fox Sports also gained the rights to the Bundesliga but lost EPL rights (to NBC Sports) and UEFA Champions League rights (to
Turner Sports beginning next season).
The SBJ report came the same day that Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Jonty Whitehead, the executive
producer of soccer for Fox Sports, is leaving Fox Sports to return to his native England. He will serve as a consultant to Fox Sports.
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