World Cup powers Fox to record revenue year
Fox’s FIFA World Cup coverage helped lift fourth-quarter revenue by 28% to US$4.21bn and advertising income by 78%, underlining the commercial value of premium live sport to the group’s broadcast and streaming strategy.
Fox Corporation has reported fourth-quarter revenue of US$4.21bn, up 28% year on year, as its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a major advertising boost across its television and cable businesses.Advertising revenue increased 78% during the quarter, driven primarily by the World Cup alongside continued digital growth at Tubi, while adjusted EBITDA rose 27% to US$1.20bn.Fox executive chair and chief executive Lachlan Murdoch said: “Fiscal 2026 was an exceptional year for FOX, capped by our broadcast of a remarkable FIFA Men’s World Cup.“Financially, these milestones were underpinned by the delivery of record top-line revenue which converted into record EBITDA. With strong momentum across our portfolio, we enter fiscal 2027 exceptionally well positioned to drive sustained growth and long-term shareholder value.”The television division generated US$2.48bn in quarterly revenue, an increase of 45%, with advertising income more than doubling to US$1.46bn as World Cup coverage combined with Tubi growth and higher political advertising.Television adjusted EBITDA increased 129% to US$705m despite the higher sports rights amortisation and production costs associated with staging the tournament.Cable network programming revenue rose 9% to US$1.67bn, including a 22% increase in advertising, although EBITDA slipped slightly to US$728m as World Cup and other sports costs outweighed the additional income.Across the full financial year, Fox generated record revenue of US$17.13bn, up 5%, with adjusted EBITDA increasing 8% to US$3.91bn.Murdoch said: “We successfully launched our direct-to-consumer streaming service, FOX One, continued to keep America informed across a dynamic news cycle, enhanced Tubi’s position as a leading streaming service, and announced the acquisition of Roku which will transform the scope and growth profile of our company.”The results demonstrate the continuing importance of major sports rights to Fox’s advertising model, with the World Cup offsetting the absence of the previous year’s Super Bowl broadcast and helping lift full-year television EBITDA by 52% to US$1.44bn.Fox enters fiscal 2027 with live sport remaining central to its linear and streaming strategy as it looks to use FOX One, Tubi and the proposed Roku acquisition to broaden distribution beyond traditional television.