News Corp planning sports channel launch

News Corp is eyeing the launch of a national sports network in the United States, a move that would put them in direct competition with international sports broadcaster ESPN.

The company is looking to convert its action sports channel Fuel, which is currently in 36 million homes and airs content including mixed martial arts.

The company already has a number of niche sports channels including regional network Fox Sports Net, Fox Soccer Channel, basketball broadcaster The Big Ten Network, Fox College Sports and motor-sport network Speed, but this would be the first time it would launch a mass market sports channel.

The effort is being lead by David Hill, chairman of Fox Sports, according to Bloomberg. Although the channel is just being mooted in the United States, the company would likely roll it out internationally if successful.