Fox Skips Shakira, Turns Hydration Breaks into Commercial Clock at World Cup Opener
Fox’s World Cup opener in Mexico City did not show Shakira’s opening ceremony performance and instead cut to full-screen ads during FIFA’s new three-minute hydration breaks, while Telemundo aired the performance. The hydration breaks are a heat-related rule that also create new sponsor revenue opportunities, and Fox’s hybrid plan—mixing analysis with ads—was still being finalized as the network prepares for upcoming USMNT coverage.