Fox marks a new chapter this month with the launch of Fox Sports 1, but 20 years ago it kicked off another game-changer with its first broadcasts of TV sports' biggest prize: the NFL After altering primetime with Married With Children and The Simpsons, Fox sensed an even bigger chance to destabilize its "big three" broadcast rivals. It outbid CBS in late 1993 for rights to the NFL's National Football Conference games with a four-year, $1.58 billion offer-$100 million higher than that of CBS. Industry insiders thought the price was so outlandish that there was no way Fox would turn a profit.
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