Fox Nets Slots Fox Blocks, JAZ Pods

Fox Networks Group on Sunday introduced its branded content Fox Blocks and two-ad, content adjacent (“Just A and Z”) JAZ pods on the Fox broadcast network and will air them on two more Sunday nights this fall: Oct. 21 and Nov. 11.

The five-and-a-half-minute Fox Blocks and nine JAZ pods airing throughout the nights are running during the two-hour Sunday primetime window on Fox. Hulu and Verizon sponsored the first night of Fox Blocks.

Sunday nights that feature the new ad breaks will begin as usual with The Simpsons at 8 p.m. ET/PT, followed by Bob’s Burgers at 8:28. The first Fox Block aired after the Bob’s Burgers episode and was entertainment-themed. The second Fox Block, which will run following Family Guy at 9 p.m. and Rel at 9:27, will be sports-themed. Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe from FS1’s Undisputed are hosts of the Oct. 14 and 21 sports blocks, called Undisputed: Sunday Edition. The Nov. 11 sports block, hosted by Jay Glazer and titled Fox Sports Supports, will celebrate the military.

By implementing Fox Blocks and JAZ pods on these Sunday nights, Fox says it will “deliver a 50% reduction of traditional commercial time per night. In total, viewers will be able to watch The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy and Rel with fewer commercials, in addition to enjoying more viewer-friendly and engaging Fox Blocks branded content.”

“Fox transformed the TV landscape when it became the fourth broadcast network, and now we’re transforming the broadcast clock with the introduction of these ad formats that give viewers better and more immersive watching experiences while telling longer form brand stories in our unique Sunday Night real estate,” said Suzanne Sullivan, EVP of ad sales for Fox Networks Group.

“We believe in the unmatched power and impact of broadcast television, but we also recognize the need to evolve to meet the expectations of today’s viewers,” Sullivan added. “The warm reception from the ad industry to Fox Blocks and JAZ Pods, and the incredible group of brands participating this fall, reaffirms our focus on developing and implementing advertising strategies that deliver better results for viewers and advertisers alike.”