• by David Goetzl , September 9, 2009

While ESPN may be the locus of online sports video, Fox Sports is attempting to burrow further in the game. This fall, the site is debuting Internet talk shows with content ranging from the traditional (the NFL) to the new (average Joes riffing on sports and other male fascinations).

The Webcasts will be streamed weekdays at 1 p.m. on FoxSports.com, as the MSN-affiliated site looks to draw viewers on their lunch breaks.

The move comes in concert with the launch of Fox Sports Digital Entertainment, a new unit charged with creating exclusive content for FoxSports.com. The division will be part of the overarching Fox Sports operation run by chairman David Hill.

The new Web-only shows launch Sept. 14 under a "Lunch - w/Benefits" brand and carrying a "Lunchtime is the New Prime Time" tag. West Coast viewers determined to eat while they watch might consider a late breakfast, with the shows taking place at 10 a.m. in the Pacific time zone.

A show hosted by the charismatic and well-sourced Jay Glazer will run Mondays and offer interviews with NFL players who had strong performances the day before. Tuesdays bring a show with former NFL coach Brian Billick speaking with five current NFL coaches.

On Wednesday comes a show about college football that Fox is describing as "an irreverent" look at the sport. And "Cubed" airs Thursdays, featuring three "male worker drones" in their cubicles commenting on "current events, sex, sports" and other male-oriented topics.

On Friday, there will be a sort of behind-the-scenes Webcast, where viewers can eavesdrop on a weekly phone meeting of the "Fox NFL Sunday" crew as they prepare for the following Sunday's show.

"Not every show is going to click its first time out, but we're going to probe and push to see where we can go, and how far," Hill said.

Fox Sports Digital Entertainment will be overseen day-to-day by Jeff Husvar, the senior vice president and general manager of FoxSports.com. Fox said it will look for more synergies between its broadcast operations and Web site.