HBO announced Friday an afternoon boxing series "aimed
at younger audiences," according to Royce Feour of the LAS
VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, who wrote that the series, which will
debut May 6 at 5:00pm ET/PT, will be called "KO Nation."
Time Warner Sports President Seth Abraham said the goal for
the show is to be "very contemporary, very cool." Abraham:
"KO Nation was created expressly to attract younger viewers
to boxing and to develop the next generation of fight fans.
... We can assure you this will not be your grandfather's
Friday Night Fights." HBO Sports Exec Producer Ross
Greenburg said that the show's cards "will include dramatic,
colorful entrances by the fighters." The broadcast team
will consist of former MTV host and current L.A. radio
personality Ed Lover as host, with N.Y. sports anchor Fran
Charles as fight announcer and Oscar De La Hoya as analyst
(L.V. REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/26). In Newark, Chris Thorne wrote
the show will feature fighters "considered on the rise on
the national front." The show will also feature "cutting-
edge music with dancers, new animation and graphics, high-
energy venues, including college campuses and a major
interactive presence on the hbo.com website." Abraham: "It
is a terrific opportunity to extend our flagship franchise
to younger viewers" (STAR-LEDGER, 2/27). In N.Y., Bob
Raissman: "One thing is certain, there is a huge untapped
market of potential young fight fans. According to HBO
research, only 3% of viewers who watch boxing on TV are
between the ages of 18 and 24" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/27).