HBO Sports President Ken Hershman can "count on facing the same problems and pressures that wore out" his predecessor Ross Greenburg before his resignation last summer, according to Greg Logan of NEWSDAY. Whether there will be changes in "substance at HBO is the open question that will be answered over the coming months as Hershman applies his purposefully low-key style." The powers at HBO "certainly are counting on Hershman's ability to do a lot with a little to strengthen the biggest franchise in boxing." Hershman made it clear recently that he is "not looking to make a big initial splash." He "wants to tone down personal clashes and rely on his skill as a negotiator to reach consensus." Hershman plans to "take the first four months of this year to assimilate at HBO and evaluate the operation, but he anticipates no immediate changes in the broadcast teams." He wants to "build HBO Boxing's Internet presence and to see whether some of the things he did at Showtime in terms of a series for upcoming fighters and major tournaments will travel to his new home" (NEWSDAY, 2/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote under the header, "HBO, Showtime Need To Rethink Business Model." Iole wrote if HBO and Showtime "want to attract subscribers and then make them boxing viewers, they need to help the promoters get to know the fighters." They need to make the fans "feel that they’re on the inside of the sport and that they know what is going on." The nets should "only pay the fighters who are willing to take tough bouts; who perform when they get those big matches; who sell tickets on a regular basis." Then, whatever money they save in salary, they can "pour back into the sport by developing support programming that will actually help fans identify with the athletes and want to watch them compete." Hershman's and Showtime Sports Exec VP & GM Stephen Espinoza's "exclusive focus should be on making compelling matches with meaning and developing stars" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/10).
COMING OUT OF THE CORNER: MULTICHANNEL NEWS' R. Thomas Umstead conducted a Q&A with Showtime' Espinoza and asked, “How much of an emphasis will you place on boxing and how competitive will Showtime be with rivals such as HBO for rights to marquee boxing matches?” Espinoza said, “We’ll be absolutely, 100% competitive. We will certainly get our fair share of the biggest fights going forward.” Umstead noted that Showtime "jumped back into the pay-per-view business in an aggressive way last year,” and asked if that is a “strategy you’ll look to pursue further?” Espinoza: “Getting back into the pay-per-view business isn’t the goal but a by-product. We’re going to be in the business of top-tier fights and top-tier talent. If you’re in the business with, let’s face it, the two top fighters in the game today (Floyd) Mayweather and (Manny) Pacquiao, then by virtue of being in the business with them, you’re in the pay-per-view business. The goal is to provide the most compelling programming and athletes, so pursuing Mayweather or Pacquaio, if successful, puts us back in business. Our No. 1 priority is getting compelling programming for our subscribers. The pay-per-view (events) come by necessity as part of getting A-level talent” (MULTICHANNEL.com, 2/13).
