Top Rank Chair Bob Arum yesterday said that the Timothy Bradley-Juan Manuel Marquez PPV on HBO "generated at least 375,000" buys. ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported the PPV also "generated approximately" $21.75M in domestic television revenue. The Oct. 12 event at the Thomas & Mack Center "generated a gate of $2,998,950 from 10,683 tickets sold." There were "1,370 complimentary tickets given away and 5,649 tickets went unsold" (ESPN.com, 11/5).
MOUNTAIN MEDIA: In Denver, Jason Blevins reports the state of Colorado's "fledgling film-incentive program is paving the road to Sochi, Russia, for the Universal Sports Network." The network, which began in January, was "one of the first to take advantage of Colorado's Office of Film Television & Media incentive program, which provided a grant allowing" the L.A.-based net "to anchor much of its Olympic coverage in Littleton's satellite-ringed Comcast Media Center." The grant "supported hiring 42 local employees and has enabled the network to tweak its business model by branching into original programming such as 'Countdown to Sochi.'" Universal partner NBC also is "planning a prime-time cable show in Colorado" (DENVER POST, 11/6).
PRO DAYS: In L.A., Houston Mitchell reports the MLS Galaxy has "launched its first-ever original Web series, 'Be A Pro,' which it hopes will help change the culture around fitness, nutrition and soccer." The show, which can be viewed on the Galaxy website or the Galaxy Facebook page, is "a documentary-style series featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the lives and careers of some of the Galaxy players." It features eight episodes that explore "what it takes to be a professional soccer player through the eyes of Galaxy players including Omar Gonzalez, Marcelo Sarvas and Jaime Penedo" (L.A. TIMES, 11/6).
THE BEAT GOES ON: Seattle Times Sports Editor Don Shelton wrote the paper has hired Tacoma News Tribune reporter Ryan Divish as Mariners beat reporter. Divish replaces Geoff Baker, the paper's Mariners reporter "for the past seven years." Baker recently was "promoted to the newly created job of sports investigative and enterprise reporter and will cover the Mariners" until Divish starts his new role on Nov. 25 (SEATTLETIMES.com, 11/5).
