After last week’s proposed $85B purchase of Time Warner by AT&T, Top Rank Chair Bob Arum said that he has "come to theorize that the landscape for televising big fights will change," according to Lance Pugmire of the L.A. TIMES. Arum said, “There’s no reason for (premium cable providers) to be in the pay-per-view business. They don’t make any money to speak of in pay-per-view. When you add in the staffing expenses, it’s not a profit center." He added, "Pay-per-view will be left to promoters, or a company who can do it.” Pugmire notes Arum is "charging the standard $59.95" for Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas bout to "produce and distribute the pay-per-view, hiring Stephen A. Smith and Brian Kenny to call the bout." And instead of "permitting a free replay one week later as HBO and Showtime do, Arum has said this is a one-time showing." Asked if he expects the fight to surpass the 250,000 buys for Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith in September on HBO, Arum said, “Oh, yeah!” He also said that it will "exceed the 300,000 for Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley III on HBO in April." Arum "speculates the proposed AT&T purchase of Time Warner will boost Turner Sports’ standing in the fight game" (L.A. TIMES, 11/4).
