CBS, Showtime Talking About Joint Boxing Programming Effort
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Showtime, CBS Discussing Partnership
Around Boxing Programming |
There has been "renewed interest at Viacom about possible synergy between CBS and Showtime for boxing programming," according to Thomas Hauser of ESPN.com. Showtime Sports & Event Programming Senior VP & GM Ken Hershman sees a "window of opportunity to do more business for better fights," and he has "already had discussions with several major promoters in that regard." Showtime has been "far less successful than HBO in marketing" PPV events since the decline of Mike Tyson, but a Showtime-CBS alliance "could change that equation; particularly where [PPV] is concerned." Boxing promoter Bob Arum: "Think about the synergy we could have. A countdown show on CBS; promos on college football and NFL telecasts." Hauser noted most big fighters "have gravitated to HBO" because the net pays the sport's highest license fees, and even with CBS "at its side, Showtime won't match HBO across the board when it comes to the size" of the fees. Also, any deal on synergy "will have to be approved" by CBS Corp. President & CEO Les Moonves and Showtime Chair Matt Blanc. One industry exec said, "It all comes down to Les. Showtime needs CBS on this. CBS doesn't need Showtime" (ESPN.com, 6/24).
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