SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Thursday
October 9, 2008
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Sports Media

Throwing In The Towel: ESPN Cancels "Wednesday Night Fights"

ESPN has confirmed that it is canceling its "Wednesday Night Fights" boxing series, which was first reported on Boxingscene.com. But the network said the move was not "ordered by Disney," as the site alleged. "We cancelled it because boxing is not delivering the sponsorship and viewer interest we would like," ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys said. ESPN still plans to carry "Friday Night Fights." The final Wednesday night episode was August 13 (John Ourand, THE DAILY). BOXINGSCENE.com's Rick Reeno cited sources as saying that Disney had ordered ESPN to drop "Wednesday Night Fights" and to "focus everything on the Friday Night Fights series in 2009." Reeno reported it is possible ESPN will use "some of the saved funds from WNF to upgrade some of the Friday night cards" (BOXINGSCENE.com, 10/8). SPORTINGNEWS.com’s Dave Larzelere wrote the news is a “mixed blessing for fight fans.” The number of primetime, basic cable, weekly boxing programs “will be cut in half,” but neither of the shows has been able to “draw top quality bouts for years.” Larzelere: "I'm hopeful the move will solidify 'Friday Night Fights' into a more bankable entertaining enterprise and maybe even make it into a player in the big-fight sweepstakes” (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 10/8).

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
ESPN Offers Holiday Hoops Coverage
December 1, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

NAB Wants Big Sports Events On Free TV
November 26, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

magicJack Title Sponsor For St. Pete Bowl
November 26, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

Sub Fees, Assets Give ESPN A Leg Up
November 25, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN To Offer Less Free Video Content Online
November 24, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

HBO Promoting De La Hoya-Pacquaio Bout
November 25, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

Yahoo, NBC, NFL Reach New Online Deal
November 20, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

PPV Sales For Boxing Bouts Hit Hard
November 19, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

Sponsors Offer Rebates On De La Hoya Fight
November 4, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

Golden Boy, Affliction Reach Boxing/MMA Deal
September 15, 2008 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service
© 2008 Street & Smith's Sports Group
All Rights Reserved