Showtime has named Stephen Espinoza as Exec VP & GM of Showtime Sports & Event Programming, where he will be responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the sports and event group. Espinoza was a Partner at Ziffren Brittenham LLP and specialized in representing athletes and sports personalities including professional boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson. He also served as lead counsel for De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions since the company’s formation (Showtime). Espinoza will report to Showtime Chair & CEO Matt Blank. Exec producer David Dinkins Jr., VP/Programming Jock McLean and VP/Production Gordon Hall will report to Espinoza (VARIETY.com, 11/14). ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael noted Espinoza will “oversee an annual boxing budget in the $20 million neighborhood” and “will become one of the most powerful people in boxing as he will decide which fights Showtime will buy.” Showtime has “several sports-related programs, including ‘Inside the NFL,’ ‘Inside NASCAR’ and Strikeforce mixed martial arts cards.” Boxing, which has been featured on Showtime since '86, “is the network's sports bread and butter with its ‘Showtime Championship Boxing’ and ‘ShoBox: The New Generation’ series.” Given Espinoza's “close association with Golden Boy and his intimate knowledge of its contracts and business strategy, some in boxing believe the hiring will give the promotional company an unfair edge at Showtime” as Golden Boy's output deal with HBO “expires at the end of the year.” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer “denied that Golden Boy would receive special treatment at Showtime.” Espinoza replaces Ken Hershman, who left Showtime in mid-October to become HBO Sports President, “although Hershman does not begin until Jan. 9.” The HBO Sports job opened “after longtime president Ross Greenburg was forced to resign in July” (ESPN.com, 11/14).
