Golden Boy Promotions yesterday announced that it “will work once again with NCM Fathom Events to distribute” Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s welterweight title defense against Robert Guerrero on May 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas “to more than 400 theaters around the nation.” ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael noted the showings of the card, which also includes featherweight titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon’s defense against Abner Mares, will be “the same as what viewers at home will see on Showtime PPV.” It will be Mayweather’s “fifth consecutive fight to be screened in theaters” (ESPN.com, 3/26).
FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT: SportsNet N.Y.’s Chris Carlin said of the Heat’s 27-game winning streak has “become must-see TV.” Carlin: “Think about this: People all over the country were curious if the Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic last night. Normally, who cares?” The streak is “great for the NBA,” as the Heat have “become something that if you don’t get to see the game, you at least have to check in on.” Carlin: “You’re not turning the channel if the Miami Heat are on television because you want to see what happens” (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 3/26).
TEXAS TV: FS Southwest said that it “already has sold the majority of this season’s advertising inventory” for MLB Rangers broadcasts. FS Southwest Senior VP & GM Jon Heidtke said, “They have had good on-field success and two World Series appearances that have unlocked the baseball fan in the Metroplex and that's translated into the viewership increases." In Dallas, Candace Carlisle reported FS Southwest “has sold about" 80% of the Rangers' season inventory through the All-Star Game on July 16. The company “expects to see a double-digit increase in advertising rates for the remainder of the inventory” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/25).
GRAND ENTRANCE: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin wrote he “thoroughly enjoyed” NBC Sports Network's Leigh Diffey announcing the Izod IndyCar Series Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Diffey “caught a few on-track passes that the cameras did not.” The show’s producer said that Diffey “handled several things thrown at him by the madness of live TV.” Cavin: “I thought Leigh was terrific, even better than I expected. I just wish I could tell the difference between the voices of Brian Till from Townsend Bell. They sound the same to me” (INDYSTAR.com, 3/26).
