PBC's stable of fighters totals over 160, and is considered the best group in the sportGETTY IMAGES
Fox has "struck a four-year agreement with Premier Boxing Champions for the rights to carry fights" on its broadcast network, FS1 and PPV, "starting in December," according to Joe Flint of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. FS1 will "have the rights to 12 fights annually, while the Fox broadcast network will get 10." Showtime also has a "multiyear boxing agreement" with Al Haymon's PBC outfit. Terms of Fox’ deal with PBC "weren’t disclosed." But sources said that typically, rights fees are "determined on a per-fight basis." A fight between "two highly ranked contenders commands" as much as $5M, while "contests of lesser known fighters can be priced significantly lower." Sources said that the annual rights fees "could reach" more than $50M. Fox Sports National Networks President Mark Silverman said, “We believe this will be a very profitable deal for us” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/5). RING TV's Mike Coppinger cited a source as saying that between Showtime and Fox, PBC "will have a bigger pool of budget money than any other promoter in boxing," including U.K.-based Matchroom Boxing. Matchroom, run by promoter Eddie Hearn, in May announced a deal with OTT service DAZN, and is "estimated to have an annual budget" of $125M. PBC's stable of fighters "totals over 160," and it is "not just the biggest group of fighters in the sport, but the best." A "major criticism of PBC has long been the inactivity of some [of] its best fighters, but that should no longer be an issue." Between Showtime and Fox, there "figures to be around 20 top-flight telecasts involving A-level fighters." A "trickier problem will be how each network shares the best talent" (RINGTV.com, 9/4).
WATCH PARTY: In California, Andrew John noted Golden Boy Promotions streamed JoJo Diaz-Jesus Rojas last month and the "number of viewers was shocking," as a global audience of "more than 20 million tuned in to Facebook Watch to catch the fight." Golden Boy’s "second fight on Facebook Watch" took place Saturday as Ryan Garcia defeated Carlos Morales. Facebook paid a "similar licensing fee" that ESPN, HBO or Showtime paid to broadcast the fight. Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya said of Facebook, “It’s a platform that I strongly feel can be a game-changer for the sport of boxing” (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 9/1).
