CNN To Broadcast Mayweather-Ortiz 24/7 (CNN's Announcement)

[Gino Ros]

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/cnn-broadcasts-hbo-%C2%AE-reality-series-247-mayweatherortiz/

I recognize this isn't "new" news. But it's good too see boxing on CNN's website.


CNN Broadcasts HBO ® Reality Series 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz

The Boxing Special Airs at Midnight ET/PT on CNN/U.S beginning Saturday, August 27

HBO’s Emmy-Award®-winning reality series ‘24/7’ is coming to CNN, which will air replays of the all-new four-part series 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, beginning Saturday, Aug. 27 at midnight ET/PT.

In the lead-up to the blockbuster HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz battle for Ortiz’s world welterweight title, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Mayweather lives and trains in Las Vegas, NV, while Ortiz is based in his hometown of Ventura, CA.

34-year-old Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) is a celebrated superstar making his fifth appearance on the ‘24/7’ series. Ortiz, 24, (29-2-2, 22 KOs) exploded into the forefront of boxing last April when he captured a world welterweight title. This is his first appearance on ‘24/7.’

Episode one will air on CNN on Saturday, August 27 at midnight ET/PT, following the HBO premiere at 10p ET/PT. Episode two will air on CNN on Saturday, September 3 at 12 midnight ET/PT. Finally, episodes three and four will air back-to-back on CNN on Friday, September 16 at 12 midnight ET/PT, less than 24 hours before the mega-fight in Las Vegas.

In the past four years, HBO’s 24/7 franchise has earned 14 Sports Emmys® for production excellence, making it the most honored sports series on television since its inception. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the fast-moving, documentary-styled production focuses on the training, commitment and sacrifices that prizefighters make in order to realize their dreams. The turnaround time is among the quickest in television as the series follows the fighters and their teams both at camp and at home as excitement and anxiety builds for the big fight.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

[DE100]

It is new news, or i must of missed it. They said TBS or TNT for the Mayweather/Ortiz. Then the news of Pac/Marquez being of CNN came out.

But not this.

[Gino Ros]

It is new news, or i must of missed it. They said TBS or TNT for the Mayweather/Ortiz. Then the news of Pac/Marquez being of CNN came out.

But not this.

They had said "all TW properties" back when StarPower was announced.

When they said "TBS", I had assumed George Lopez show. But, of course, Lopez was just cancelled.


They are also using the TW print media (People mag, etc)

[Gino Ros]

HBO PPV lands 'Star Power' bout


Dan Rafael [ARCHIVE]
ESPN.com
June 22, 2011
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz will fight under the banner of HBO PPV in their Sept. 17 showdown after Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer and network executives reached an agreement Wednesday.

"We have finalized our deal with HBO. We obviously had very intense negotiations," Schaefer told ESPN.com. "What we wanted to do is ensure that all the different Time Warner (HBO's parent company) assets will be in play one way or the other, including the Turner Broadcasting assets and the Time Inc. assets, which is their magazines."

It is a significant development for HBO, which was rocked earlier this year by the loss of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao when Top Rank promoter Bob Arum took Pacquiao's May 7 fight against Shane Mosley to rival Showtime, which handled the pay-per-view production and distribution.

Did that help Schaefer make a favorable deal?

"I'm sure it didn't hurt," he said. "Do I think HBO was especially motivated to get the biggest and widest exposure? Sure. HBO is very motivated, and Time Warner is very motivated to show the boxing world and public what they can do. I was negotiating with very willing partners."


Time Warner also controls print and online publications such as Sports Illustrated, People and Entertainment Weekly.

Golden Boy followed Top Rank's lead in its negotiations with HBO, which was desperate to retain Mayweather, who has fought all of his major fights on HBO or HBO PPV, especially after losing Pacquiao.

"We wanted to make sure all other assets that HBO has available will be fully utilized to support this fight and give it the widest possible exposure," Schaefer said. "I am very happy that HBO Sports and HBO senior management were very open and that we had productive conversations, which fell on open ears. HBO seems very motivated and excited to show the world what they can do utilizing their vast array of assets."

One concrete example of how the fight will gain wider exposure than just on HBO: The reality series "24/7," which follows the buildup of major HBO PPV fights, will be replayed on one of the Turner networks, Schaefer said. The most likely would be TNT, TBS or truTV.

Schaefer said he did engage Showtime, which was interested in Mayweather-Ortiz.

"We had conversations with them," Schaefer said. "We explored alternatives with Showtime, but we did not go that far."

Schaefer also revealed the title of the fight: "Star Power."

"Mayweather is the biggest star, and Victor Ortiz is one of the most powerful guys in the sport. He knocks everybody down," Schaefer said. "You have a star fighting a guy with great power. You have a guy in Mayweather who attracts star power. You go to a Mayweather fight and it's a who's who showing up. It's 'Star Power.'"

Schaefer, who promotes Ortiz and has worked with Mayweather on his last four fights, all pay-per-view smashes, said Mayweather was personally involved in the deal.

"Floyd was very much involved as it relates to the marketing strategy. He came with very specific ideas and requests as it relates to what he wanted to see," Schaefer said.

The two-city national media tour for the fight kicks off Tuesday in New York followed by a stop in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The venue for the fight is not set yet, although Schaefer said that would be wrapped up "hopefully in 24 hours." Las Vegas' MGM Grand, where Mayweather has fought his last four bouts, is the likely host, Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he is still working to finalize the card, which could be a split-site pay-per-view. He hopes to have Mexican sensation Saul "Canelo" Alvarez make his second junior middleweight title defense from a different venue -- in Mexico or in the United States.

Alvarez's addition to the card would make a major impact. He is Mexico's most popular active fighter, and the card falls on the weekend of Mexican Independence Day, a traditional weekend for a fight involving a Mexican star.

Schaefer also said he hoped to add junior welterweight Erik Morales, the former three-division champion and Mexican legend, to the Mayweather-Ortiz portion of the card.

"If we can get Canelo and Morales both on the pay-per-view, I think the sky's the limit of what we can do in pay-per-view," Schaefer said. "That would make it an even bigger event for the fans."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

[Iceta Lives]

This fight don't deserve the attention. May order it for the undercard anyway though.

[Gino Ros]

This fight don't deserve the attention. May order it for the undercard anyway though.

But as a BOXING fan, you are happy to see the sport get wide mainstream pub...right?

[skillswin]

But as a BOXING fan, you are happy to see the sport get wide mainstream pub...right?

*******s dont mind boxing....

[peyk-peyk]

I usually buy PPVs but this time…

Don’t get me wrong I'll still watch the fight but this time I'll follow what *****s does each time Mayweather fights, we'll stream the fight.

[Paclan]

floyd is the only one that can challenge pac- in any stage, and vice versa

[Gino Ros]

I usually buy PPVs but this time…

Don’t get me wrong I'll still watch the fight but this time I'll follow what *****s does each time Mayweather fights, we'll stream the fight.

Imagine what Floyd's numbers would be if his fans actually paid for his fights.