Just saw a commercial for 'Spike Sports'

[Scipio2009]

Viacom, through SpikeTV, is seemingly putting a lot of weight behind combat sports (MMA/Boxing/Kickboxing) and I don't see that going away anytime soon.

With Viacom and CBS/Showtime being in the same family, PBC being added to the fold (with ESPN/BounceTV keeping their own legacy programs) keeps making more and more sense.

The main hang-up to me though is what is going to happen to Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays on FS1 (I doubt that NBC will end up being willing to commit any sizable amount of money to pay out for boxing; the competing Bellator/UFC situation also likely alters the business calculus).

FS1 is interested in carrying fights (they've already been carrying fights before the PBC deal), they need the content, and none of their other non-UFC content has been able to get any traction beyond the PBC fights.

15-20 prospect-featured shows are likely going to be in play for somebody.

[Redd Foxx]

I hope good things come of it. Spike can be surprisingly effective at pulling in ratings sometimes.

[killakali]

Viacom, through SpikeTV, is seemingly putting a lot of weight behind combat sports (MMA/Boxing/Kickboxing) and I don't see that going away anytime soon.

With Viacom and CBS/Showtime being in the same family, PBC being added to the fold (with ESPN/BounceTV keeping their own legacy programs) keeps making more and more sense.

The main hang-up to me though is what is going to happen to Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays on FS1 (I doubt that NBC will end up being willing to commit any sizable amount of money to pay out for boxing; the competing Bellator/UFC situation also likely alters the business calculus).

FS1 is interested in carrying fights (they've already been carrying fights before the PBC deal), they need the content, and none of their other non-UFC content has been able to get any traction beyond the PBC fights.

15-20 prospect-featured shows are likely going to be in play for somebody.

espn and bounce are dropping boxing. spike actually pays a license fee. hopefully they renew. nbc is getting out too

[Sweet Jones]

Viacom, through SpikeTV, is seemingly putting a lot of weight behind combat sports (MMA/Boxing/Kickboxing) and I don't see that going away anytime soon.

With Viacom and CBS/Showtime being in the same family, PBC being added to the fold (with ESPN/BounceTV keeping their own legacy programs) keeps making more and more sense.

The main hang-up to me though is what is going to happen to Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays on FS1 (I doubt that NBC will end up being willing to commit any sizable amount of money to pay out for boxing; the competing Bellator/UFC situation also likely alters the business calculus).

FS1 is interested in carrying fights (they've already been carrying fights before the PBC deal), they need the content, and none of their other non-UFC content has been able to get any traction beyond the PBC fights.

15-20 prospect-featured shows are likely going to be in play for somebody.

Maybe Fox/FS1 becomes the new Schaefer vehicle, filled with Haymon prospects and on-the-verge types.

[Motorcity Cobra]

espn and bounce are dropping boxing. spike actually pays a license fee. hopefully they renew. nbc is getting out too

I can see ESPN and NBC dropping boxing. Those two never seemed interested in the concept. NBC was a little more committed than ESPN though. I don't see bounce dropping PBC. You do know Al Haymon is a part owner in Bounce TV, right?

Bounce Media is owned by its founding group plus Raycom Media and Al Haymon. With share staff and some owners, Katz Broadcasting is an affiliate company.[

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounce_TV#Bounce_Media

[killakali]

I can see ESPN and NBC dropping boxing. Those two never seemed interested in the concept. NBC was a little more committed than ESPN though. I don't see bounce dropping PBC. You do know Al Haymon is a part owner in Bounce TV, right?



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounce_TV#Bounce_Media

yess i did and despite that fact they have already cut back their schedule tremendously

[Motorcity Cobra]

yess i did and despite that fact they have already cut back their schedule tremendously

They've had three cards on Bounce this year and another one scheduled for next month. They had three total cards on Bounce last year.

[Mitchell Kane]

Maybe Fox/FS1 becomes the new Schaefer vehicle, filled with Haymon prospects and on-the-verge types.

Yeah, I defintely think that's a possibility.

Schaefer worked on the GBP/FS1 deal, so it could make some sense FOX/FS1 don't pick up the PBC.

As for what a Schaefer/FOX/FS1 deal would look like...it sounds like Schaefer is aiming higher than the kind of deal GBP had with FS1.

[Mitchell Kane]

They've had three cards on Bounce this year and another one scheduled for next month. They had three total cards on Bounce last year.

I think he's referring to things like this:

Dan Rafael @danrafaelespn · Mar 9
The April 8 PBC on Bounce date that was announced on the last telecast is canceled. No bouts were ever announced, only the date. #boxing

Jake Donovan @JakeNDaBox_v2 · Jun 21
The July 24 edition of #PBConBounce has been scrapped. Next BounceTV card will take place Aug 28th, location and fighters TBD.

[Mitchell Kane]

Spike Sports has a twitter:

https://twitter.com/SpikeSports