rumored deal

[Scipio2009]

Hypothetically If this deal were to go through how does the PBC compete with ESPN's Top rank. If we are talking visually Top rank has done a better production job add on ESPN as a backer to their programs and you have a full network being the promoter. My point is now we have a competition between top rank (possibly working with UFC) vs PBC? who you got and how

Top Rank won't be able to compete because anything that they come up with worth anything will likely end up on PPV or ESPN+ anyway. As nice as the camera presentation looks, pulling Teddy Atlas from the broadcast and replacing him alongside Joe Tessitore (a legit broadcaster) with two cheerleaders for Top Rank Boxing isn't going to where well.

The PBC presentation is what it is, but they've seemed to settle in on a formula that works well; two-man team for the FS1 shows of Ray Flores and Robert Guerrero (Ray also ring announcing the fights is still weird, but whatever), two-man team for the BounceTV shows of Gus Johnson and Austin Trout, and a three-man team for the FOX shows of Sean Grande (Fox Sports' choice), Virgil Hunter (or another well-spoken veteran trainer like Robert Garcia or Barry Hunter), and a fighter (PBC has a nice crop of fighters who are good and aware behind the mic).

Fair and engaged announcing, calling competitive fights wins the day, imo.

[Scipio2009]

If anyone in this thread watches fs1 you have to notice all of the subliminals these commentators are dropping. their always using boxing analogies but yesterday colin cowherd had a column about athletes being paid more and wanting less this was slapshot at the pbc.

I think you're reaching.

Cowherd, if he's shown anything, is that he's a company man. He can feel how he feels, but never shown to be the type of guy to try and draw outrage at the expense of who's writing the check.

The UFC's whole animus, since Dana and the Fertita brothers got involved anyway, has been "boxing is ****". Fox got involved with the UFC, seeing what Dana's done, and seemed cool with it. Bosses not having a problem left Cowherd free to say what he wanted.

Fox Sports will no longer be in the UFC business come 2019. With FOX being in business with the WWE and in all likelihood with PBC, the directives from the top will change.

[lanker rom]

I think you're reaching.

Cowherd, if he's shown anything, is that he's a company man. He can feel how he feels, but never shown to be the type of guy to try and draw outrage at the expense of who's writing the check.

The UFC's whole animus, since Dana and the Fertita brothers got involved anyway, has been "boxing is ****". Fox got involved with the UFC, seeing what Dana's done, and seemed cool with it. Bosses not having a problem left Cowherd free to say what he wanted.

Fox Sports will no longer be in the UFC business come 2019. With FOX being in business with the WWE and in all likelihood with PBC, the directives from the top will change.

That's actually my point. Colin is being given instructions to continuously bring up boxing. Even if he only briefly mentions them inside of a segment or two.

[lanker rom]

https://www.afr.com/business/sport/payperview-the-battle-between-boxing-and-ufc-20180531-h10tg4

[Scipio2009]

It's been confirmed

WWE SmackDown is set to be featured on Friday nights on FOX, with WWE Raw set for USA Network for another 4-5 years.

How they settle the local news issue is still there's to figure out, but we now know for sure that FS1 is left needing a ton of content, and none of that will be filled by UFC.

Thursday Night Football during the NFL season on FOX, Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, Big 12/Pac12 Football on Saturday on FOX/FS1, and the NFL on Sunday on FOX.

With Ortiz-Rios already set for FOX in August, it seems quite likely that we here about the deal for 2019 and beyond in relatively short order

[lanker rom]

WWE SmackDown is set to be featured on Friday nights on FOX, with WWE Raw set for USA Network for another 4-5 years.

How they settle the local news issue is still there's to figure out, but we now know for sure that FS1 is left needing a ton of content, and none of that will be filled by UFC.

Thursday Night Football during the NFL season on FOX, Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, Big 12/Pac12 Football on Saturday on FOX/FS1, and the NFL on Sunday on FOX.

With Ortiz-Rios already set for FOX in August, it seems quite likely that we here about the deal for 2019 and beyond in relatively short order

I agree fs1 just bought bowling they need content. But Ive been thinking that the UFC wanted 400 million for there tv deal I believe they only got 300 million (don't quote me). What if Zuffa decided to be Haymons promoter for his fox/fs1 fighters. Sorta like the NWA model but for networks instead of locations.

Also You were on to something with the Mayweather Promotions theory. What if promoters will be used as ways to get fighters to choose tough competition. Also they could find ways to force fighters to go for the knockout.

remember Mayweather publicly said he told haymon about paying fighters so much and them not fighting the best.

Also Zuffa could be trying to push out top rank from ESPN after all ESPN was more interested in their Library than their actual fights.

[lanker rom]

Just throwing some things out their btw

[Scipio2009]

I agree fs1 just bought bowling they need content. But Ive been thinking that the UFC wanted 400 million for there tv deal I believe they only got 300 million (don't quote me). What if Zuffa decided to be Haymons promoter for his fox/fs1 fighters. Sorta like the NWA model but for networks instead of locations.

Also You were on to something with the Mayweather Promotions theory. What if promoters will be used as ways to get fighters to choose tough competition. Also they could find ways to force fighters to go for the knockout.

remember Mayweather publicly said he told haymon about paying fighters so much and them not fighting the best.

Also Zuffa could be trying to push out top rank from ESPN after all ESPN was more interested in their Library than their actual fights.

With Zuffa already moving it's entire content package to ESPN/ESPN+, and Fox Sports already having a good relationship with Haymon that seems to be on solid ground, it doesn't make much sense to pay Zuffa when they can get the direct deal with Haymon, imo anyway.

UFC doesn't have the juice to push Top Rank out of the picture, but it's clear as day that ESPN isn't going to simply stand by for Arum's bull****.

Golden Boy is gone when their time buy is up though