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from mmajunkie.com
CBS Chairman Sumner Redstone doesn't support his network's decision to air mixed martial arts, largely because he doesn't "like the sport" and thinks that it's not "socially responsible" for CBS to air the fights on free TV.
Sumner's comments, which appeared Wednesday in The Hollywood Reporter, have caused a stir in MMA circles.
The harsh critique comes just four weeks before CBS and EliteXC team up for "EliteXC: PRIMETIME," the first installment of the "Saturday Night Fights" series. The debut May 31 event -- the first of four that will air over the next 12 months -- will be the first-ever live MMA event to appear on major U.S. network television.
The decision to air MMA on CBS ultimately was made by CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves. He didn't consult with Sumner before reaching the deal with EliteXC, which was announced in early March.
"Les usually asks my opinion," Sumner said. "Most of the time, he does the right thing."
Sumner made the comments during a panel discussion on the sports industry at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
Another interesting bit coming out of the panel was a comment from Ed Goren, President of FOX Sports. When asked about a potential deal with the UFC, he said, "We don't need money that badly."
However, according to MMA Payout, the UFC continues to negotiate with FOX's entertainment division (rather than the sports division, which assures the UFC would retain most of the creative control) and could soon reach a deal to put the No. 1 MMA brand on FOX prime time.
CBS Chairman Sumner Redstone doesn't support his network's decision to air mixed martial arts, largely because he doesn't "like the sport" and thinks that it's not "socially responsible" for CBS to air the fights on free TV.
Sumner's comments, which appeared Wednesday in The Hollywood Reporter, have caused a stir in MMA circles.
The harsh critique comes just four weeks before CBS and EliteXC team up for "EliteXC: PRIMETIME," the first installment of the "Saturday Night Fights" series. The debut May 31 event -- the first of four that will air over the next 12 months -- will be the first-ever live MMA event to appear on major U.S. network television.
The decision to air MMA on CBS ultimately was made by CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves. He didn't consult with Sumner before reaching the deal with EliteXC, which was announced in early March.
"Les usually asks my opinion," Sumner said. "Most of the time, he does the right thing."
Sumner made the comments during a panel discussion on the sports industry at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
Another interesting bit coming out of the panel was a comment from Ed Goren, President of FOX Sports. When asked about a potential deal with the UFC, he said, "We don't need money that badly."
However, according to MMA Payout, the UFC continues to negotiate with FOX's entertainment division (rather than the sports division, which assures the UFC would retain most of the creative control) and could soon reach a deal to put the No. 1 MMA brand on FOX prime time.
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