ESPN-Top Rank Deal

[Queen B]

Some details below

Its a 4 year deal
18 shows + 2 ABC shows next year
ESPN paying Top Rank very little money however

ESPN and Top Rank declined to discuss the terms of the deal, but the amount the network will pay over four years is estimated to be less than the cost of a single “Monday Night Football” game.

The Top Rank deal will bring 18 fights to ESPN’s networks next year, two on ABC (Disney owns both ESPN and ABC) and several more on ESPN Plus, the streaming service ESPN will start in 2018. The deal will aim to alter the economics and visibility of boxing, while giving ESPN dozens of hours of relatively cheap programming.

While the agreement with Top Rank is minuscule compared with other broadcast rights deals, so far it has provided ESPN with good value. Last year, for instance, including the playoffs and finals, ESPN paid the NBA roughly $3.40 for each person who watched one of its NBA telecasts. For the Lomachenko-Rigondeaux fight, ESPN paid Top Rank slightly more than $1 per viewer.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/sports/espn-boxing.html

 

[Sakuraba7]

"For the Lomachenko-Rigondeaux fight, ESPN paid Top Rank slightly more than $1 per viewer."

Doesn't sound that cheap to me. Especially if we go by the article saying they paid the NBA $3.40 /viewer.

 

[007]

They fired Teddy Atlas for speaking the truth

 

[Sakuraba7]

They fired Teddy Atlas for speaking the truth

They didn't fire him. He has another 2-3 years on his contract. He's simply not doing commentary anymore.

 

[007]

They didn't fire him. He has another 2-3 years on his contract. He's simply not doing commentary anymore.

good to know. ESPN didn't like Teddy speaking his mind

 

[jreez]

good to know. ESPN didn't like Teddy speaking his mind

It seems like ESPN is making him do interviews when fighters are at training camps, doesn't seem like a bad gig.

 

[jreez]

Whatever the deal truly entails, Bob Arum is a snake like most promoters. I just hope the fighters get what they deserve.

 

[Seano]

They fired Teddy Atlas for speaking the truth

They fired Teddy Atlas because he sucks. Fans tune in to watch fights not listen to bitter Teddy on his soapbox.

 

[Seano]

good to know. ESPN didn't like Teddy speaking his mind

No one did. He's turned into a conspiracy nut, seeing shadowy figures at every judges table.

 

[USAUSA1]

Still WAYYYYYYYYYY better than PBC buying timeslots.

 

[Sharkey]

That's a hell of a fight to get for a mere $2 million in rights fees.

 

[USAUSA1]

I think the average NFL MNF game cost ESPN $68 million. I assume Top Rank is making at least $40 million per year off this deal.

 

[DeJulez]

That's a hell of a fight to get for a mere $2 million in rights fees.

Pacquiaos next fight should do ok numbers.

 

[nac386]

Pacquiaos next fight should do ok numbers.

Have there been any rumors about who he is fighting?

 

[Queen B]

Just 1 day after this article is written, John Skipper (who is ESPN's CEO and Arum's friend) gets fired for substance abuse

On Dec. 9, ESPN’s president, John Skipper, made his way from the Heisman Trophy ceremony to the Garden in time for the Lomachenko-Rigondeaux main event. James L. Dolan, owner of the Knicks and the Rangers, and Steve Tisch, owner of the Giants, sat nearby. Skipper’s network indirectly pays both men tens of millions of dollars annually.

But on this night, Skipper wasn’t sitting with Dolan and Tisch. He was front and center, with duBoef and Bob Arum, the legendary boxing promoter who founded Top Rank. For one night at least, they were the most important ESPN partners in the room.

Photo

The president of ESPN, John Skipper, in glasses, sat between Todd duBoef, left, and Bob Arum of Top Rank.CreditSam Hodgson for The New York Times