Showtime is getting out of the combat sports business.
Paramount president and CEO Chris
McCarthy sent an email to employees stating that Showtime
Sports will no longer move forward with its mixed martial arts and
boxing content at the conclusion of 2023. Instead, the focus will
shift toward “premium scripted services that drive subscribers.”
Yahoo
Sports was first to report the news.
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Showtime Sports was responsible for showing Bellator MMA cards and
numerous major boxing events. This adds to the uncertainty
surrounding the future of Bellator MMA, which in recent months has
been linked to Professional Fighters League in regards to a
potential sale of the California-based promotion. Thus far,
promotion head Scott Coker hasn’t offered much information
regarding the sale, but he did recently
confirm that Bellator was “looking to take a partner” and that
PFL was “definitely in the conversation.”
Bellator
announced an exclusive partnership with Showtime Sports in
early 2021 after previously airing on Paramount Network, DAZN and
CBS Sports Network. Showtime was a standalone streaming platform
until June, when Paramount Global
revealed that Paramount+ would combine with Showtime into one
service.
Bellator 301 on Nov. 17 is currently the last event the promotion
has scheduled for 2023. The card takes place at Wintrust Arena in
Chicago and is headlined by a welterweight title tilt between
Yaroslav
Amosov and Jason
Jackson. While there have been some concerns that Bellator 301
might not happen, it currently appears that the event will take
place as scheduled.
McCarthy’s full memo, which was obtained by
MMAjunkie.com, is as follows:
“As we continue to dedicate a larger percentage of our resources
toward premium scripted series that drive subscribers for us in
both Pay TV and SVOD, SHOWTIME will not be moving forward with
boxing or other content produced by the SHOWTIME Sports and Event
Programming Team. The company’s decision isn’t a reflection of the
work the team and our partners have done, rather a reality of the
world evolving and our shifting content priorities.
“For nearly 40 years, Stephen Espinoza and his team have created
and delivered premium storytelling, thoughtful analysis and
outstanding live production including the biggest combat sports
events in history. We are deeply grateful to Stephen and the entire
team whose collective contributions have helped establish SHOWTIME
as the premium brand it is today.
“Under Stephen’s leadership, they have done a terrific job
establishing SHOWTIME as the #1 destination for boxing around the
world televising nearly 750 live boxing events and 2,000 bouts.
Boxing and SHOWTIME have often been synonymous, and we are grateful
for their hard work and dedication.
“While I’ve only had a few months to get to know and work with
Stephen, I can easily say he is one of the most creative, strategic
thinkers who deeply cares about his team, the brand, and the sports
he champions. I am very thankful to him and the entire group as
they have very dutifully helped us navigate this difficult
transition.
“Stephen and the team will be here through December to oversee the
remaining events on the 2023 boxing slate as we honor all our
obligations through the end of the year.
“Please join me in thanking them.”