PBC In Talks With Amazon Prime

In some recent boxing news, Al Haymon has reportedly had talks with Amazon Prime in an attempt to get a new broadcasting deal for PBC in light of reports that Showtime will exit boxing next year.

According to reports, Showtime cannot rule out an exit from boxing after Stephen Espinoza responded to the rumours. In response, ESPN’s Dan Rafael confirmed that PBC was looking for another network as the Showtime deal expires in 2024. And now it appears that Amazon Prime could be one of the next networks.

PBC And Showtime’s Future

“The rumors are at the end of the year that they are out of the business, at least in terms of Showtime ChampionshipBoxing and ShowBox. I don’t know this for a fact, but I’ve heard it from so many people who are tuned in from all walks of the industry. Not just boxing people, mind you. This are other people in television who know this type of situation. That will be the end of it at the end of the year. I hope that’s not true,” Dan Rafael said 

Amazon Prime is certainly capable of pulling off a deal, given that they do have the financial power to compete. They have already bagged NFL rights on the streaming service, but their intentions are not exactly clear.

According to Chris Mannix, there still needs to be a decision as to whether Amazon Prime would replace Showtime as a full boxing provider, or if it would simply hold one-off events.

This is significant given that fighters have to be built slowly before they can become pay-per-view stars. And that does require them to have consistent fights on undercards before they can garner headlining status.

PBC And Amazon

“I don’t know what Amazon is looking to do, to become a Showtime-like boxing provider, or are they looking for a one-off show? I don’t know the answer to that question. There has been dialogue between Amazon & PBC officials. It’s kind of depressing. People that celebrate Showtime’s exit are [blank]. Showtime has done a great job for 25+ years at broadcasting boxing. Any type of provider like that goes out, it’s not good for boxing,” Mannix stated

The outcome will be crucial moving forward given the competition that PBC will be up against. DAZN are currently operating alongside Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions.

Meanwhile, Top Rank and ESPN continue to align themselves to produce some of the best young talent around, leaving PBC with much to think about moving forward.

Beyond Amazon

Outside of Amazon Prime, there is an outside chance that PBC could approach DAZN. The latter is in need of cracking the market in the United States following a mixed response to their introduction.

And a big stable with PBC could do just that. However, there would have to be better relations between the networks and promoters.

Eddie Hearn and Leonard Ellerbe do not have the best of relationships. Meanwhile, PBC and DAZN have found it tough to make fights together. But a broadcasting deal between the two could change that.