ESPN will air a Manny Pacquiao fight next month, in what may be the beginning of a new relationship with Top Rank boxing. In other news, Fox Sports 1 has acquired the Holiday Bowl, and the LPGA’s Solheim Cup is getting over-the-air exposure.
ESPN to Air Pacquiao Fight, on Verge of Top Rank Deal
- ESPN announced Monday that it has reached agreement with Top Rank boxing to carry the July 1 Manny Pacquiao–Jeff Horn bout, the first time Pacquiao has participated in a non-pay-per-view card since 2005. The fight may be a prelude to a long-term agreement between ESPN and Top Rank. Ring TV reported Saturday that the sides will soon announce an agreement which would call for ESPN to carry a minimum of 25 fights over the next two years. [ESPN PR 6.19; Ring TV 6.17 via Sports Business Daily 6.19]
Holiday Bowl Moving to FS1
- Fox Sports has reached a deal to carry the Holiday Bowl and will broadcast the game on Fox Sports 1, it was announced last week. The game had previously aired on ESPN in all-but-one year of its existence (USA carried the 1985 edition). The Holiday Bowl will be the first ever bowl on FS1 and just the fifth of the season’s 41 on a network other than ESPN or ABC. [Fox Sports PR 6.17]
LPGA Solheim Cup to Get Broadcast TV Exposure
- The NBC broadcast network will televise final day coverage of the LPGA’s Solheim Cup this August, the first time since 2002 that the Ryder Cup-style event has been broadcast over-the-air. The bulk of NBC Sports’ 30 hours of coverage will still air on Golf Channel, with NBC accounting for just two. [NBC Sports PR 6.19]
