However, unlike in his previous fights, it will not be under HBO presentation as Top Rank boss Bob Arum has decided to self-promote the pay-per-view production by going directly to the networks.
Arum said that his decision was sort of groundbreaking in a way because it will be changing the status quo of pay-per-view productions from thereon.
While he admits that having HBO distribute the pay-per-view productions was convenient, he said that they have done the math and discovered that by directly negotiating with the TV companies, they can save as much as 7.5% charge that usually goes to HBO’s production arm from the fight sales.
He explained that they don’t see the need to negotiate with HBO if they can get all the publicity and the promotion from others by supplying it to the networks that have a much bigger audience than HBO.
Without HBO, there will be no 24/7 series on the fight in the same format but the Top Rank boss is looking to take a different route to supplement the promotion of the fight by selling programming to networks like CBS, NBC, and ABC.
Arum explained that it would also be like 24/7 but it is going to be more innovative. He said that they are going to do major pieces that have never been seen before.