Ken Hershman Leaves Showtime, Headed to HBO Sports
by Scott Christ on Oct 13, 2011 2:55 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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HBO has found their successor to the departed Ross Greenburg as the head of HBO Sports, and it's a name familiar to boxing fans: Ken Hershman, the executive vice president and GM of Showtime Sports. From Broadcasting & Cable:
Showtime Thursday confirmed that sports chief Ken Hershman has left the company, and sources say HBO Sports is expected to formally name him to replace Ross Greenburg.
A Showtime spokesperson released the following statement to B&C: "Sports has been an important part of our content lineup at Showtime for many years. We have a great team and great programming in place and our commitment to sports remains strong. We have no announcement about a successor at this time, when we do we will let everyone know."
Hershman has been at Showtime since 1992, and his move to HBO is huge stuff in the boxing world, at least as far as U.S. televised boxing is concerned. Hershman has been widely credited with finding innovative and creative ways to keep Showtime relatively competitive with HBO in the boxing department, most notably the Super Six World Boxing Classic, which wraps up in December after a rocky but overall successful two-year run, and he was instrumental in what almost everyone believes was the nail in Greenburg's coffin at HBO, poaching Manny Pacquiao from HBO in a shock move earlier this year. It was just a one-fight stint for Manny at Showtime, but Hershman and Co. helped get boxing a brief presence on network TV again with that fight.
And he did all of that at Showtime. Imagine what he might be able to do with HBO's bigger money, bigger subscriber base, and bigger ability to land and keep the top fighters in the world.
HBO has already shown improvement in the second half of 2011, so Hershman coming on board should keep that momentum rolling. It's worth wondering what he's like with a major budget, though. There is a legitimate worry that he might get lazy with everything being that much easier. Things like the Super Six didn't come easy, and took a lot of work on his part. But doing something similar at HBO would, in theory, be far easier. This could be both a good and bad thing.
Showtime has no successor in place for Hershman, and I wouldn't expect them to name anyone to a long-term position until 2012. As a boxing fan, without being corny, I'd like to tip my hat to what Hershman did at Showtime, and I feel good for him that his hard work has rewarded him with this opportunity. It's not about HBO being better at Showtime, but facts are facts, and HBO is the bigger fish. Hershman was absolutely, 100%, without question the man most qualified for the job at HBO Sports, and it's good to see that guy get it. Hopefully the move is good for everyone.
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Holy Shit
Game Set Match – HBO
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
Wow
Game changer.
Most people don't know shit about boxing. At all. Period. - Roger Mayweather
by The Kittitas Kid on Oct 13, 2011 5:23 PM EDT reply actions
I will call it what it really is… This is the most significant event that has happened this year. Hershman is a down to the bone… Boxing guy. I don’t want a guy who kisses ass to promoters. We have seen him get down and dirty in fight camp 360 with various promoters and will not let anyone walk over him. He given us countless FOTY type fights with a budget that is 1/3 of HBOs. Honestly he is a people person… I am more than sure he is willing to talk and listen to ppl like us than Greenburg. Much more to say… But epic news
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Oct 13, 2011 5:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Agreed
Interesting questions is whether he tries to bring his focus on the lower weight classes over to HBO. Might we see better cards if HBO is buying three or more good fights for the price of one Andre Berto mismatch or Chad Dawson snoozefest?
by Verklemptomaniac on Oct 13, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he'll still try to find good value
And I don’t doubt they’ll have 3 or 4 more cards a year because of it. That said, small weights just don’t tend to pick up big ratings. I do hope this means no more buying Berto-Rodiguez or Dawson-Tarver II type cards though. Seems like a coup for HBO.
I suspect Showtime will go with someone who doesn’t have a big name. Honestly, this kind of thing works better if you just have a good businessman who understands the sport.
Oh, and note to Showtime – I’m available. I have a decade of experience negotiating deals with difficult personalities, and would gladly move and take a pay cut for the position.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Oct 13, 2011 10:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I am more than sure he is willing to talk and listen to ppl like us
He is very approachable and was willing to talk to me, so I would think that everyone here would have a good chance as well. Also he doesn’t bullshit, which is quite refreshing. I asked him if there was going to be a Agebeko-Mares rematch, he told me that they were going to get it in December. Personal experiences aside, this is great for boxing.
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on Oct 13, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Sweet… when was this?
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Last Comment.
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on Oct 14, 2011 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope it’s not the end of boxing on Showtime. They’re pretty invested in UFC, may not be bothered with boxing anymore. Just finish the Super Six and call it quits.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
i kinda
See it going the other way. And showtime going away from mma. With the way the ufc has raided the strikeforce roster since the take over,and no established #2 promotion to take its spot. Me thanks showtime reinvests in boxing.
He knows the guy with the bandage on his ass is going no were. Were you going fucking no were
by Elstriko on Oct 13, 2011 11:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wouldn't be shocked to see them go in a completely different direction
Nascar’s contract is up soon…
But they’ll still have boxing. Can’t risk losing that audience.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Oct 14, 2011 1:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Huh?
That shit is 100 percent wrong.
First Showtime has Strikeforce not the UFC, major difference, second teh contract is up with SF/Showtime in Feb and the UFC has been taking SF fighters hoping Showtime doesnt extend the deal cause Zuffa wants to kill SF off.
So Showtime isnt invest in the uFC, they dont have the UFC, they have Strikeforce, actually they have a watered down Strikeforce which was pretty watered down in the first place.
If anything they will go back to only boxing next year, maybe they do work out a deal with Strikeforce but even then they would have a second rate mma org , what is a second rate mma org really gonna do for them?
They probably will focus on Boxing and mma with M 1 Global which is a little nothing org with no top fighters in it, they can get Fedor to fight bums and do average ratings.
I hope HBO keeps their forward momentum and doesn’t make him ‘get in line’ as a company guy instead of letting him be a boxing guy.
by KidSleez on Oct 13, 2011 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Huge Move
It could be game-changing for the sport. I can’t wait to read a comprehensive interview done with him on his plans for HBO.
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