Dan Rafael reports today in his blog that while Showtime and HBO are still hammering out the final details of the deal, a tentative framework is in place for Showtime to air the fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitskcho live while HBO airs it on tape delay in the traditional US prime time slot. In the case of a rematch, which is contractually obligated unless the former Ukrainian heavyweight champion elects to retire, the networks will flip positions.
This has been a difficult fight to work out a television deal for because the networks have conflicting exclusive rights, Showtime having the rights of Anthony Joshua and HBO having Wladimir Klitskcho. In the past this has prevented fights from happening at all, or in the two mega PPV events of Lewis/Tyson and Mayweather/Pacquiao, the networks worked together on a joint broadcast. In the case of Joshua/Klitskcho, international money is too big for a US TV deal problem to stop the fight, but the fight isn’t big enough stateside for a joint PPV either.
A compromise is currently being reached. They are apparently quibbling about who gets to announce it and when, whether or not Showtime can show any highlights before the HBO tape delay coverage, and other minor details such as those, but reportedly the major framework is finished. Hopefully it is announced soon.
