Showtime Names Espinoza as New Head of Sports Programming
Showtime Networks, Inc. has a new man in charge of its sports
programming, but how long the channel’s schedule will continue to
include mixed martial arts remains unclear.
On Monday, Showtime Chairman and CEO Matthew C. Blank announced the hiring of Stephen Espinoza (Pictured) as its new head of Showtime Sports. Espinoza is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the sports and event group, which includes the acquisition and licensing of Showtime pay-per-view sports and event programming. He succeeds Ken Hershman, who left the company in October to take a job as president of HBO Sports.
“Stephen has had a great career that spans sports, entertainment,
television and film,” Blank said in a release. “His deep experience
in a variety of fields and incredible knowledge and contacts within
the boxing and mixed martial arts communities will be an asset to
Showtime as we continue to expand our offerings. I am confident
that he will be a great leader to our already all-star sports
group.”
Before joining Showtime, Espinoza specialized in representing athletes and sports personalities as a partner in the firm of Ziffren Brittenham, LLP. Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Gina Carano were among his most prominent clients.
Showtime’s sports lineup currently includes the Zuffa, LLC-owned Strikeforce promotion. The parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship purchased Strikeforce in March, and has gradually begun moving the San Jose, Calif.-based company’s talent to the Octagon. Three of the promotion’s former champions -- Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem -- have since signed with the UFC.
Since the purchase, fans and pundits have speculated that the Strikeforce roster could ultimately be absorbed by the UFC, much like what happened to World Extreme Cagefighting at the beginning of 2011. Strikeforce signed a five-year broadcast deal with Showtime in February 2009 which called for as many as 16 yearly events; in February 2012, the network can decide whether it wants to continue the current deal.
Strikeforce is scheduled to stage two more events in 2011: Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 20 in Las Vegas, as well as Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Dec. 17 in San Diego. CEO Scott Coker has stated that the company’s next major event is planned for some time in January.
On Monday, Showtime Chairman and CEO Matthew C. Blank announced the hiring of Stephen Espinoza (Pictured) as its new head of Showtime Sports. Espinoza is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the sports and event group, which includes the acquisition and licensing of Showtime pay-per-view sports and event programming. He succeeds Ken Hershman, who left the company in October to take a job as president of HBO Sports.
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Before joining Showtime, Espinoza specialized in representing athletes and sports personalities as a partner in the firm of Ziffren Brittenham, LLP. Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Gina Carano were among his most prominent clients.
Showtime’s sports lineup currently includes the Zuffa, LLC-owned Strikeforce promotion. The parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship purchased Strikeforce in March, and has gradually begun moving the San Jose, Calif.-based company’s talent to the Octagon. Three of the promotion’s former champions -- Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem -- have since signed with the UFC.
Since the purchase, fans and pundits have speculated that the Strikeforce roster could ultimately be absorbed by the UFC, much like what happened to World Extreme Cagefighting at the beginning of 2011. Strikeforce signed a five-year broadcast deal with Showtime in February 2009 which called for as many as 16 yearly events; in February 2012, the network can decide whether it wants to continue the current deal.
Strikeforce is scheduled to stage two more events in 2011: Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 20 in Las Vegas, as well as Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Dec. 17 in San Diego. CEO Scott Coker has stated that the company’s next major event is planned for some time in January.
