MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout

Friday Night Knockout (visually known as MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout for sponsorship reasons) is the branding used for professional boxing telecasts broadcast on the cable network TruTV. This weekly broadcast was co-produced by HBO[1] and Turner Sports.

MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout
The logo for MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on TruTV.
Also known asFriday Night Knockout
GenreProfessional boxing bouts
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running timeVarious
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTruTV
ReleaseMay 1 (2015-05-01) –
December 11, 2015 (2015-12-11)
Related
Premier Boxing Champions

Coverage overview

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What separated TruTV's broadcasts from the time buy deals done by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions on other networks is that advertising on TruTV was 100% sold by Turner Sports. In other words, Turner controlled all the advertising, including TV commercial time, digital inventory and sponsorships.[2]

MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout debuted on May 1, 2015 (from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas[3]) and featured at least eight bouts from the Top Rank promotion. They would serve as lead-ins for fights airing on HBO the next day.[4][5]

The final card[6] aired on December 11, 2015 with Nonito Donaire vs. Cesar Juarez[7] and Félix Verdejo taking on Josenilson Dos Santos[8] from San Juan, Puerto Rico.[9]

Technology

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TruTV's live boxing telecasts featured the first-ever domestic use of “Spidercam” technology,[10] which operates on a four-point system of cables from designated points beyond the corners of the boxing ring. It also has the ability to operate on a four-point system of cables from designated points beyond the corners of the boxing ring.

Commentators

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Kevin Kugler and Bruce Beck[11] provided play-by-play with analysts Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Timothy Bradley[12] and reporter Crystina Poncher.

References

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  1. ^ "Boxing on truTV FRIDAY NIGHT; Zurdo Tops the Card". The Sweet Science. November 19, 2015.
  2. ^ Consoli, John (April 29, 2015). "MBPT Spotlight: Two Sponsors Answer Bell as truTV Laces Up Friday Night Fights". Broadcasting & Cable.
  3. ^ "Crystina Poncher Joins Friday Night Knockout on truTV". MAXX SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. April 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "TruTV to broadcast boxing series". ESPN.com. 30 March 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "Turner Sports Returns to the Ring With HBO and SpiderCam on Friday Night Knockout on truTV". Sports Video Group. May 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  6. ^ Kim, Steve (January 19, 2016). "op Rank's 'Friday Night Knockout' Could Find New Home". Boxing Scene.
  7. ^ Nonito Donaire Drops Cesar Juarez - 1st Knockdown - metroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV on YouTube
  8. ^ "Top Rank Boxing". Facebook. December 11, 2015.
  9. ^ Rafael, Dan (December 11, 2015). "Manny Pacquiao 'not ready' to make choice of final opponent". ABC News.
  10. ^ "MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV Debuts May 1". Top Rank. May 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Abrams, Marc (November 19, 2015). "MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV Returns Tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 20, at 10 p.m. ET". 15rounds.com.
  12. ^ Alvarez, Albert. "Beltran vs. Ao more than just an appetizer". Ron at Ringside.
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