after losing bid for The Contender, FOX orders Oscar De La Hoya boxing series.
Because the world needs at least two, if not three, reality TV boxing series, and because networks don’t fail for plagiarism, FOX has ordered a boxing reality TV series with Oscar De La Hoya. Mark Burnett and Jeffrey Katzenberg aren’t happy, and not just because the series sounds familiar to their planned NBC series The Contender. They’re pissed “because the executives pitched their ambitious plans for ‘Contender,’ both to the network and to De La Hoya’s camp a few months ago,” according to The Hollywood Reporter; FOX bid on it, but NBC won. Katzenberg says, “I’m very concerned about (the Fox series) and I hope that whatever it is that they’re doing is original and their own.” Produced by Endemol, FOX’s series The Next Great Champ may debut before NBC’s. Contestants “will work with current WBC super-welterweight boxing champ de la Hoya” and will “compete for an existing boxing title … and a contract with de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions company,” E! reports.