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Next Great Champ

after losing bid for The Contender, FOX orders Oscar De La Hoya boxing series.

by Andy Dehnart 20 Apr. 2004 | 6:30 am

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.

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De La Hoya rejected The Contender because it’s a “tough-man contest.”

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about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Pacific Standard, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association, Andy, 40, directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. More about reality blurred and Andy.

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reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

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