Showtime has promoted Stephen Espinoza to President of Sports and Event Programming. Espinoza has been with Showtime since 2011 as the executive vice president and general manager.
Espinoza made boxing a priority at Showtime and increased its amount of fights on the network. During Espinoza’s tenure with Showtime, the network has helped deliver two of the most-watched pay-per-view events ever – 2015’s Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, and 2017’s Mayweather-McGregor bout. He also inked Mayweather to a six-fight deal that gave Showtime rights to his fights.
Now as head of the division, he’ll oversee the day-to-day operation, which includes boxing, documentaries, and Inside the NFL. Showtime’s documentary division hasn’t delivered many big hits, and the A Season With… college football series that has focused on Notre Dame, Florida State, and Navy is likely its most notable creation.
Under Espinoza’s stewardship, Showtime has overtaken HBO as the pay cable home for boxing, and will continue in that respect this year with 12 title fights in the first half of 2018.
Before Espinoza joined Showtime, he was a partner at Ziffren Brittenham LLP, representing Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, among others. He also served as lead counsel for De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
[Deadline]
