US TV
New reality show looking for boxing champ
Published Wednesday, Feb 25 2004, 02:11 GMT | By James Welsh
NBC has announced that it intends to air The Contender, a new reality show from Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice), film star Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), and Jeffrey Katzenberg at DreamWorks SKG.
The show will go in search of "the next boxing superstar," NBC announced in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Mark Burnett said:
"This competitive series will feature unscripted drama of the highest caliber that gives hopeful fighters a chance to follow their dreams in the ring. We’re looking to reclaim a part of America that has been missing – where are the Sugar Ray Leonards of the world? We all agree no one can recall who owns what belt and we want to make boxing a sport people can believe in again."
Sixteen episodes will follow aspiring boxers as they go through a training camp and a number of ring challenges. Potential contestants can find application information on NBC.com.
Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, News and Cable Group, explained where the show will fit in the reality TV marketplace:
"We are thrilled to be on the same all-star team with Sylvester Stallone, Mark Burnett and Jeff Katzenberg in pursuit of a universal concept such as fulfilling an all-American dream. The Contender transcends traditional audiences and is a natural for NBC since it combines a built-in boxing fan base with the network's core of 18-49, upscale viewership."
The show will go in search of "the next boxing superstar," NBC announced in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Mark Burnett said:
"This competitive series will feature unscripted drama of the highest caliber that gives hopeful fighters a chance to follow their dreams in the ring. We’re looking to reclaim a part of America that has been missing – where are the Sugar Ray Leonards of the world? We all agree no one can recall who owns what belt and we want to make boxing a sport people can believe in again."
Sixteen episodes will follow aspiring boxers as they go through a training camp and a number of ring challenges. Potential contestants can find application information on NBC.com.
Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment, News and Cable Group, explained where the show will fit in the reality TV marketplace:
"We are thrilled to be on the same all-star team with Sylvester Stallone, Mark Burnett and Jeff Katzenberg in pursuit of a universal concept such as fulfilling an all-American dream. The Contender transcends traditional audiences and is a natural for NBC since it combines a built-in boxing fan base with the network's core of 18-49, upscale viewership."
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