PBC's new broadcast deal: Amazon Prime Video signs Premier Boxing Champions after Showtime shutdown

Tom Gray

PBC's new broadcast deal: Amazon Prime Video signs Premier Boxing Champions after Showtime shutdown image

In October, it was confirmed that Showtime Championship Boxing would take the final 10-count at the end of 2023. As well as being a bitter pill to swallow for fight fans, this wasn’t good news for the Premier Boxing Champions roster, who have been showcased on the network for several years.

Well, fear not, because PBC has struck a new deal with Prime Video. In a press release issued on Thursday, it was confirmed that 150 PBC fighters from a variety of weight classes will be appearing on Prime.

As well as global pay-per-view events, which are anticipated to begin in March 2024, Prime Video will stream a PBC Championship Boxing series. Details on matchups are to follow.

MORE: Showtime Boxing to take final 10-count

“We are thrilled to join with Premier Boxing Champions to bring the best boxers in the world to Prime Video, and to give more fans than ever the chance to experience these must-see events,” said Marie Donoghue, VP, U.S. sports content & partnerships, Amazon.

“With live coverage of PBC action throughout the calendar year, Prime Video continues to bring viewers in the U.S. and around the world the best in sports.”

Bruce Binkow, CEO, Integrated Sports, exclusive agency for PBC, added: “With Prime’s incredible reach and unprecedented marketing power, we’re very excited to reach new audiences for our sport as we continue to present the most exciting, competitive and biggest fights in boxing.”

Fans will be able to watch PBC live at home or on the go, and across hundreds of compatible devices, either by streaming from the web, or using the Prime Video app on smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, game consoles and connected TVs.

Why is PBC moving to Prime Video?

Without Showtime and its pay-per-view wing, PBC was essentially without a home. Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza said of the closure in October: “The company’s decision is not a reflection of the work we have done in recent years, nor of our long and proud history.

“It is not an indictment on the value we have delivered to this network for 37 years, nor, in particular, in 2023. Unfortunately, in a rapidly evolving media marketplace, the company has had to make difficult choices allocating resources, resetting priorities and reshaping its content offering.”

Prime Video has operated within boxing before, notably in Japan for fights involving Naoya Inoue and others. It follows the likes of DAZN and FITE as streaming services tackling the sport. 

Who are PBC's biggest stars? 

Among the 150+ fighters signed to PBC globally are:

  • Undisputed super middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
  • Undisputed welterweight king Terence Crawford
  • Pound-for-pound star Gervonta "Tank" Davis
  • Former two-time super middleweight titleholder David Benavidez
  • World championship twins Jermall and Jermell Charlo
  • Former unified welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr.

Boxing promoters and TV channels for 2024

Promoter U.S. broadcaster/ streaming service U.K. broadcaster/ streaming service
Premier Boxing Champions Prime Video TBA
Top Rank ESPN+ Sky Sports
Golden Boy Promotions DAZN DAZN
Matchroom Boxing DAZN DAZN
Queensberry Promotions TNT Sports ESPN+
BOXXER NBC Sly Sports

Tom Gray

Tom Gray Photo

Tom Gray joined The Sporting News in 2022 after over a decade at Ring Magazine where he served as managing editor. Tom retains his position on The Ring ratings panel and is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.