HBO To Distribute Mayweather-Cotto PPV Event

HBO has secured distribution rights to the May 5 Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view boxing event, the pay TV service announced Thursday.

The fight, which will take place in Las Vegas, will be the first major PPV boxing event of the year pitting undefeated Mayweather against super welterweight champion Cotto. Mayweather last fought on PPV in September, winning a controversial knockout over Victor Ortiz . The fight, which retailed at a suggested price of $59.95, drew 1.25 million PPV revenue and more than $78 million.

Cotto's last PPV appearance was in December when he avenged a prior loss to Antonio Margarito with a 10th round stoppage.

HBO is also in discussions with Top Rank to distribute the June 9 Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley Jr. welterweight championship fight.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.