State of Nevada Sanctions Big-Knockout Boxing (BKB) and Will Be Home to Newest Combat Sport

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has sanctioned Big-Knockout Boxing (BKB), a fresh, intense take on conventional boxing developed and owned by DIRECTV.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval joined DIRECTV executives to announce the sport's official sanctioning in Las Vegas. BKB representatives are working to establish their headquarters in the state of Nevada.

BKB is an aggressive new sport, matching up two fighters who face off in “The Pit,” a smaller fighting surface that forces more pound-for-pound action than traditional boxing. Shorter, two-minute rounds encourage aggressive punching and reward offensive fighters. Those who prefer a more defensive style of fighting need not apply.

“The state of Nevada is a world class destination for entertainment and sporting events,” said Governor Sandoval. “There is no better place to launch this new venture than Nevada. I would like to welcome BKB and DIRECTV to our great state.”

“The BKB format offers a new level of fighting intensity, pushing fighters to engage in offense from start to finish, and delivers an experience that both casual and hard core fight fans have never seen before,” said Paul Guyardo, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer for DIRECTV. “The incredible support we've received from the Governor and the Nevada State Athletic Commission is a critical step in BKB's ongoing evolution.”

DIRECTV and BKB have had preliminary discussions with a number of venues to host events in Nevada throughout 2014 and 2015. The use of existing facilities is being considered, but given the uniqueness of the sport, BKB is also exploring the possibility of building its own venue in Las Vegas. BKB's inaugural Nevada event is planned for summer 2014.

About DIRECTV:

DIRECTV DTV is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 37 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 20 million customers access to more than 195 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound, exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET, Emmy-award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for 13 years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to more than 17 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include two Regional Sports Networks (Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh), and minority ownership interests in Root Sports Northwest and Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com.

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