Fox won a major decision in court on Friday, allowing them to air their boxing reality show, “The Next Great Champ,” as planned, starting next week.

NBC sued the network for what they said was copying their boxing show, “The Contender,” set to begin in the fall, but a California judge said it was not similar enough to do legal battle.

“The Next Great Champ” stars boxing great Oscar De La Hoya, and was revealed after NBC announced its plans for “The Contender,” a Mark Burnett show starring Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard.

NBC attempted to get an injunction, but failed as to Judge Lisa Hart’s decision. The network alleged that the boxing matches violated state laws. Hart said the matter was not of governmental decision.

As far as “copying” other shows, Fox seems ok with that idea.

Gail Berman, the President of Fox Entertainment, all but admitted that copying the ideas is part of their strategy last month. Berman says it’s a technique that all networks use, have used, and will use again.

“There’s nothing new about this; this is a competitive business,” Berman said during the Television Critics Association press tour. “Producers see what’s working and come up with another take on it. This is the way the business works. It’s unfortunate that they’ve created some sort of drama around something that is the way business works in television and, frankly, the movie business.”

CBS sued ABC last year over the show “I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!” which they claimed was a clone of Survivor. The court said there were many differences that set the shows apart.






Related Stories: