SHOWTIME Sports® announced a powerful new documentary, PRISON FIGHTERS: 5 Rounds To Freedom, which examines a controversial practice in Thailand’s criminal justice system whereby inmates can earn their freedom by winning a series of Muay Thai fights. A SHOWTIME Sports original production, the 90-minute sports film will premiere on Friday, Feb. 24 at 8:30p ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
The state-sponsored rehabilitation program, popularly known as Prison Fight, is not reserved for petty criminals. Under the law, violent criminals, including those convicted of murder and sexual assault, have been freed and, in some cases, fully absolved of their crimes through their participation in Prison Fights.
“This story is unlike anything we’ve ever encountered,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Redemption is a common metaphor in sports stories, but this is a story about actual redemption and rehabilitation, with prisoners literally fighting for their release from prison. This sports film brings viewers inside a personal story of crime and punishment, set against a societal debate about the meaning of justice, rehabilitation and the opportunity for a second chance.”
Narrated by Ron Perlman, the sports film PRISON FIGHTERS centers on the story of Noy Khaopan, a convicted murderer serving time in the Khao Prik Prison in Thailand. Viewers will follow Noy’s journey through Prison Fight and hear from his family, as well as from the heartbroken family of Noy’s victim. Ultimately, Noy’s freedom rests on one final fight, which poses a critical question: Can violent men redeem themselves through violent acts?
But while Noy and other inmates fight literally for their freedom, the Prison Fight program has also attracted professional Muay Thai fighters from around the world eager to test themselves in this unique environment. American Cody Moberly of Wichita, Kan., a professional fighter training and competing in Thailand with a redemption story of his own, serves as Noy’s opponent in the final high-stakes fight.
The sports film also focuses on former World Champion boxer “Oh” Sirimongkol Singwangcha, who now runs a training facility on the outskirts of Bangkok. Once considered Thailand’s Manny Pacquiao, “Oh” was convicted of drug possession years earlier, but earned his way to freedom through the Prison Fight system.
PRISON FIGHTERS: 5 Rounds To Freedom is produced by Sports Emmy® award winner Jason Bowers, written by author and Sports Emmy award-winning writer Mark Kriegel and directed by Micah Brown. PRISON FIGHTERS: 5 Rounds To Freedom is among several distinct and provocative sports films available on SHOWTIME. Other recent titles include “RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: The Lawrence Phillips Story”; “ONE & DONE” (Ben Simmons); “KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE,” “IVERSON,” “PLAY IT FORWARD” (Tony Gonzalez), “I AM GIANT: Victor Cruz,” “THE DREW” (Baron Davis), and “DEAN SMITH.”
IN OTHER NEWS…
In other sports entertainment news, according to Cynopsis, Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp picked up a majority interest in TNA IMPACT Wrestling, forming Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions. “We are thrilled to have acquired TNA IMPACT Wrestling,” said Ed Nordholm, Executive Vice President of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., the parent of Fight Network, in the article. Nordholm will become President of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions. “As we grow Anthem’s linear, digital and mobile platforms globally, top tier content with global appeal is key to that success and this acquisition is a perfect strategic addition to our portfolio. IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand around the world for more than a decade and we are confident that Anthem can leverage its assets and strategic partnerships to take IMPACT Wrestling to even greater heights.”
After watching the fall of TNA, that will be an impressive feat.
In case you missed it:
Last month, The Hollywood Reporter published an article about the decline of the NFL’s Thursday night ratings. It was a recap of the panel that spoke on the topic at the 44th annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference last month. Former HBO Sports president Ross Greenberg of Ross Greenberg Productions, Tony Ponturo of the NYU Tisch Institute for Sports and executive coach for Turnkey Sports & Entertainment and others discussed the NFL brand, its audience appeal and possible challenges during a Wednesday panel, with some suggesting that the added exposure from Thursday Night Football may be hurting ratings.
First it was discusssed that there were several distractions from football in November. CBS Corp. chief research officer David Poltrack said that “incremental competition from the coverage of the presidential race” was the key driver behind the NFL ratings trends. However, he said average ratings have been up 15 percent since Election Day, which was stronger than the gain recorded over the same period in 2015.
Interestingly, it was discussed that Thursday Night Football should be eliminated altogether, but of course the almighty dollar that Thursday Night Football brings in would prevent that from happening. Phew.
If you want to read the article in its entirety and let me know how you think that the NFL should improve its ratings, there article is here.
