With Summer just around the corner, one would think that CBS and Strikeforce would be, at the very least, in early negotiations for another nationally televised fight card. According to Strikeforce CEO, Scott Coker, that isn’t the case. In fact, Coker has said that he hasn’t spoken with any network representatives since their last event in April.

Television programming can be a complex balancing act so it seems strange that both sides haven’t started to work out the logistics of adding an event to the summertime schedule. Although Fedor Emelianenko is set to face Fabricio Werdum in June, a decision hasn’t been made as to which network, Showtime or CBS, will air it.

Coker insists that the lack of communication is par for the course. CBS reacted in a similar fashion in the past.

“It’s something that we haven’t had a conversation with them yet, but probably after this St. Louis fight we’ll sit down with them and have that conversation. This is the same course as the last show. After the Fedor Emelianenko fight in November, it wasn’t like we had our April date right afterward. They have to go back and analyze and know all the data and the sales, and then we have a meeting. But our meeting for the April fight wasn’t until January, I believe. This is the same process we went through last time. This is a normal course of business. Hopefully, we’ll have a great fall date and we’ll have some more great fights on CBS.”

At this point, it seems that the situation should not be seen as a red flag; however, Coker himself doesn’t appear entirely confident in Strikeforce’s affiliation with CBS. Working with Showtime, on the other hand, has apparently been a blessing.

“To have a relationship with Showtime and CBS, and to do as many fights as we do on Showtime, think about the value MMA fans are getting with Showtime. They can watch not only great MMA, but look at the boxing Showtime has had and the great original programming they have. It’s a great value, and a guy can just sit at home and watch MMA on Showtime for free. It’s a great value to MMA fans, and it’s a privilege and an honor for us to be able to host these fights. If it wasn’t for Showtime, we would not be doing the quality of fights that we’re putting together today. (As for CBS), it remains to be seen. I think that it’s going to be a situation where it’s really up to CBS. We’re hopeful that it will happen again.”

Could the brawl in April have cooled the network’s enthusiasm for MMA? Should Strikeforce simply focus on working with Showtime exclusively?

(Source: Cage Potato)