MUMBAI: Even the most successful television and film producers have products that do not work. Reality TV guru Mark Burnett is no exception.

US broadcaster NBC has decided not to renew its boxing based reality show The Contender. The finale of the first season which aired on 25 May attracted six million viewers according to Nielsen estimates.

While the show did add family drama it failed to attract a healthy female audience. The final episode saw Sergio Mora triumphing over Peter Manfredo Jr. Manfredo lost a unanimous decision to Mora, who dominated from early on and who as late as the sixth round was dismissively shaking off Manfredo's punches.

Still Manfredo can be happy over what he achieved. He was eliminated in the series' first episode, only to be voted back in when boxer Jeff Fraza quit because of chicken pox.

NBC's decision not to give the show a second chance was booed by a sold out crowd at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Fans in the audience heckled NBC president Jeff Zucker at the encouragement of an announcer. The finale saw celebrities like actress Cameron Diaz There's Something About Mary and comedian Eddie Murphy Beverly Hills Cop in attendance.


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