Former Los Angeles Chargers LB Launches FREE Sports TV Network

Former Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Shawne Merriman’s curiosity for television production was first piqued when still on the football field. In his words, “I had no idea that this would lead me here.”

‘Here’ is the launch of Lights Out Sports TV , a free sports TV streaming service that will showcase sports genres across the entire sporting landscape, including his own mixed martial arts promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting and chess tournaments, World Poker Tour, and even TNA Wrestling.

“I look back on it now and I had a different level of curiosity,” he told Fox News Digital. “I remember going to Sunday night games and seeing the cameras and the lights and all the people working back there and I just remember asking questions all the time. That’s what led to me understanding and loving the production side of things, which is why I got into the production side with Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. We have all in-house production and I was always curious about it.”

Los Angeles Chargers LB Launches Sports TV Network

The idea found more footing for Merriman when he noticed a distinct lack of high-quality free sports content on other TV channels. His goal is to create a central hub for sports fans, as Merriman calls it, ‘a locker room.’

“I’ve had this idea for so long to create a locker room in one place and we got it,” he said. “It’s completely free, 100% free. It’ll be on every major TV platform. And soon, you’ll be able to get it all over the world and that was my main thing.”

Lights Out Xtreme Fighting’s Lights Out 16 will stream on Lights Out Sports. The five-hour broadcast will feature 19 fights. The main event is between Gilbert Nakatani vs Roy Echeverria for the Flyweight Championship Belt on May 18th at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, CA.

Merriman told Fox News Digital, that ‘he partnered with OTTera to help create the channel and he had to learn the ad tech side of the streaming business while coming up with the ideas of what he wanted the channel to look like.’

OTTera is an LA-based service that allows companies to quickly launch customized, cost-effective ‘over the top’ applications and FAST (free, ad-supported TV) channels.

Shawne Merriman was drafted by the Chargers organization 12th overall in 2005. He played for the team from 2005 to 2010, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. He compiled an impressive 43.5 sacks in just 60 games with San Diego.

Merriman earned the nickname Lights Out at Fredrick Douglass High School after rendering four opposing players unconscious in one game. He is also the founder of the Lights On Foundation, which provides winter wear for those less fortunate in the Maryland area.

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