For the sake of debate, where do you guys see boxing in 5 years from a broadcasting standpoint? This has been on my mind for a little while now and recent threads on SHO's end and the recent poor PPV numbers from DAZN. The premium cable model is now over with the end of SHO and HBO. PBC had forays into network TV like FOX and NBC etc but that never stuck. In the US you have some boxing on ESPN and ESPN+ and DAZN with some fights being PPV after DAZN began as the antidote to PPV much like how PBC started These platforms soon found out that they cannot pay these fighters top dollar and not do PPV For a while I was rooting for bad PPV numbers to see the PPV system die or adjust to how it used to be when it was not abused but reserved for big fights. However, I think the poor PPV performance signals to cable channels, network TV, premium cable and other streaming apps that boxing is not viable or popular enough to take a chance on Where do you think boxing is headed from a broadcast standpoint? Amazon Prime? Consolidated to ESPN and DAZN? Back on to TV one way or another?
ESPN and DAZN will continue to be the primary boxing outlets, and most people will watch on these internet platforms. Personally I love this, as someone who hasn't subscribed to cable for 30 years, and never had HBO, Showtime etc. I am not the least bit sad to see that inaccessible and expensive model be replaced by one that is less costly and more accessible.
The boxing promoters created an unsustainable model. Which is, start milking fighters earlier in their careers to maximize profits. It sounds like a good idea, a lot of money is made, but you cannot keep paying fighters millions of dollars with only 10-15 fights and never fought any top guys. As a result you get the major platforms for boxing(Showtime, HBO) too stressed. They put on PPV events that flop because the undercards are terrible and the main event is either unworthy to be a PPV or the outcome is a foregone conclusion. In otherwords, the stations don't make or lose money.
I guess we will see how serious amazon prime is about hosting boxing. Now the players are amazon, dazn and espn. I heard rumors of espn dropping top rank but those could be false. The future is uncertain for boxing being televised in the US going forward.
