excellent read, some very interesting points the prospect of boxing being promoted on terestrial TV could give the sport a tremendous boost only thing is, there isnt the depth of american fighters, especially at heavyweight, to sustain peoples interest after pacquiao is gone
As always, terrific piece from Hauser. Arum's right on this one - the key is to give boxing wider exposure and in terms of TV that means going terrestrial. In this country as well why can't we have that domestic stuff/prospects are on BBC or ITV and then they can go to Box Office when they make the big time. So if any fighters do reach world title level the public know who they are.
It looks like a good year coming up for Showtime if Manny is fighting on there. And it's also crunch time for the Super Middleweights and the Super Six. There is also Hopkins/Pascal/Dawson to unfold (although I read that Hopkins v Pascal II might head to HBO?) And that's just off the top of my head. So yeah, some good fights coming up on Showtime this year.
after reading that it may be appear (being the cynic that I am) that Arum perhaps knows that Mosley-Pacquaio won't sell well on HBO, but given the exposure through Showtime/CBS reaching more households then they could actually sell it to more people.
Excellent piece from Hauser. I think Arum has had his eye on screwing HBO over (to a degree) for quite a while. Their apparent bias to Golden Boy and fighters managed by Al Haymon has helped to keep a closed shop when it comes to other promoters getting HBO dates, and the money that goes with it. Ross Greenburg clearly doesn't have a clue, and with HBO losing DLH they really need Pacquiao on their channel - and Arum knows it. Being fed up of hypejobs getting big money for fighting bums (Berto for instance) he feels that a move to Showtime will help shake them up for his benefit (and the sports incidentally). Showtime are really outperforming them at the minute - they've got the S6, Bute, and have shown all the Marquez/Vazquez fights..... basically anything good from promoters other than GBP. Hopefully they'll go bust soon and we might see a fairer, more level playing field.
I love to read Hauser's pieces, but I'm never sure if that is because he is really that good or because among modern boxing writers it is only him and a select few others (Macrae, Mee come to mind) who can actually write well
I agree with this, I have perhaps seen more entertaining fights on Showtime than I have HBO in the last 2 or 3 years. Lopez-Mtagwa was another.
This deal should boost the PPV buys and might just sweeten the pot for the big one to happen. Arum is still an old scrot though
Some of what he says is insightful but there's no counter from hbo or anyone he criticises. And arum is painted as some victim! Arum and king are largely responsible for boxing moving to pay per view! Why's that not mentioned? And the inclusion if malignaggi sums it up. Poor wee Paulie who made good money on hbo despite being awful to watch has the cheek to complain. Not hauser's finest hour. His last hbo piece was pretty laughable too.
Superb and honest article from Hauser,as usual.King and Arum are true promoters and innovaters of the sport and let nothing getting in their way for success.Good on them and perhaps this will get HBO off their high horse and do biz the proper way.