How to make PPV Boxing work in the UK??

The Beeb is owned by the State, it's commercial value is obviously less important than SKY (though, sadly, in this day an age, it is a factor). When you look at the BBC's responsibilities, it is a far, far bigger organization than SKY.

It is also a potential life saver for boxing. If the Promoters actually start producing a product people want to see; the BBC is morally and perhaps more important, legally obliged to look into this.

 

No. What I was referring to were independent estimates of the BBC's commercial value. And they usually put it behind Sky. Should the merger go through it will certainly be way behind News International in the UK.

And the BBC hasn't been interested in paying big money for top quality boxing for decades. They are not obligated to pick up sports that they don't want to and are in the process of cutting 20% from their budget. You're living in fantasy land if you think the BBC will every show any real interest in boxing again.

 

Some good posts from Will Cooling and TBooze, thanks for the insight :good

 

All I rememebr is that we had Benn-McClellan go down and then a week later Naz absolutely killed some guy and ITV took frit and didn't come back for over a decade.

 

My hope with the BBC (or any other terrestrial broadcaster) is that the 2012 boxing team will really capture the nation's attention and the public will want to see then when they turn pro.

 

I hope so but we need Gold medals if thats the case i mean we had a big heavyweight hope and a gold medallist at the last Olympics and a world am champion and a real buzz about the team but not really a flicker.


Good thread this guys :good

 

News International merger (if it happens, please No) does put SKY on a different level no doubt. We are debating Minutiae, there are factors that could win the size debate for both organizations.

But this does not take away from the fact, the BBC has to factor in popularity, and if Boxing did get its act together, it would force the BBC to look into its current no Boxing policy, 20% cuts or not...

 

Can somebody please answer me the question in their opinion why Sky were able to invest so heavily in Eubank and Naz and offer them multi million pound contracts and now their budget is much smaller and they are not prepared to invest that kind of money in any boxers or promoter?

How was Sky able to justify this when they were a brand new company when i assume subscriptions were much less than they are now

 

Cooncidence (or bad timing). ITV lost Sports Network and its big attraction Naseem Hamed; Eubank signed a huge contract with SKY (The infamous World Tour). And although ITV tried to make stars of the likes of Neary and Regan, it was obvious it was fighting a losing battle.

 

After the whole Audley Harrison debacle I doubt will ever see BBC involved in big time boxing. Seriously that £1m contract was an insult to all license fee payers!

Did ITV show live coverage of domestic low level Sports Network fights?

 

Live, no not normally, the programme was structured purely around the main event. But what did get, was depending on the length of the main event, action from earlier that night. Also shows like Sports World Extra would pick up stuff.

But earlier than that (ending in the early 90s) you had Midweek Sports Special and for the BBC; Sportsnight that regularly showed bills, and on top of that ITV had the excellent Seconds Out, that helped develop in particular Benn and Eubank, but also many future stars of tomorrow.

BBC's Sportsnight showcased Lawless talent, like Gary Mason, Jim McDonnell and Michael Watson.

 

SKY made huge losses early on. But its strategy seemed to be, buy Mainstream, hence the Football and Boxing. Show me the fighters as popular as Benn, Eubank, Naseem and Bruno were, and SKY will put the money up to show case them...

 

subscriptions will be much higher now, but the cost of showing so much football will also be so much more. i wonder what percentage of the sky sports budget goes on football alone

 

I would love to know what Skys budget for each different sport is and how boxing compares anybody got any guesses i would say that Skys budget for a years boxing would be about 7 million? Shot in the dark Rob Palmer! HELP!