Boxing is waaaay down on their priority list. It just doesn't pull in numbers or alot of money, AJ aside. The other content is just filler to help disguise the fact they have lost a fair bit of content over the years. You have to think what they make on boxing in a year would barley cover a couple of weeks of football games.
Outside of football and cricket i'd say year round its one of their bigger draws. A huge ppv can do a million buys. That is way more than will be watching their rugby or even most their premier league games. Boxing is doing very well for them. Why do you think they keep buying these international cards like Wilder and spence alongside WBSS? It's not the kindness of their hearts. Boxing is making them money.
BT now have the Champions League and Europa Paint Pot Trophy until 2024 - that should get Tony Hayers foaming at the mouth. The monopoly of Sly Sports is weakening by the Sport these days - certainly not the home of Football, Boxing, UFC, Rugby, Union, Tennis or Cricket. The relentless advances in technology will result in the death of the bin lid on people's walls soon enough.
Alot of thr time they wait and get it on the cheap and face little resistance to get those fights. It's cheap filler for them.I think you are overestimating just how many people watch boxing. Outside a couple of fighters it's a very very niche sport.
The big three, cricket, football and rugby are well ahead. Horse racing and darts do decent numbers. After that boxing is popular and unlike most sports can be set to be on in quieter periods of other sports to fill any gaps well.. You can get 2 million watching a Hughie Fury fight on channel 5. Thats more than will watch most premier league games on sky or bt... Niche? It's hardly