What can we expect for ESPN UK?

i think were all pinning our hopes on one thing here,we dont know that espn will be in trested or even have any intention of showing boxing over here.

 

Well, they are obviously looking to set up a channel having bought the Premiership rights and as they only have the lesser packages that Setanta had they'll need to fill their schedules. Considering that ESPN has a bit of boxing coverage in the States it's not unreasonable to think that they will stick to what they know and look to sign up some promoters. ESPN also has rights to some MMA in the US so buying up the UFC rights would be a good move. I'm sure that outside football boxing and UFC were probably the highest rated sports on Setanta, making them attractive for the new broadcaster.

Now that my team's been relegated I'm not ersed about the SPL.

 

i remeber there used to be the fight network,this was an ok channel but if you had a combat channell showing UFC and boxing ,ppl would subscirbe i think

 

Cant see them securing Showtime and HBO shows i see a bit of brit boxing and fnf, thats ya lot...

 

Same here:good

 

Hopefully they pick up where Setanta left off and maybe add the boxing they show stateside for us to watch. Then maybe I shall subscribe.

 

No reason to think that. What channel is broadcasting the fight in the States is essentially irrelevant to the international rights.

 

Correct. I find it ridiculous that some people still believe who shows what in the states matters over here.

They can't just be a Setanta mark 2-e.g. the lower choice Football matches, UFC and IPL as that has been proven just doesn't sell. From what people have said on here, Boxing would gain them a few more subscribers, but I have a bad feeling they will just pick up pretty much everything Setanta had (bar the PGA Golf which has gone to eurosport) and they will struggle to survive the way Setanta did.

And before people come out with the bull**** of "Oh ESPN are a huge company, owned by Disney, they'll never go bust". Its bull****. ESPN will only dedicate a certain amount of funds to its UK enterprise and if its not making the dough and is leaking cash, they'll pull the plug. They have been successful in the US and in Asia as they show what people want to see. Setanta didn't show what people wanted to see, so I could see problems if they pick up where Setanta left off.

 

Maybe they should just buy Eastenders off BBC and then show all the stuff Setanta did. Then all us sports fans would get to see our sports and idiots who like Eastenders can keep the channel afloat. Or they could just try not wasting money on huge footy deals that are not cost affective no matter iof they are 'sexual sundays' or whatever they used to call em.

 

I see they're showing the Abraham fight tonight!

 

I didn't even know they were setting up a UK Channel. Just assumed we wouldn't be able to see Saturday games.

 

who and in the uk?

 

yh setata sports 1. shame they gone bust

 

Not sure what you're talking about? To my knowledge neither HBO nor Showtime own any broadcast rights to any fights in the UK, nor are they likely to at any point in the future as they don't have UK broadcast outlets. So nobody who wishes to show any fight in the UK would need to pay either HBO or Showtime for the right to do so.

Top Rank are a promotional company rather than a TV company so do have broadcast rights for their fighters fights that they can sell.