Why Setanta is bad for boxing

I know what your saying but surely having the big fights on Setanta is better than nothing. Sky Sports cannot even be bothered paying for the rights to have the fights anymore, and ITV clearly have no interest.

So in a way Setanta is good for us boxing fans, at least it provides a source for us to watch the fights on.

If all three channels were battling for the rights to air these fights, and the subscription channel Setanta was winning the rights - then yes I'd view it as bad for boxing, however, at least some channel are bothering their arse so that us real boxing fans can at least get to see the big fights.

They also may be unprofessional, but let's not forget they're new - with time the service provided can only improve.

You have to give them credit for recognising a gap in the market that is there to be exploited.

 

Jeff Its Not Gonna Happen - Wait Till Next Year When We Have To Pay Sentanta 20-00 A Month

 

Have June Sarpong as the commentator

I do think it's a terrible shame that such a big UK fight is going to be seen by so few. Another reason to hope it's a corker, perhaps either the Beeb or ITV might loosen up the purse strings to show it on a repeat at the very least.

Definitely disappointing though.

 

Has Anyone Got The Viewing Figures For Any Of These Fights On Sentanta - Im Just Wondering How Many Ppl Are Putting A Tenner Into The Pot -

 

Calazaghe-Kessler Was Around 500,000. Which Is Pretty Good For It Being On At 2AM.

Jesus, It's Hard Work Pressing Caps Lock For Each Word.

 

THERS YOUR ANSWER JEFF - 5MILLION ONE FIGHT - CAN YOU SEE ITV OR BBC PUTTING UP SAY 3 MILL

 

IT'S NOT PAY PER VIEW THOUGH. IT'S A SUBSCRIPTION SO THAT 5 MILLION GOES TOWARDS ALL THE OTHER SPORTS/COVERAGE THEY BROADCAST.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BUY THE RIGHTS TO A FIGHT.

 

DOESNT MATTER THATS A ROUGH FIGURE - I GUESS YOULD ONLY HAVE 20% SENTANTA SUBSCRIBERS WATCHING THE BOXING ANYWAY

 

OF COURSE IT MATTERS.

NO WAY DID THEY PAY MILLIONS TO BROADCAST THE FIGHT.

ITV COULD EASILLY RIVAL IT WITH A BID - AFTER ALL 2 MILLION WATCHED CALZAGHE-LACY,ALSO, AT 2AM.

AND WITH SUCH LARGE VIEWING FIGURE EVEN SO LATE, THEY'D MAKE PLENTY MONEY VIA ADVERTISING AS THEY'D HAVE THE LIONS SHARE OF THE AUDIENCE.

MY POINT BEING, ITV HAVE SHOWN NO AMBITION IN BROADCASTING THE BIG FIGHTS. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS MONEY TO BE MADE WITH THE HELP OF A LITTLE HYPE.

 

ITV and the BBC are generaly good towards sports and if they managed to pull in an 8-10 million average for the boxing they would fork out the £3 to £5 million needed. The huge exciting fight such as Calzaghe vs Kessler and now Macca vs Haye would do this on a Saturday night. Fact is they would not be happy spending all that and then having to screen the fight after midnight.

Warren etc knows that Setanta are happy paying the daft money at the moment and that they are ready to outbid the terrestrial channels on boxing.

ITV have put their money into the Froch fight so I would not be surprised if they were not inclined to go for the next few big fights coming up but unfortunetly ITV and Warren are having a tiff at the moment with Warren talking a lot stupid **** about ITV and ITV pissing Warren about in return.

Hopefully ITV will keep buying one off fights from other promoters and the BBC will still be keen to show a decent highlight package like they have been doing.

 

This fight is only happening because Setanta/Showtime were willing to pay for it to happen!
Terestrial TV are shite at promoting sports, even when Khan fights i see 2/3 adverts in the week before his fight hyping the bout.

As someone mentioned, SKY and Setanta are so much better at promotion, who would have thought they could get 5,000+ going to watch darts every week?????

 

I don't even have Setanta.

I go to my cousins house to watch all the fights...he gets it with Virgin Media.

So ive no idea what the service is like in general.

 

I guarentee Haye vs Macca and Calzaghe vs Kessler at prime time would not for 8mil+

Also Calzaghe vs Lacy got 2mil for the replay at 3pm on the sunday, the actual live event got 250k

 

No chance, it got 2 million live.

I remember reading it in reference to the live event - I was quite shocked and it was discussed a lot on forums.