Why isn't boxing on major networks anymore?

[Ray Corso]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ + Promoters!!! Simple as that! Ray.

[MartinC]

TV is all about sponsors, suprised no body suggested it.

[Scott9945]

TV is all about sponsors, suprised no body suggested it.

Read post #16.

[Anthony342]

The sponsors who pay for "main event time" won't pay the same price for taped replays of earlier prelim fights. Most of the casual fans who tune in change the channel or leave once the big fight has ended. That's a big difference if you're paying top dollar.

So how is it able to survive every year on a commercial station like ESPN 2? Because sponsors won't pay for it on NBC, but will on ESPN? And why is that? Is it just less expensive for them?

[Scott9945]

So how is it able to survive every year on a commercial station like ESPN 2? Because sponsors won't pay for it on NBC, but will on ESPN? And why is that? Is it just less expensive for them?

Advertising on ESPN2 is much, much cheaper than on a major network. And the sponsors aren't nearly as concerned about the main event spots since the show attracts mostly hardcore boxing fans who watch the entire broadcast.

[Anthony342]

But doesn't this just make boxing more of a fringe sport these days, with no major network coverage and only 2 mainstream draws?

How does it continue to make money this way? Advertising? Sanctioning fees? Ticket sales? Or other factors? I just don't see how it's able to survive this way.

[croz]

Cable companies pay promoters more money for less work
Same with the boxers.
Cable companies also rely on sub fees and PPV buys from boxing fans to fund their big shows like Game of Thrones. The more money HBO pays the boxer the less likely other networks are going to bid against them. Showtime is the only other one who bids against them and look how HBO **** themselves when they took Pac from them.

[Panamaniac]

Just wondering...

What if a young, brash, Compelling, charismatic KO artist were to happen upon the scene, would that make a difference?

I seem to remember a fellow with those same attributes reviving boxing in the 60's... Hmmm. Can't seem to remember his name...

[tadpole25]

because the great athletes have moved to the sports that they do air

[jaded]

HBO changed the way the things were done. They came along and stole away boxing and used it as a way to promote the HBO package and then took it one step further by selling PPV's. Showtime came along and started competing with HBO using the same formula. Now with that being said...I just finished watching an interview with Bernard Hopkins on Jim Rome not 15 mins ago and it seems boxing will be making a return to CBS in the near future...and I'm looking forward to it.