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Boxing in 2013 gained many young viewers and really expanded its ratings in the 18-34 age range.
“The good news is the sport is growing,” HBO Sports vice president Mark Taffet said. “Fans aren’t necessarily looking for something new; they’re looking for a time-tested tradition of a great style who gives the fans a great show.”
“Boxing had a great 2013, and we go into 2014 with some great elements for the fans,” Taffet said.
HBO, which has 28 million subscribers, and Showtime, which has 22 million signed up, reported ****es in boxing viewership. According to numbers provided by Nielsen Media Research, Showtime’s audience for boxing increased 24 percent over 2012 and a whopping 64 percent from 2011.
all averaging 1.3 million viewers or better during peak viewership.
The increased viewing numbers also are trending toward younger fans. Perhaps many mixed martial arts fans also have included boxing in their viewing habits because there were so many good, competitive fights, and, in the end, all they’re looking for is an action-packed scrap.
We are seeing younger viewers tuning in to our boxing events, and we’re trying to come up with wider viewing platforms to promote boxing and cater to younger fans.”
“When we’re on Facebook or Twitter, we’re generating traffic and reaching out to younger people who use that way to communicate,” Espinoza said. “Then they watch the fights and see the great action, and that gets them coming back.
“It’s a way to attract new faces to the sport that we didn’t have in the past, and it’s proving to be very successful. Boxing is a great sport for debate, and it’s the perfect sport for social media.”
Boxing’s growth on cable TV came even though the promoters restrict who they do business with. Top Rank will not put its fighters on Showtime. Golden Boy Promotions refuses to do business with HBO. And while Espinoza and Taffet say they would prefer to work with anyone, both networks are willing to maintain the status quo heading into 2014.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/...expect-more-14
“The good news is the sport is growing,” HBO Sports vice president Mark Taffet said. “Fans aren’t necessarily looking for something new; they’re looking for a time-tested tradition of a great style who gives the fans a great show.”
“Boxing had a great 2013, and we go into 2014 with some great elements for the fans,” Taffet said.
HBO, which has 28 million subscribers, and Showtime, which has 22 million signed up, reported ****es in boxing viewership. According to numbers provided by Nielsen Media Research, Showtime’s audience for boxing increased 24 percent over 2012 and a whopping 64 percent from 2011.
all averaging 1.3 million viewers or better during peak viewership.
The increased viewing numbers also are trending toward younger fans. Perhaps many mixed martial arts fans also have included boxing in their viewing habits because there were so many good, competitive fights, and, in the end, all they’re looking for is an action-packed scrap.
We are seeing younger viewers tuning in to our boxing events, and we’re trying to come up with wider viewing platforms to promote boxing and cater to younger fans.”
“When we’re on Facebook or Twitter, we’re generating traffic and reaching out to younger people who use that way to communicate,” Espinoza said. “Then they watch the fights and see the great action, and that gets them coming back.
“It’s a way to attract new faces to the sport that we didn’t have in the past, and it’s proving to be very successful. Boxing is a great sport for debate, and it’s the perfect sport for social media.”
Boxing’s growth on cable TV came even though the promoters restrict who they do business with. Top Rank will not put its fighters on Showtime. Golden Boy Promotions refuses to do business with HBO. And while Espinoza and Taffet say they would prefer to work with anyone, both networks are willing to maintain the status quo heading into 2014.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/...expect-more-14
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