Moments ago HBO PPV whiz, Mark Taffet has informed ******talk.com that the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales rematch generated 350,000 pay-per-view homes, approximately 10,000 more homes than their March 2005 encounter.
It seems that the days, when Filipino boxers knocking on an American promoter's door gets driven away, are dissolving into the past.
American boxing managers and promoters have been reportedly flying to the archipelago to take closer looks at prospects.
It may be because Filipino fighers have become better. But it surely is because, seeing the numbers in Pac fights, promoters are listening to what Filipino PPV buyers (recent ones, as many of them are) are saying.
The Filipino PPV market is becoming a player, and if a Bautista, a Jaca and a couple more join Pac in the world stage, the market can only grow.
i was one of those who went into the movie house... we paid roughly $6.50 per head... to think that they opened close to 40 cinemas with seating capacity of at least 200... roughly $52,000 in sales... not to mention the PPV on dream cable which was pegged at $4 each... nyahahaha...Not bad for a few hours' take at the box office, buddy! Looks like Pac was not the only Filipino who made a killing that day, eh?;)
How many of these buys came from America is what I'm wondering...:DThe numbers stated are US. A Philippine network distributed the fight on PPV in the Middle East and parts of Asia, particularly South East Asia (except, I'm sure, Thailand where they had a Thai fighter fighting for an alphabet belt in the US, on at the exact airtime block on Thai free tv).
In the Philippines, the fight was on free tv (with loads of commercials, which I personally had to go through as I watched in the Passengers' Lounge of the Mactan International Airport in Cebu, an island in the middle of the Philippine archipelago. They taped the action, inserted the ads then broadcast it. There was a huge time delay.), as well as close-circuit in several movie houses nationwide. At the movie houses, it was "live" and "direct" and without commercial interruptions. One has to pay for admission though. I didn't check how much the tab was because I knew my schedule won't allow me to go.
The numbers for the "sub-distribution" are not in yet, but it should be very significant, given the large Filipino expats in those areas.
Based on passed performance and the number of new fans gained. I would expect a considerable amount will have been exposed to the lure of Pacquiao. I would see a Pac/Barrera fight to surpass 400k.
yeah, i bet there are alot of fans that wished they would've ordered the fight live now. i'm sure glad i did. Pacquiao's performance was worth every penny.
actually i was expecting the bust somewhere around 400k too but i think the turn out was more than decent for a non-title fight. morales loss to raheem maight have contrivuted to some people losing interest in shelling out $45 and rather wait for freebie a week later.
i did order and it was worth every penny considering i paid all of it even though my friends and i agreed we'll chip in for the ppv fee. heck the food and drinks were even free! but it was alright, they're my friend anyway and the best part of it is that our idol won and we enjoyed watching the fight! what could you ask more for $44.95 + $1 connection fee <- robbery). :)
yeah, i bet there are alot of fans that wished they would've ordered the fight live now. i'm sure glad i did. Pacquiao's performance was worth every penny.