How Long is HBO Going to Stay in the Boxing Business?

I guess I was off by half a year, it sucks to see the writing on the wall sometimes. HBO was what I watched and helped make me a huge fan of the sport and to me it was painful to watch the last years so I had already made my peace with this. Still I will focus on all the good HBO did for boxing not the BS.

too much irrationality and wild speculations. so just because hbo can no longer boss around showtime means they're going out of boxing?:ugh: what about the simple reason that sho's resurgence in boxing is only because of its close or exclusive ties with gbp/haymon? and of course that only happened because hbo refused to work with gbp. hbo obviously can still thrive without gbp and that something you can't say about sho. without gbp, sho is left with nothing. majority of promoters still prefers hbo but for some weird reasons, boxing is on its way out at hbo:banghead:

im almost 100% certain that ESPN has done ppv fights before...that's with them giving boxing minimal attention...i can only imagine if they decided to give boxing a REAL spotlight boxing, with these network feuds, is ripe for the taking...ESPN already HAS the sports-watching demographic...i would love for them to take a 'sport' away from these movie channels so that these channels realize what they had I am sure ESPN can put on a decent PPV, and I am sure they would sell the **** out of it. Obviously the networks compete but every other sport they at least work civil with each other but in boxing they have taken competition to a whole other level. It has always been something I wondered what if the networks actually worked somewhat toward a similar goal rather than going to each others throat constantly

im almost 100% certain that ESPN has done ppv fights before...that's with them giving boxing minimal attention...i can only imagine if they decided to give boxing a REAL spotlight boxing, with these network feuds, is ripe for the taking...ESPN already HAS the sports-watching demographic...i would love for them to take a 'sport' away from these movie channels so that these channels realize what they had ESPN has aired PPV before. And it can do it again...but that doesnt change things. ESPN may have the ratings...but it can't transform those ratings into a bigger payday for the top fighters in the sport--especially the elite that can put on a PPV. Even with guys like Ward and Donaire who HBO pays over $1mm, ESPN will have to pony up the cash to make it worth the switch. PPV is ingrained too much into the sport's DNA in my opinion. It would take years for a new model to reign. Its a catch 22 of sorts. ESPN has the viewers but the sport isnt popular enough to attract major advertisers. it would be a very very slow shift.

A long time if their overhead can remain minimal. Like anything else overhead dictates longevity when the product fluctuates in quality. A bottom line is the fact you don't know if the fights a barn burner or a marsh mellow roast! Alverez vs Mayweather was advertised as the young lion against the master boxer and the young lion winds up being a kitty cat whose effort was ridiculous! Predicting some sporting events is like predicting the weather the charts have all the measurements and the experts have all the reasons but its up to the two men to "try and win" when you add in the really untested you don't know if he shows up or not! all though Floyd has been pretty good at predicting the weather hahahaha... Ray

i wish ESPN would take over...they're probably richer than both networks and could make the fights that people want to see Unless PPV dies ESPN wont be able to completely take over but maybe somehow they can get Bob and GB to consider working together. Hey we can dream right?

i wish ESPN would take over...they're probably richer than both networks and could make the fights that people want to see That is really the dream scenario, I also think ESPN would do a much better job of working with other networks so instead of pulling in different directions like now maybe they could maybe pull in sort of the same direction at the same time.

What "trend?" "Going all wrong?" Dude you havent backed up ANYTHING you have said. Do you have any info on a decrease in HBO's budget or in how many fights it plans to schedule? Have they cut back on tertiary programming like 24/7, Fight Game, Face Off, etc.? Have they trimmed undercard broadcasts? something...anything other than your observations. Maybe you are on to something but you cant back it up so it looks like you are just reading headlines press releases about fighters signing with Showtime and then saying HBO is on its way out. Mayweather's huge PPV fights have a way of screwing things up, especially for people who are huge fans of his. This is where they're getting all this "Showtime is winning" crap. It's a huge deal to them, when in reality any network can throw huge parties with the kind of money they're throwing. Money Mayweather is not even on Showtime, if you are a subscriber, he's on PPV. We don't have numbers, but it appears that Showtime is spending way more than they're making on Mayweather PPVs. Most of their fighters have been inactive.

Boxing is just bonus to their subscribers. With or without boxing, HBO will be just fine. Worry about Showtime. Despite the huge number of fighters they got, which most of them were built up by HBO, they're still not able to produce fights as fast as HBO does. Don't know why this thread is even necessary.

Hbo is doing fine. They have all these east euro bargains, fan pleasing styles for little money. They trounced showtime both in foty stakes and in viewership last year. And theyre waiting for the gbp fallout. Whether gbp stays intact or not, some of their starlets will have to leave since Showtimes budget cannot support them.

1.5 years is the correct answer Not a very clever or witty retort, 1/10

1.5 years is the correct answer

I think they'll be alright. Of course they will be alright, just like boxing will be alright either way even if it does suck for a while

There might well be a trend towards Showtime dominance given the Haymon factor, but there's also a difference between a trend and a permanent shift. HBO might spend a few years in the doldrums but everything can change very suddenly. Who would have seen Showtime being in such a strong position a few years ago? I never said it was a permanent shift and have said HBO has it within their power to change things if they want that. Someone new could come in to lead the ship and everything could be different if they have the resources t put to work. Part of the premise of the thread was if things do not change course, but this is boxing things can change very fast with a break here and a break there, honestly HBO has kind of been on the wrong end of several break recently so that trend is bound to come around and aid them to some degree (hell the fighters that could change it totally could already be on HBO right now and no one knows it).

I think that all happened for a reason, although I don't think Showtime had an unreal year they put more in and got more out, but their plan worked out and in boxing that is asking a lot so I see your point. You are also right about HBO they had some good nights no doubt, but the question to ask is where are they really going with it, do they want to show some good fights (nothing wrong with that) or do they want to be the King of Boxing To me it is all part of a larger trend as opposed to a one off, but maybe you are correct it certainly could go that way. There might well be a trend towards Showtime dominance given the Haymon factor, but there's also a difference between a trend and a permanent shift. HBO might spend a few years in the doldrums but everything can change very suddenly. Who would have seen Showtime being in such a strong position a few years ago?

What "trend?" "Going all wrong?" Dude you havent backed up ANYTHING you have said. Do you have any info on a decrease in HBO's budget or in how many fights it plans to schedule? Have they cut back on tertiary programming like 24/7, Fight Game, Face Off, etc.? Have they trimmed undercard broadcasts? something...anything other than your observations. Maybe you are on to something but you cant back it up so it looks like you are just reading headlines press releases about fighters signing with Showtime and then saying HBO is on its way out. Why are you still here? Go look up Mr.Pain81 (post #53) post a couple pages back, I thought you read the thread already that has been here since it got bumped and was even toward the end~ It is an observation, do you think everything is as it was in boxing 2 or 3 years ago or are things very different or at least on that path if nothing changes. You don't have to agree, I am sharing my take on it you don't like it so what I am not posting for your approval or anyone's for that matter.

HBO did fine last year. They had a couple fights of the year. Showtime just had an unreal year that won't ever happen again. I think that all happened for a reason, although I don't think Showtime had an unreal year they put more in and got more out, but their plan worked out and in boxing that is asking a lot so I see your point. You are also right about HBO they had some good nights no doubt, but the question to ask is where are they really going with it, do they want to show some good fights (nothing wrong with that) or do they want to be the King of Boxing To me it is all part of a larger trend as opposed to a one off, but maybe you are correct it certainly could go that way.

I think you will see a restructuring at HBO Sports before we see them walk away. Expect some top brass there to get canned unless they can swing momentum forward again. Right now HBO's issue is that they are not willing to do business with Haymon. Depending on how the cycle continues they will either cave in and do business again, or up the ante and play hardball even more.

HBO still is the bigger network overall, and you could argue they are still ahead boxing wise in some regard but it has to do with the trend it is going all wrong for HBO in relation to boxing (the rest of the network is obviously stellar and not in any danger). If you ain't growing you are dying, I don't think anyone can say HBO is a growing. What "trend?" "Going all wrong?" Dude you havent backed up ANYTHING you have said. Do you have any info on a decrease in HBO's budget or in how many fights it plans to schedule? Have they cut back on tertiary programming like 24/7, Fight Game, Face Off, etc.? Have they trimmed undercard broadcasts? something...anything other than your observations. Maybe you are on to something but you cant back it up so it looks like you are just reading headlines press releases about fighters signing with Showtime and then saying HBO is on its way out.

HBO did fine last year. They had a couple fights of the year. Showtime just had an unreal year that won't ever happen again.