Comments Thread For: Paramount Global To Shut Down Showtime Sports; Network Will No Longer Broadcast Boxing

[PNUT901]

Thomas Hauser was calling for something like this years ago. Sidelining promoters is a great idea and increasingly possible if fighters begin to negotiate more flexible contracts in the style of Canelo.

Floyd made the blueprint , boxers don't need promoters. What does the promoter really do anyway ? Nothing that the fighters and networks can't hire someone to do for them.

[OnePunch]

He tried to reduce prices! He sided with the subscription model... and it's not working. To the point where DAZN went to PPV. The theory behind subscription was more people pay less, more regularly... that was potentially great for us as fans. As things stand it comes down to a small number of fans to subsidise big fights through PPV if they can't generate mass appeal.

The issue is boxing itself. The multi org approach where fighters are kept apart in some instances and can avoid each other in other instances just isn't a good business model.

Boxing could be huge. But it isn't, and it's largely because it's terribly organised.

I like Eddie, but the mistake that was made was trying to fit "Canelo" type fighter into a subscription model. It was destined to fail. They could have thrived had they just stayed in their lane and done A and B level fights and left the huge PPV stars alone.

[OnePunch]

PBC deals with Bounce,Spike TV, CBS, NBC and Showtime all ended terrible, Showtime was still dealing with PBC since the Weasel Espinoza is Haymonâs lap dog. Same thing can be said with Top Rank whoâs so terrible and ruined strong ties with ESPN. Boxing as a whole couldâve been in a better state but the promoters got greedy thinking they can get away with presenting sub par cards and wanting ridiculous purses for their fighters who nobody even cared about at the end of day.

PBC stink
Top Rank stink
DAZB stink

lets be real as boxing fans their greed killed the sport.

you forgot Fox

[kiaba360]

Good. They can go back on regular network tv and start building an audience again. Boxing killed itself when most of the upcoming fighters and elite fighters went on Showtime and HBO exclusively, thus limiting their outreach to sports fans and future participants of the sport.

It's wishful thinking. PBC started out on network TV, and it didn't last for one reason or another. Unfortunately, they'll probably wind up on a streaming service like almost every other promotional company. Wherever PBC lands, will they continue to abuse the PPV model? If so, then nothing will change.

[PNUT901]

What few " Stars" that boxing has hardly ever fight , it's impossible to get new fans interested when the fighters that they know about fight once a year , or less , a year is a long freaking time between fights.

[OnePunch]

PBC on Amazon Prime would be cool

Great. Maybe Haymon could kill that platform too.......

[PNUT901]

Good. They can go back on regular network tv and start building an audience again. Boxing killed itself when most of the upcoming fighters and elite fighters went on Showtime and HBO exclusively, thus limiting their outreach to sports fans and future participants of the sport.

It's not that they went to HBO and Showtime , the Networks wouldn't show boxing anymore after Ray Mancini killed Duk Koo Kim in the ring. They refused to air it anymore.

[PNUT901]

Damn , that really sucks. I feel bad for all of the people losing their jobs and fighters that won't get opportunities because of less tv dates. ESPN and DAZN is all that's left. Hopefully they will pick up the slack and put more fights on. F^¢k those corporate vampires at Paramount. The day that Showtime airs it's last fight is the day that I quit my Paramount + subscription. The only reason that I even have TV is to watch boxing.

[WholeSoul75]

What was the tipping point? We can all learn

[DClefthook]

Can you imagine it? Pbc on Amazon? It makes sense actually, but I am hoping pbc goes to ESPN. Top rank and pbc would all but result in a monopoly of American boxing on one network, DLH will har to jump ship or lose his fighters

You know what I've been saying this for years but I just saw a video about the devastating effects of cord cutting and they maybe be getting out of boxing too. Maybe Al and Bob should team up and go to Amazon. There are about 5 years of great fights between 118-140 if the two were to link up. And yes ODLH will have to jump ship fo' sho!!