Why are American promoters scared to put boxing on free TV?

[davros2010]

I dont get why there is no boxing on network TV in America. Although the UK has often had gaps in free to view coverage it always seems to come back at least for a bit and now currently on C5.

For me it makes no sense. For example Golden Boy could sign a 6 event a year deal with CBS and show case there young prospects keep them on there for a few years and once they become big names move them onto HBO. They could keep a conveyor belt of prospects on there and it would bring in a lot more money on PPV. It makes total business sense to me and to keep the network happy they could also put on a fairly decent name to headline the cards.

I just dont understand why American promoters are scared to do this. NBC are giving main events $100,000 a show if you could get something similar for a network event you could put on a good show.

[davros2010]

Golden Boy could put Seth Mitchell on CBS for his next few fights and his name would be massive.

[jrosales13]

They're not scared. Main Events has a deal with NBC.

But, the problem is that networks would want fighters that bring ratings. But, the fighters that bring ratings would make more money on HBO or Showtime or and the big stars on PPV.

[urrah]

I don't know this for sure but I suspect because it's not as profitable as the ppv format.

[davros2010]

They're not scared. Main Events has a deal with NBC.

But, the problem is that networks would want fighters that bring ratings. But, the fighters that bring ratings would make more money on HBO or Showtime or and the big stars on PPV.

Yeah is that free view though? I dont know. Yeah but in the UK we have free to air boxing that doesnt have big names. They could have guys like Berto, Cloud, Pascal etc for not to much money. Or they could sign a special deal for young prospects. Heck you could even do a replay deal for big PPV. For example you could make a deal to show big PPV fights the following saturday (BBC did this on a few) it wouldnt have a great impact on PPV sales but it would get more people to watch them.

Boxing is in real trouble in American imo. The promoters really need to look at alternative ways to bring in viewers.

[davros2010]

I don't know this for sure but I suspect because it's not as profitable as the ppv format.

We are not talking about getting rid of PPV. C5 (free to air) in the UK owns a PPV channel now for every PPV fight recently they have had a free to air fight on C5 which has plugged the PPV fight. You can be smart and actually make more money by using free to air networks.

[jrosales13]

Yeah is that free view though? I dont know. Yeah but in the UK we have free to air boxing that doesnt have big names. They could have guys like Berto, Cloud, Pascal etc for not to much money. Or they could sign a special deal for young prospects. Heck you could even do a replay deal for big PPV. For example you could make a deal to show big PPV fights the following saturday (BBC did this on a few) it wouldnt have a great impact on PPV sales but it would get more people to watch them.

Boxing is in real trouble in American imo. The promoters really need to look at alternative ways to bring in viewers.

What's free viewing? Main events deal with NBC? Yes it's free viewing.

Boxing will never get back to the networks with big time fights when HBO and Showtime are giving bank...Even ESPN would pay more than what the networks will.

[urrah]

We are not talking about getting rid of PPV. C5 (free to air) in the UK owns a PPV channel now for every PPV fight recently they have had a free to air fight on C5 which has plugged the PPV fight. You can be smart and actually make more money by using free to air networks.

My bad.

The only other thing I can think of is that maybe major networks in the US don't believe there is a large enough audience for boxing.

Personally I'd love a return to the good old days when big fights were on free to air tv, it would bring boxing back to the mainstream audience and generate new interest in the sport. But Dana White is completely correct in his statement that no promoter is going to sacrifice profit for the good of the sport.

Boxing may not be dead, but it's definitely seen better days.

[davros2010]

What's free viewing? Main events deal with NBC? Yes it's free viewing.

Boxing will never get back to the networks with big time fights when HBO and Showtime are giving bank...Even ESPN would pay more than what the networks will.

In the UK C5, ITV, BBC etc are free (although you have to pay a license fee to own a TV). I take it NBC sports is free on standard digital TV then, i wonder what viewing figures they got.

[RoyJonesJrp4pno1]

They're not scared. Main Events has a deal with NBC.

But, the problem is that networks would want fighters that bring ratings. But, the fighters that bring ratings would make more money on HBO or Showtime or and the big stars on PPV.

The deal is with NBC sports network not NBC.