Comments Thread For: Stevenson, Kovalev Deliver Knockout Ratings For HBO

[The Big Dunn]

It is still somewhat surprising to me as none of the fighters involved were American. This is a growing trend that American fight fans do not necessarily care if the fighters are American or Mexican. They mostly care to see fireworks and HBO's current investment in signing exciting fighters from other lands is paying off.

US fans never cared where a fighter was from. Salvador Sanchez, Azumah Nelson, Naseem Hamed, Roberto DUran and many other big stars were not American. If you put on quality fights and market them smartly it will likely pay off.

[El Angel]

Good numbers for these guys, the Pacquiao-Rios replay helped though IMO.

[kentou2013]

2007 Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
this fight had the lowest ratings ever for a prime-time HBO World Championship Boxing telecast on HBO - 1.591 million live viewers.

1.2million is successful?

oh,boxing definitely is dead.lol

[Citizen Koba]

Great newws. Seems like ratings have been up all year. Boxing slowing making a comeback.

No two ways about it tho. Whatever the reasons, 2013 has been a really hot year for boxing in general - as fans we've been unusually spoiled. Is it possible the network rivalry has actually forced both to put on better cards?

And as for LHW, having 2 massive KO stars simultaneously emerge from almost nowhere and score 4 big KO wins each is like a broadcasters (and fans) soggy dream.

[RSBonos]

2007 Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
this fight had the lowest ratings ever for a prime-time HBO World Championship Boxing telecast on HBO - 1.591 million live viewers.

1.2million is successful?

oh,boxing definitely is dead.lol

I know you're a troll dude, but just remember it still beat the UFC card head to head.

30 million (HBO) vs 80 million (FS1) subscribers

and TV ratings in general go down year after year as cable channels continue to expand. At least boxing on HBO and Showtime has made small increases in ratings in the past few years. The UFC have lost like 50% of their cable audience in 2013.

[Citizen Koba]

2007 Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
this fight had the lowest ratings ever for a prime-time HBO World Championship Boxing telecast on HBO - 1.591 million live viewers.

1.2million is successful?

oh,boxing definitely is dead.lol

Interesting. Were HBO the sole broadcaster tho? This was a European fight if it was even a HBO product - broadcasting rights woulda been sold on to the European networks where it would have been far more widely viewed.

EDIT: Ah, Satanta were in on the game for Europe/UK as well - almost forgotten they existed

[artfuL_]

These guys are outperforming Ward for a fraction of the cost. Good work by HBO showcasing global talent.

[frantic fighter]

These guys are outperforming Ward for a fraction of the cost. Good work by HBO showcasing global talent.

I agree, I wonder how long HBO is content in letting Ward remain in super middle weight purgatory demanding two million to fight the likes of Rodriguez.When their are two more exciting and cheaper fighters who produce better ratings fighting just north of his divisions.

[rey guey]

Broner vs Malignaggi did 1.3, so I consider Stevenson/Kovalev's number to be pretty impressive considering they aren't as well known.

HBO is trying to rebuilt it's brand under Ken Hershman and I think they've done a pretty good job. people forget Ross Greenburg almost destroyed HBO boxing.

check out this link and you'll know how much Greenburg messed up the brand.

http://www.secondsout.com/columns/thomas-hauser/hbo-and-boxing-at-a-crossroads

HBO ratings right now aren't as amazing as they once were over a decade ago but Hershman isn't hurting HBO and you get the feeling that they're setting up for better fights next year.

considering where HBO was going and where they are now I think those numbers are good.

[JAB5239]

I agree, I wonder how long HBO is content in letting Ward remain in super middle weight purgatory demanding two million to fight the likes of Rodriguez.When their are two more exciting and cheaper fighters who produce better ratings fighting just north of his divisions.

Probably for awhile since he's p4p one of the best in the business. Excitement means the most to ratings, but the public understands super skilled and gold medalist when you put them in the same sentence. See Pernell Whitaker for confirmation.