Showtime Ratings: Martin-Joshua 275K, Selby-Hunter 205K

[FrankieClutch]

Thats disturbingly low for Showtime isn't it? Although its not unsurprising when you barely show any cards for the last 12 months.

The time of the day surely played a part though, no?

[_original_]

I think it's because they are basically unknown fighters and Showtime doesn't promote the cards as hard as HBO does theirs, or so it seems.

Yes, but overall the numbers are dramatically lower in Showtime lately.

[Kagami Taiga]

People do realize this was a daytime broadcast of two relatively unknown fighters right? I dunno what anyone was expecting.

[Irony123]

that just sucks... hope they improve, it doesn't just look bad on showtime... it looks bad for boxing... especially if showtime decides to exit the boxing business with consistently poor ratings.

[The Big Dunn]

That 275,000 people tuned in to watch a Charles Martin fight is a miracle.

[bigdunny1]

Damn, I remember when Broner-Maidana did like 1.3 million on Showtime. What the hell is going on?

Not difficult to see what's going on. Early last year when you had Golden Boy promoting Haymon fighters on Showtime guys like Wilder did 1.2mil viewers. And for about a 2 year stretch Showtime was basically neck and neck with HBO in ratings. What changed? Haymon split with Golden Boy and created PBC. Took all Showtime fighters off to a million other networks. You go from the number 1 promoter in the game to Haymon now using 3rd rate smaller promoters who aren't as good at promoting as Golden Boy. Whatever momentum fighters had 1-2 years ago on Showtime was killed with these guys fighting mainly mismatches on Spike, FS1 ect. Everyone of these PBC fighters now that they have come back to Showtime have done far worse ratings then prior.

Haymon has completely run Showtime into the ground

[Eff Pandas]

The time of the day surely played a part though, no?

True. Didn't even think about that.

[LA_2_Vegas]

Had no idea it was even on Showtime.

[bigdunny1]

The time of the day surely played a part though, no?

Showtime's previous Sat night fight was what Santa Cruz/Martinez? Well that did just 267,000 viewers. There is way more going on then just an afternoon fight. HBO had GGG and Tyson Fury fight last year overseas broadcast live in the afternoon and each did 3-4X these ratings.

[North Star]

Not difficult to see what's going on. Early last year when you had Golden Boy promoting Haymon fighters on Showtime guys like Wilder did 1.2mil viewers. And for about a 2 year stretch Showtime was basically neck and neck with HBO in ratings. What changed? Haymon split with Golden Boy and created PBC. Took all Showtime fighters off to a million other networks. You go from the number 1 promoter in the game to Haymon now using 3rd rate smaller promoters who aren't as good at promoting as Golden Boy. Whatever momentum fighters had 1-2 years ago on Showtime was killed with these guys fighting mainly mismatches on Spike, FS1 ect. Everyone of these PBC fighters now that they have come back to Showtime have done far worse ratings then prior.

Haymon has completely run Showtime into the ground

This really should have been promoted by Showtime better. I don't think the GBP split has anything to do with this type of international broadcast. This was all UK owned and promoted. Showtime wasn't even there, they just bought the rights for US viewing. While I do agree that Haymon's PBC has destroyed Showtime domestically, this international broadcast was all up to Showtime to promote and pump here in the US. Their marketing team did a terrible job with it.

On the flip side, I really wonder how this would have done on HBO. They have been talking about Anthony Joshua since his pro debut and Lampley and Kellerman bring him up all the time on The Fight Game, Parker too.