Comments Thread For: Here's Why Lampley's Attack on PBC Amounts To HBO Hypocrisy

[original zero]

Hero -

Spike is not a time buy. Clearly they're shelling out more than ESPN2 was. So Haymon has upgraded the sport's basic cable situation.

Showtime shells out just as much as HBO and Haymon gets almost all of it. The HBO budget has to be split among TR, GB, ME, K2, RN, etc. So Haymon gets to have his cake and eat it too.

You can criticize Showtime's ratings if you want, but they're still helping Haymon towards his goal of a monopoly of US boxing.

If you think it's foolish for Showtime to do so, then short the stock of CBS. Otherwise, wtf do you care?

[HeroBando]

Hero -

Spike is not a time buy. Clearly they're shelling out more than ESPN2 was. So Haymon has upgraded the sport's basic cable situation.

Showtime shells out just as much as HBO and Haymon gets almost all of it. The HBO budget has to be split among TR, GB, ME, K2, RN, etc. So Haymon gets to have his cake and eat it too.

You can criticize Showtime's ratings if you want, but they're still helping Haymon towards his goal of a monopoly of US boxing.

If you think it's foolish for Showtime to do so, then short the stock of CBS. Otherwise, wtf do you care?

Spike is partially paying for it, we have no idea what percentage. Start of this year Spike president was saying they gotta start delivering ratings after a 500k average in 2015. You look at that list, and last 3 are in the 500s. Earlier they had a bump with Broner, getting Bellator numbers at many times the price. Cant come close to Hbo numbers despite similar spending, on basic cable. But ok, we'll see. Just hoping we're not worse off when this plays out, and so far my fears looks justified

[SteveM]

Agreed. The question is how much of that lies squarely on the shoulders of PBC? I mean how much of the lack of top match making and big fights has been due to GBP and Top Rank suing Haymon? How much of it is due to fighters being afraid to test themselves without receiving top dollar. That issue seems to run across the promotions and networks.

It's pretty universal. And as for being sued - yes, that has to have a detrimental effect. But keep a fighter reasonably paid and not overpaid and he will stay hungry.
Gonzalez, as with most lower weight fighters, needs to challenge himself in order to get paid half way decent so he is rising through the weights.
Salido, bless him, is vastly underpaid for the entertainment he brings, so he realizes he needs to stay active.
I think a radical solution is needed. Maybe split payment between a fight purse and a balloon payment partly paid at the end of a fighter's career and partly paid at the end of each year - but that would need some kind of UFC organization to be formed. The yearly payment could be based on activity among other things.

[Kigali]

They're still doing much better than the competition. Showtime ratings are shocking. Lampley has always been a company man, that's his role, of course he'll gloat some

HBO boxing is a shell of it's former self...meanwhile Showtime has gained ground.

HBO couldn't even afford to pay Curtis Stevens

If they don't have the funds to put together Lemeiux and Stevens...they ass is about done for.

[Kigali]

Are you serious??

So looking out for the best interest of the fighter is cancerous to the sport??

I can't believe how much hate one man can get because he choose to do something different..

HBO has over 30 years in the business and PBC has two but PBC has the capability of putting on championships fights without the fan having to fork up $70 per fight.

In due time PBC will flourish because they have the young lions that have character. Once he get a long term contract on a majoe network he'll give the fans what they want.

HBO make you pay for its fight and this year thus far they mostly been predictable fights..

I like HBO and I like what the PBC is trying to do. As a fan Im not gathering why is it so much hate for the PBC for trying something new

[factsarenice]

Grand Idea or Ponzi Scheme

No matter how you paint the picture, the money is gone...period. Investors have lost almost $800 million and are now suing for what they feel was a ponzi scheme. As if that wasn't bad enough, outward appearances are worse. After the $800 million transferred the the fund manager quit his day job and joined PBC. Did he know something was up all along? Did he loot the the fund and then jump the sinking ship? Only time will tell. What is known for sure is that none of the major networks will carrying PBC fights unless Al Haymon pays up front air time. Problem...there's no more money and what little is left only Al Haymon knows for sure.

I feel bad for Thurmon and Porter and real fighters in their prime. This is a mess, the money is gone and many fighters are contractually tethered to this sinking ship. By the time it's settled too many fighters will have wasted their peak years.

[factsarenice]

Writing is on the wall. The endless money supply is gone, investors are suing for nearly a billion.

The networks are not picking up the fights unless Haymon continues to pay upfront. This is a business for profit so that's not going to happen, Haymon will stop dumping whatever he has left into this sinking ship....it's over.

[factsarenice]

Hero -

Spike is not a time buy. Clearly they're shelling out more than ESPN2 was. So Haymon has upgraded the sport's basic cable situation.

Showtime shells out just as much as HBO and Haymon gets almost all of it. The HBO budget has to be split among TR, GB, ME, K2, RN, etc. So Haymon gets to have his cake and eat it too.

You can criticize Showtime's ratings if you want, but they're still helping Haymon towards his goal of a monopoly of US boxing.

If you think it's foolish for Showtime to do so, then short the stock of CBS. Otherwise, wtf do you care?

Haymon made millions, as will a few fighters that were in at the very beginning. Just like every pyramid scheme, in the end, few will make a lot but most lose and yes, make absolutely no mistake...................it's over.

[BigAlexSand]

Great article. Unbiased journalism is the most interesting to read but more difficult to come by.

[steeve steel]

He's a manager actually and managers rarely talk to media. Camron Dunkin is pretty reclusive too.

He was always a manager, and still is... but with PBC he's turned into a promoter.