HBO losing subscribers... Boxing getting cut?

[al-Xander]

This has got to be a joke thread. Everybody knows HBO boxing is just charity event. It's mere bonus to their subscribers. They have big hits like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Last Week Tonight, Real Time, etc.

Showtime spending 5 times more and still get pathetic ratings is something to worry about. haha...

Purses
HBO
Vargas 250k, Miura 150k, Berchelt 50k, Roman 25k
Total 475k

Showtime
Frampton 1m, Cruz 900k, Garcia 375k, Zlaticanin 320k
Total 2.6m

Showtime outspent like crazy with not very much to show for it. How can you justify spending that kind of money for shows that DON'T even crack 600k viewers. Cruz himself made DOUBLE what the entire cost HBO spent for their card.

[The Big Dunn]

The only fighters under contract with HBO are Klit, Kov and GGG. I don't think Canelo has a HBO only contract. Maybe I'm wrong.

Canelo, Crawford, Gonzalez. I also believe Luis Ortiz owes them a fight. Ward may as well.

[snoopymiller]

This has got to be a joke thread. Everybody knows HBO boxing is just charity event. It's mere bonus to their subscribers. They have big hits like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Last Week Tonight, Real Time, etc.

Showtime spending 5 times more and still get pathetic ratings is something to worry about. haha...

The great thing about Showtime is that the higher ups actually really like boxing while it's very well known that outside of Peter Nelson, the guys at the top of HBO don't care for boxing.

Huge difference!

[Eff Pandas]

I think all signs point to HBO making a serious play for the UFC TV deal once Fox's deal is up in 2018 or 2019. HBO was in discussions to bring Afflication (a Trump & ODLH backed MMA league that went out of business quick about 10ish years ago) & the UFC at one point already & MMA has only gotten more popular & they have a younger demo than boxing does which is the key demo for networks. And I don't know that HBO would have much sports money to keep boxing & MMA around together for very long although I do think there is a solid chance there will be some overlap when it does go down. I wouldn't be shocked to see them transfer Lampley or maybe more likely Kellerman over to the UFC show announcing squad to bring an old face to a new product.

I think sh^t is gonna get a lot different with where boxing is at in the next few years. I think its a virtual lock we'll be watching live boxing on Netflix or Hulu or some entity like that very soon.

[snoopymiller]

I think all signs point to HBO making a serious play for the UFC TV deal once Fox's deal is up in 2018 or 2019. HBO was in discussions to bring Afflication (a Trump & ODLH backed MMA league that went out of business quick about 10ish years ago) & the UFC at one point already & MMA has only gotten more popular & they have a younger demo than boxing does which is the key demo for networks. And I don't know that HBO would have much sports money to keep boxing & MMA around together for very long although I do think there is a solid chance there will be some overlap when it does go down. I wouldn't be shocked to see them transfer Lampley or maybe more likely Kellerman over to the UFC show announcing squad to bring an old face to a new product.

I think sh^t is gonna get a lot different with where boxing is at in the next few years. I think its a virtual lock we'll be watching live boxing on Netflix or Hulu or some entity like that very soon.

No way UFC goes to HBO... zero chance.

Less than zero infact.

[al-Xander]

The great thing about Showtime is that the higher ups actually really like boxing while it's very well known that outside of Peter Nelson, the guys at the top of HBO don't care for boxing.

Huge difference!

Boxing is not what attracts their subscribers. Bill Maher alone is getting 4 million viewers per episode. Boxing is mere bonus, unlike Showtime.

[The Big Dunn]

This has got to be a joke thread. Everybody knows HBO boxing is just charity event. It's mere bonus to their subscribers. They have big hits like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Last Week Tonight, Real Time, etc.

Showtime spending 5 times more and still get pathetic ratings is something to worry about. haha...

I don't understand your celebration.

SHO paid more because they had better boxers on their card. They fought in a larger arena in front of more people.

Don't guys like you and bigdunny1 want networks donating more resources to the cards so we as fans get better matchups, regardless of what the overnight ratings are?

[snoopymiller]

Boxing is not what attracts their subscribers. Bill Maher alone is getting 4 million viewers per episode. Boxing is mere bonus, unlike Showtime.

Exactly.

If boxing is a non factor for HBO they will get cut since the execs don't even like boxing.

[-DSG-]

Yep PBC takeover is coming soon!

[Robbie Barrett]

Boxing isn't value for money for HBO. A show like Silicon Valley does double the ratings of most HBO fights and definitely cost less than $1 mil per episode.