HBO losing subscribers... Boxing getting cut?

[-Antonio-]

HBO'S production on their shows is as good as big time movies. So this does not surprise me. Shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld are what drive HBO. Showtime doesn't have the same budget for TV shows.

[Left2theliver]

That's not good. I hope they don't cut the Boxing. I've always liked HBO's production the most.

[hhs661]

HBO doesn't care for boxing. Their original programming and other content is what drives that machine. If they lose boxing, they'd hardly cry over it.

[snoopymiller]

HBO doesn't care for boxing. Their original programming and other content is what drives that machine. If they lose boxing, they'd hardly cry over it.

Exactly... you and JoeMan understand that boxing means nothing to HBO'S bottom line.

[Eff Pandas]

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

Less than zero infact.

There is for sure a chance. I mean they've looked into MMA and the UFC specifically already and it's only bigger now.

Why don't you think it has no chance? Curious if you got a legit logical reason or if you're one of those boxing is in HBO's DNA nutty guys.

[Scipio2009]

Looks like Showtime will be getting the Klitschko-Joshua fight.

That will mean that HBO Boxing would likely only show 2-3 boxing events for the first 5 months.

The ratings for HBO boxing events continue to sink with most events generating less than a million viewers.

What will happen when Peter Nelson's boss at HBO sees that they didn't spend much on boxing at all but suffered no loss of subscriptions? That means that the vast majority their current subscriber base dislikes boxing altogether.

It seems like the logical decision would be to cut boxing programming from HBO and spend it on something else altogether.

"dislike of boxing" has nothing to do with it; the HBO audience base is basically signed up to HBO to watch GoT, Ballers, Veep, Girls, and the hosts of other original programs and first-run movies that HBO airs.

HBO has been spending less and less money on boxing over the years, but there's a real likelihood (in the near future) that HBO will decide to take whatever money they have budgeted for boxing, take that entire money and invest it in producing another original series for the channel, and then run the boxing franchise solely off of any money that they can generate off off PPV.

Alvarez can deliver three PPV fights, and then you hope against hope that Golovkin, Crawford, Lomachenko, or someone else can break through for PPV; on Alvarez's fights alone, HBO is likely looking at $6m (an amount that should be able to finance 2-3 solid shows).

7 PPVs, with another 5-6 regular broadcasts, will likely become the new HBO standard.

If you're on premium cable for boxing, pick up Showtime

[Scipio2009]

If they don't bid enough and the fight goes to SHO Wlad still owes HBO a fight. IMO HBO is in a great position because they will either get Wlad's "comeback finale" should he lose or get his first fight after he wins..

If Wlad gets flattened in 6 rounds (nothing in Klitschko's history has shown that he reacts all that well when he gets landed on), would anyone really care to see Klitschko's farewell? You add that a large chunk of his run was had off of US TV, and the residual value of Klitschko is a touch overstated.

[bigjavi973]

well all the money pretty much goes to canelo and ggg....

[A.K]

Hbo isn't losing subs cause of boxing that's ******ed, people just don't want to pay extra for cable these days everything is online or cheaper methods to see hbo, and it's not just hbo it's everyone.

[Scipio2009]

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

Less than zero infact.

How so?

UFC is still, even with the Fox deal, a PPV-driven company, and HBO does a great job at marketing PPV. Beyond that, with the result of the current Fox deal being what it's become (can anyone point to any Fox to PPV attractions?), WME would now have another way to better monetize their non-PPV showdowns.

HBO is looking for content that will motivate people (not already subscribing for the shows) to pay the premium to pick up HBO.

If given the option of watching the UFC on HBO, or not watching any UFC beyond PPV, there's a audience there that will make the switch, simply to watch UFC.