Comments Thread For: Spike's TV Deal With Premier Boxing Champions Has Ended

[original zero]

Should read "Certain PBC boxers can deliver millions of viewers on FOX".

As we've seen with the PBC ratings across the various networks, the boxers and the match-ups matter to the ratings.

Which raises many questions for any tv partner with the PBC....one being if you're a network, are you going to give tens of millions of dollars to the PBC if they're splitting their roster with CBS and SHO (or any other network)?

PBC has delivered millions of viewers over and over to multiple major networks. All while splitting their roster with Showtime.

PBC has proven their concept. Which is why Showtime is spending more and more on boxing. They know Haymon has options.

But if FOX & CBS can share the NFL, there's no reason they can't share boxing. HBO & Showtime shared boxing for years, but with no cooperation, severely hampering the sport.

As HBO gets pushed out of the business, if CBS/Showtime & FOX/FS1 end up with most (all?) of the major US boxing, since it's all tied through Haymon, the big fights will always be able to be made.

[Mitchell Kane]

the price of televising UFC is about to get so insanely expensive

There is the possibility UFC makes a deal involving more than one tv network, which would spread the cost around.

[Mitchell Kane]

PBC has delivered millions of viewers over and over to multiple major networks.

And that approach was criticized by Spike, who didn't like having a boxer on their network one fight and another channel the next fight.

But what prevents Haymon from doing that very thing with a fighter like Thurman or Wilder once he has FOX's "$50 million"?

All while splitting their roster with Showtime.

Not always. SHO had some lean months when Haymon's roster was off fighting on other networks.

[original zero]

So was Spike.

So is (was?) ESPN.

Same with NBC.

CBS owns Showtime and Spike. When CBS wanted boxing on Spike, they asked Al to supply them with boxing, so they did. Now CBS has decided to take Spike in a completely different direction. Focusing less on combat sports and male driven content in favor of scripted programming and appealing to women.

Spike ceases to exist next year. It's becoming The Paramount Network. Because they own Bellator, there will still be some MMA on the new network, but the boxing and kickboxing is being phased out.

Meanwhile, CBS has decided to increase the boxing budget for Showtime as they want to capitalize while HBO is weak. CBS eliminating the little bit of money Spike was spending on boxing in favor of a big increase in the Showtime budget is a net positive for PBC.

But you idiots allowed the HBO propaganda machine to convince you that losing Spike was some big blow to PBC. Even though the head of The Paramount Network explained publicly last month the reason boxing wouldn't be featured on the new network. Even though Spike and Showtime are owned by the same company and Showtime is more committed to PBC than ever before.


ESPN is undergoing huge budget cuts and isn't willing to spend a penny on boxing. So PBC is focusing on other en******. As much as some of you criticized PBC for experimenting with so many networks, there was no way to know which networks might bite without giving each of them a taste. ESPN & NBC didn't work out. FOX & CBS did.

Meanwhile HBO boxing is dying. If Al ends up with FOX & CBS, it's game over for HBO.

[original zero]

And that approach was criticized by Spike, who didn't like having a boxer on their network one fight and another channel the next fight.

Please provide a quote from Spike supporting your claim.

I'll wait.

[Mitchell Kane]

Now CBS has decided to take Spike in a completely different direction.

So you're saying Spike is out of the PBC sweepstakes?

ESPN is undergoing huge budget cuts and isn't willing to spend a penny on boxing.

Are you saying ESPN is out of the running for the PBC?

ESPN & NBC didn't work out.

Are you saying NBC is the 3rd network no longer vying for the PBC?

FOX & CBS did.

If FOX worked out, how much is FOX currently paying the PBC?

[Mitchell Kane]

Please provide a quote from Spike supporting your claim.

I'll wait.

I wont make you wait long.....

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/04/25/In-Depth/PBC.aspx

Networks take hard look at PBC fight cards

By Bill King, Senior Writer

Pleased though he was with the way the fights on his network played out in the first year of the Premier Boxing Champions series, Spike Network President Kevin Kay sometimes found himself wondering why the boxers who performed on his air then showed up on NBC, CBS or ESPN while he got someone new.

“We’d have somebody that we’d invest in to tell their story, where we did shoulder programming, and they’d fight on Spike but then they don’t come back,” said Kay, whose network had intriguing fighters Danny Jacobs, Anthony Dirrell and Shawn Porter each appear once and then move to other networks for their next bouts. “If we’re going to devote on-air programming, we want to make sure they come back and fight on Spike.”

[original zero]

I wont make you wait long.....

I'll be waiting a while since you tried a bait & switch. You didn't say Kevin, you said Spike. Obviously Kevin was frustrated about his network being used to showcase guys for CBS and Showtime, but that's what happens when your network is at the bottom of the corporate totem pole.

[Mitchell Kane]

I'll be waiting a while since you tried a bait & switch. You didn't say Kevin, you said Spike.

What the gibberish?

[original zero]

So you're saying Spike is out of the PBC sweepstakes?

You're an idiot. CBS/Showtime/Spike are all the same company. The CBS corporation is more committed to Al Haymon than they've ever been. As evidenced by the insane amount of money they're spending to stack the Showtime lineup right now.

But with Spike being rebranded and shifting focus, boxing isn't going to be a good fit for that network after the overhaul.

Are you saying ESPN is out of the running for the PBC?

Yes. ESPN is cutting costs and doesn't want to spend any money on boxing. PBC isn't willing to give their content away anymore, so ESPN2 cut a deal with a different entity that was willing to give their content away for free (Golden Boy).

Are you saying NBC is the 3rd network no longer vying for the PBC?

There are four major networks. Each of which own various other networks. CBS/Showtime, FOX/FS1, ABC/ESPN, NBC/USA, etc.

It appears two of the four are interested in PBC and two of the four are not.

So PBC is in a better position than any other US boxing entity. Everybody else is fighting for HBO scraps.