Comments Thread For: Joshua-Klitschko Live Broadcast Drew 659K Viewers for Showtime

[-Kev-]

Doesn't matter, this was on UK PPV, that's what they care about, that's where the money is and it probably made a killing. I can see both fighters taking over $20 million dollars, since there guarantee is already $13mill.

[Motorcity Cobra]

I said before the fight the HBO replay will be higher if it's a good fight. HBO replay will probably top a million

[bigdunny1]

Huh??? Of course its graded on a curve. Afternoon ratings are gonna be lower than nighttime ratings lol. That's how it works. Less people watch TV during the afternoon typically.

But this fight did fine. Klitschko didn't even fight on US TV for a large portion of his career as the #1 guy that's how much popularity he had. He's never been loved by US fans. He's considered boring. He is boring lol (well usually, gotta give him respect for this one obviously). He lost to Fury. He's been inactive. He's old. There's a bunch of reasons casual boxing fans would not care about Klitschko last Saturday if they cared at all.

And not a lot of mainstream sports fans or casual boxing fans in the US even know of Joshua yet or probably bought him as a legit title holder. I can't believe much changes with more time to advertise this fight. If anything HBO is in Showtime mode as of late with a lack of a consistent product that it seems has even hurt their, better then Showtime, numbers.

Only boxing fans will sh^t on a record being broken with TV viewership. Boxing fans are negative as f#ck lol. I still remember people sh^tting on Spence getting 6M or whatever watching his fight cuz it was intelligently placed in between Olympic events. So that doesn't count or whatever the argument was lol. Jesus f#cking Christ man can nothing good ever happen in boxing by some fans standard??? LOL legit question doe to some of you grumpy ole men who are never happy with anything positive in the sport.

Because these aren't good ratings comparing them ONLY to showtime without context doesn't change that. I don't know many big time UK fights or significant UK fights Showtime has ever aired live in the afternoon. But we do have examples of big UK fights on HBO that aired live that drew much bigger rating like Fury Klichko, hell GGG went overseas and fought Brook and that did what almost 900k viewers. None of these were bigger fights out there then Joshua/Klitcko. And the fact that it drew dramatically less is not a good sign.

And if you don't think having 1-2 months for showtime to promote the fight air promos during every fight over those 2 months then you just foolish. That shyt matters as clearly a lot of people had no clue this fight was on. Hardcore fans know and extra 1 1/2 does nothing for YOU but casuals didn't and that extra time is crucial. Especially when the fight airs at a unconventional time.

[bigdunny1]

Yup, Showtime and HBO definitely **** themselves in the foot with the rights to air on network battle.

The resolution they came to could have been resolved way sooner. They had less than 2 weeks to promote. So yeah, they only have themselves to blame.

Yup I think the HBO numbers will be down too unless they just lucked out with so much word of mouth after the fight. Casuals hearing about how good it was on twitter/facebook after the fact so they went out there way to watch the replay. But we'll see tomorrow when the ratings come out. But it was just plain ****** HBO and Showtime cutting off their nose to spite their face. A fight this big should of been promoted more then 2 weeks. Both networks could of drawn 1m+ viewers

[JASON SHAW]

hbo still does boxing??? I thought they quit doing boxing matches???

they do about 3 to 5 cards a year lol.....

[Sledgeweather17]

Not sure but I think the Fury fight pulled over 1M in the afternoon on HBO and 1.7M(?) in prime-time re-broadcast.

I thought Show #'s were usually around 25% less so it's not all too far off from that, though I think this was seen as a bigger fight so...

Don't suck information out your asss, links please.

[Motorcity Cobra]

These ratings aren't very good. In comparison Klitschko previous fight which ALSO aired in the afternoon drew 1.038m live viewers and that was against Fury. AJ is a much bigger draw in the UK. The Fury replay later that night drew 676k. Showtime boxing viewership SMH

Because HBO is in more homes. Why is that such a hard concept for you to understand? Just like ESPN 2 is in more homes than Fox Sports 1

[JASON SHAW]

i said before the fight the hbo replay will be higher if it's a good fight. Hbo replay will probably top a million

hbo is in 27% more homes than showtime .... They are supposed to have higher ratings....

[Eff Pandas]

Because these aren't good ratings comparing them ONLY to showtime without context doesn't change that. I don't know many big time UK fights or significant UK fights Showtime has ever aired live in the afternoon. But we do have examples of big UK fights on HBO that aired live that drew much bigger rating like Fury Klichko, hell GGG went overseas and fought Brook and that did what almost 900k viewers. None of these were bigger fights out there then Joshua/Klitcko. And the fact that it drew dramatically less is not a good sign.

Showtime ALWAYS draws dramatically less then HBO. The Showtime boxing audience isn't as loyal to them as HBO's boxing audience & overall historically rightfully so. And idk the history of Showtime afternoon fights either, that's why I was asking for the previous highest number, but I know they've had a few & this was the best one so that's a good thing one can assume.

And if you don't think having 1-2 months for showtime to promote the fight air promos during every fight over those 2 months then you just foolish.

I didn't say it wouldn't help. I said it wouldn't have helped THAT much. No one gives a f#ck about Klitschko in the US. No one in the US knows who the f#ck Joshua was til Saturday in the US. You can't convince THAT many people to watch something they don't have interest in seeing.

Especially when the fight airs at a unconventional time.

I'd argue the fact it was on at a unconventional time is exactly why it wouldn't have mattered THAT much.

I actually thought HBO had the better time slot here. Live sounds good & all & respect to Showtime for showing it live, but throwing it on night on tape delay when more people are watching TV to begin with is gonna be the overall better result for whoever.

[Shadoww702]

they do about 3 to 5 cards a year lol.....

On PPV?? You watch that SHT fight between Manny Pac and this dude will be on HBO PPV!!!