Comments Thread For: Arum Explains Why Ditching HBO For ESPN Was The Right Move

[Butch.McRae]

I'm with you.

The UFC will always have the same problem though. They can't promote stars for long because they have short reigns. If Conor gets beat down by Floyd and comes back and loses in UFC they are in trouble. Their only stars left are Jones and GSP. One is not reliable and the other doesn't really wanna fight.

UFC ppvs that dont have Conor usually only sell 150-400k.

There is a huge opportunity for boxing to really rise above MMA over these next 6 months. It starts with Floyd having to embarrass Conor and then GGG/Canelo putting on a show.

I'd add Floyd needs to fight the winner for it to come full circle. By that time Spence and Garcia will be in full unification mode. And Crawford would be lurking for both w/ Loma not far behind.

Didn't even mention the big boys at HW, who should be on a collision course after the VK rematch.

It could be a remarkable 2018 after an outstanding 2017 calendar.

[killakali]

All I'm waiting on is hearing the rumors for the names of these fighters on their way to Bob Arum.

I doubt that it happens, but let's see.

Tank is the co-main on Mayweather-McGregor, Dulorme is fighting in a tough fight on FS1, Neno just had a real tough fight not that long ago, and I've got no idea what's going on with Mickey Bey, tbh.

Porter was grumbling about the timing for his opportunity; ended up getting Thurman and Berto, even though it didn't happen when he wanted it to happen, and is apparently on the cusp of getting another big fight against Danny Garcia. Porter's not going anywhere.

Vanes was giving opportunity after opportunity to get to the top, and fell short on every opportunity; he felt he was worth another chance, Haymon couldn't deliver him another chance, the sides parted without issue, and now Vanes is hoping that Don King can deliver him another opportunity.

Pedraza was champion, didn't take certain opportunities that were brought to him to raise his profile, got beat, and is now looking to rebuild at 135lbs; if he feels that Arum can help him and his camp, so be it.

To hang your hat on some secret mass exodus from PBC to Top Rank is a bit much

i never said a mass exodus. Neno has fought once in 10-11 months that he's been with TMt. Dulorme hasn't fought since January and t was a small fight on sho extreme. That's why these guys aren't happy.

Top Rank doesn't just sign anybody. But they will get a few names. Watch and see.

[Steven Mccowan]

Teddy already messed up the Jeff horn vs pacquiao fight.....PBC is KILLING the competition.

Hahaha. Ok

[Scipio2009]

Fair points but as of now the UFC doesn't share it's PPV revenue, and it was reported that PPV revenue is not being offered as a part of the deal. Now if UFC bucked on that then what you're saying is possible, but I think they'd be hesitant to limit their quarterly fights to an HBO audience that is much smaller than what they currently have with FOX.

There's no way that any broadcaster is going to pay $200m-$400m per year, yet still be cut out of the UFC's 12 biggest cards for the year, imo anyway. Fox isn't going to do it, ESPN isn't going to do it, and Showtime/CBS isn't going to do it (especially with their growing commitment to air boxing).

HBO basically spent $100m to produce the last season of GoT, and were comfortable doing so, because they were able to draw extra interest to their channel. I think they'd spend the funny if they felt it was worth it.

Also, my guess at the PPV total coming down is largely due to the understanding that HBO already seems comfortable paying $2m-$3m as the TV rights for a fight card, and there aren't that many UFC PPVs that generate the $6m-$7m needed to bother with not simply taking the HBO fee; if the UFC could build 10 cards that could generate $10m on PPV each, UFC/HBO would likely have no qualms having 10 PPVs.

[Scipio2009]

Arum is right. I listen to ESPN radio every now and then and they had promos for the Pac/Horn fight almost every hour. I'm sure First Take promoted it too. And I saw promos online. That's 3 platforms and all that advertisement.

Pacquiao, as big a star as he was, merited that type of attention for fighting on ESPN; you are very unlikely to see that for the coming, Crawford, Lomachenko, and "Zurdo" Ramirez cards.

[Scipio2009]

It took PBC over 2 years to give us a big time fight (Garcia/Thurman)

Arum used Pac as the first fight to garner more attention. He delivered. The only problem I have with ESPN is their production was horrendous. They need to step their game up.

Bob Arum opened up the ESPN venture with the biggest attraction fight that his company could have (only made possible by Australia basically covering all of the costs).

Bob Arum now doesn't have another fight under his umbrella anywhere near that large to feature on ESPN.

It's a turtle race; PBC spent the time establishing, and now they are pretty well established to roll out bigger and bigger fights

[Butch.McRae]

There's no way that any broadcaster is going to pay $200m-$400m per year, yet still be cut out of the UFC's 12 biggest cards for the year, imo anyway. Fox isn't going to do it, ESPN isn't going to do it, and Showtime/CBS isn't going to do it (especially with their growing commitment to air boxing).

HBO basically spent $100m to produce the last season of GoT, and were comfortable doing so, because they were able to draw extra interest to their channel. I think they'd spend the funny if they felt it was worth it.

Also, my guess at the PPV total coming down is largely due to the understanding that HBO already seems comfortable paying $2m-$3m as the TV rights for a fight card, and there aren't that many UFC PPVs that generate the $6m-$7m needed to bother with not simply taking the HBO fee; if the UFC could build 10 cards that could generate $10m on PPV each, UFC/HBO would likely have no qualms having 10 PPVs.

UFC isn't GoT. 25 million viewers for the season premier. Combat sports isn't pulling those numbers on any night lol but read up on the TV deal talk. The PPV revenue isn't in the conversation as of now. Who nows how it will turn out though.

[Scipio2009]

UFC isn't GoT. 25 million viewers for the season premier. Combat sports isn't pulling those numbers on any night lol but read up on the TV deal talk. The PPV revenue isn't in the conversation as of now. Who nows how it will turn out though.

The UFC isn't NCAA Football either, who's rights fees fall into and beyond the range that the UFC is allegedly looking for (that hasn't stopped the ask, though).

Still, combat sports, sports in general tbh, are the last bastion of "must watch live" content. If the UFC thinks that they're getting any broadcaster to pay NCAAF-level money, and not including their PPV, they're sadly mistaken.

[pasawayako]

Only for the bias tards that "Don't Know **** Bout Boxing"

Look at the mirror and you will see.

[Steven Mccowan]

Teddy already messed up the Jeff horn vs pacquiao fight.....PBC is KILLING the competition.

Yeah teddy atlas who was mentored by one of the great minds in tbe history of boxing and also taught tyson from scratch and led the first south paw hw to a title and the only guys that stands up against an extremely corrupt sport fooked up because you said so lmao