Which US network/channel would be a good platform for boxing?

I don't know why the promoters aren't doing more to expose their fighters other than begging on their knees with hat-in-hand at the door step of HBO/Showtime. There are world-class overseas fights that are there to be had almost for free to any U.S. broadcaster willing to show it.

Versus was a fantastic opportunity to showcase boxing to a broader audience, but unfortunately Top Rank's short sighted greed destroyed that.

Besides the obvious big 4 over-the-air networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox), which networks do you see as a possible platform to get boxing more mainstream exposure? Please limit your suggestions to one or two, and provied your reasons, rather than just listing off every channel.

I'd love to see ESPN beef up their budget and make a real run at boxing.

Versus- Top Rank absolutely abused Versus prison style. Feeding us Tye Fields after Tye Fields extravaganza. Rather pathetic.

ESPN2

Bring back WNFs for prospects
FNFs doing what they have been doing
and the Boxing Specials for the big fights

I think HDNet would be a perfect fit. It reaches a young demographic and covers every other combat sport, including K1 and pro wrestling. It would present boxing in glorious picture quality.

I also think there is a HUGE opportunity with an upstart network like ION, which is broadcast OTA(over the air) in HD in each of the top 20 markets in the USA, and 39 of the top 50 markets.

This is a big advantage because you do not need to subscribe to cable or satellite to receive it (ION), therefore the potential audience is much bigger than a channel that is on premium cable. They currently are showing a lot of syndicated reruns to fill out their schedule, and they wish to cover variety programming, including sports.

If a promoter approached either of these outlets and offered them a weekly show for a very small licence fee (like FNF), the networks would be willing to spend some money on production.

Great call on HDnet, especially if it could be promoted under the HDnet fights banner and lumped in with K1 and MMA, this would tap into a striking oriented, young and energetic combat sports demographic.


Similarly, Spike would be a good fit if they could market it in a way that would resonate to the UFC viewers there. I firmly believe exciting fighters stuck in front of UFC fans would work. Defensive dancers and hug and holders not so much, but exciting offensive fighters shown to UFC fans would be great for boxing.


I'm not sure boxing would pander to MMA's demographic out of foolish pride though.



VS isn't a great network though for this. They already show boxing sometimes firstly, and secondly they promote a UFC owned brand with the best bantams and featherweight MMA fighters in the world and no one watches it.

i actually miss the usa network fights with the champ as a commentator.

I agree that Spike may actually work.. but how are you gonna convinced this generation of teens and college kids that boxing is cool?

RUM CAPITAL wrote:

i actually miss the usa network fights with the champ as a commentator.

Weren't those fun?

Knockouts convince people. If some truly exciting fighters were on Spike, I'd imagine it would steal those MMA fans out there that complain and cry everytime it hits the mat. I'd kind of like to police those fags out of MMA anyway.

i agree wolf if guys like Katsidias and Juan Diaz and other guys constantly in barn burners would go to Spike it would be good

also remember you dont necessarily need a KO you jsut need barn burning entertainment

Ward vs Gatti 3 fights all awesome on the eyes = 0 KOs

or put Berto and other good youngsters vs some stay busy competition

I miss Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy.

marbleheadmaui wrote:

RUM CAPITAL wrote:

i actually miss the usa network fights with the champ as a commentator.

Weren't those fun?

USA Tuesday Night Fights was a great show. I actually got to sit at the announcer's table one time with Sean O'Grady & Al Albert. Good times. They put on some great match ups.

Saturday Matinee fights on a network like NBC. I work there so I'd be doing the event. I'm already the boxing guy for Boxeo en Telemundo (I'm doing the fight Friday night). We Broadcast both networks with the same staff in the same section of the same floor. We have the experience and knowledge to bring boxing to a major Network level. "Sponsors won't take a chance on such a niche sport." This is what a one executive in sales told me when I asked him why we don't have boxing anymore. (We're in fourth place by the way what the fuck does he know). We could replace pointless Pro Am golf events and cut back on extreme sports on Saturday afternoons and once in a while sneak in a Boxing event. We currently air Belator (MMA) on Saturday night/Sunday mornings, but that airs like an infomercial where Belator buys the whole half hour and we don't run commercials or promotional material, Belator sells their own stuff. I think that is the best way for promoters to get Boxing to a network level, incur all of the costs and sell their own commercials that will air during the event. That way the network only has to sell the time slot and doesn't have to worry about individual commercial sales. This way everybody gets paid and I feel the promoters would likely stack cards in order to get more viewership so they themselves could charge more money for advertisement.

^ ^ ^ Gary Shaw was going to try that a few years ago with a Tarver fight. He was going to purchase a block of programming (on ABC, I think) and sell his own advertising.

It obviously didn't happen.

I miss Tuesday night fights on USA.

hardcoreBEE24 wrote:

Saturday Matinee fights on a network like NBC. I work there so I'd be doing the event. I'm already the boxing guy for Boxeo en Telemundo (I'm doing the fight Friday night). We Broadcast both networks with the same staff in the same section of the same floor. We have the experience and knowledge to bring boxing to a major Network level. "Sponsors won't take a chance on such a niche sport." This is what a one executive in sales told me when I asked him why we don't have boxing anymore. (We're in fourth place by the way what the fuck does he know). We could replace pointless Pro Am golf events and cut back on extreme sports on Saturday afternoons and once in a while sneak in a Boxing event. We currently air Belator (MMA) on Saturday night/Sunday mornings, but that airs like an infomercial where Belator buys the whole half hour and we don't run commercials or promotional material, Belator sells their own stuff. I think that is the best way for promoters to get Boxing to a network level, incur all of the costs and sell their own commercials that will air during the event. That way the network only has to sell the time slot and doesn't have to worry about individual commercial sales. This way everybody gets paid and I feel the promoters would likely stack cards in order to get more viewership so they themselves could charge more money for advertisement.

Thanks for the insider's view. A lot to think about.