Boxing and TV Part One - ITV

[stujones]

Its an interesting piece, well done Ian... good concept. I look forward to the other views.

All in all a bit encouraging, although one wonders if Sharman wasn't just talk in TV language to keep us thinking positive that they will showcase more shows.

Are you planning to do one with the non terrestial channels.... it will be nice to know the views of Sky Sports, Bravo, this Fight Network, BEN, Setanta are etc.

What I'd like to know specifically, is whether there will be any chance in the future that HBO Sports, Showtime, ESPN 2 - will be put on the Sky platform (at a Subscription rate) eventually... so we could get to watch the shows direct.

Is there any benefit in the former two, stu? Chances are SKY or Setanta (Vasquez v Marquez excluded) will show it. ESPN and Versus would be very good channels to add to SKY, as we can then watch WNF and FNF live and small domestic cards on Versus.

Well we miss the Showbox bills regularly, and there are lots of boxing we miss.

For example, Chico Corrales (RIP) wasn't shown a great deal in the UK.

[dondada]

Cheers lads.

BBN was down all day yesterday - the server is in the States and they had a power cut or some burrshit.

Ant - Vic W was the one I didn't get on the phone, you will be relieved to know! They have a great press man who you will know (Rob J) to whom I submitted the questions and got the responses.

MW - Next up, next week, is BBC and their top man Roger Mosey. Classy guy. I spent ages chasing everyone up (the interviews don't take long...getting them can take weeks). But Mr Mosey rings me when I was just on my way out from a hotel to go and see some fourth-rate action at York Hall. Rather than barking 'You've got five minutes, son, now or never!' despite his elevated position he said 'If it isn't convenient, I'll call back at another time.' Charmer and understanding that this was really an 'entry-level' piece.

[Chambers2]

Excellent read Ian, very good questions.

It seems as though ITV will struggle to get the BIG fights for their fighters though. I bet Hennessey isn't making too much out of ITV this time round, but the exposure is priceless and if the top 3 bouts provide the excitement we expect, then who knows what may come next.

I'd have loved to have listened in on some of the conversations between Sharman and allegedly

Frank: Hello Mark, bit of bad news about tomorrows fight that you're airing on ITV1, Danny Williams has just pulled out of it

Sharman: You fecking what?? $£%!$%! %$££*(&% &*^&^& pudendum!

Frank: Well Mark, 'That's Boxing!'

[jamesmcdonnell]

Cheers lads.

BBN was down all day yesterday - the server is in the States and they had a power cut or some burrshit.

Ant - Vic W was the one I didn't get on the phone, you will be relieved to know! They have a great press man who you will know (Rob J) to whom I submitted the questions and got the responses.

MW - Next up, next week, is BBC and their top man Roger Mosey. Classy guy. I spent ages chasing everyone up (the interviews don't take long...getting them can take weeks). But Mr Mosey rings me when I was just on my way out from a hotel to go and see some fourth-rate action at York Hall. Rather than barking 'You've got five minutes, son, now or never!' despite his elevated position he said 'If it isn't convenient, I'll call back at another time.' Charmer and understanding that this was really an 'entry-level' piece.

Be interesting to see whether any of these chaps have any idea of how the model as it currently stands could be changed.

[Captain Hook]

Great stuff Ian, a real eye opener

[Autobarn]

Re Setanta - they have a contract with Warren till 2010 now. Ian, can you ask them if they'll make sure the quality of fights stays up? It seems a bit suspicious that all the big fights - Joe-Hopkins, Lockett-Pavlik, Arthur-Guzman - are happening around the time of a long contract renewal.

Also, the main issue with me is, they need to up the quality control. What if Setanta 2008-2010 is like the Sky Sports years of watered down titles and 1-sided fights era? How do you make a compromise between titles and fights? How far are you willing to deceive the public?

Do some of these guys know the risk of signing promoters to exclusive contracts? Have they got the bite scars on their arses perhaps from certain contracts?

[dondada]

Re Setanta - they have a contract with Warren till 2010 now. Ian, can you ask them if they'll make sure the quality of fights stays up? It seems a bit suspicious that all the big fights - Joe-Hopkins, Lockett-Pavlik, Arthur-Guzman - are happening around the time of a long contract renewal.

Also, the main issue with me is, they need to up the quality control. What if Setanta 2008-2010 is like the Sky Sports years of watered down titles and 1-sided fights era? How do you make a compromise between titles and fights? How far are you willing to deceive the public?

Do some of these guys know the risk of signing promoters to exclusive contracts? Have they got the bite scars on their arses perhaps from certain contracts?

I've already done the interview, Autobarn, and it was done before this announcement. Trevor East is a mate of allegedly. BBC, ITV and Sky appear to have all changed tack after learning lessons...can't say too much else, really.

[Chambers2]

Re Setanta - they have a contract with Warren till 2010 now. Ian, can you ask them if they'll make sure the quality of fights stays up? It seems a bit suspicious that all the big fights - Joe-Hopkins, Lockett-Pavlik, Arthur-Guzman - are happening around the time of a long contract renewal.

Also, the main issue with me is, they need to up the quality control. What if Setanta 2008-2010 is like the Sky Sports years of watered down titles and 1-sided fights era? How do you make a compromise between titles and fights? How far are you willing to deceive the public?

Do some of these guys know the risk of signing promoters to exclusive contracts? Have they got the bite scars on their arses perhaps from certain contracts?

I've already done the interview, Autobarn, and it was done before this announcement. Trevor East is a mate of allegedly. BBC, ITV and Sky appear to have all changed tack after learning lessons...can't say too much else, really.

I hope Setanta have learnt those same lessons, I'd imagine neither will be willing to let friendship get in the way of business

[jamesmcdonnell]

I wish the networks would all get away with doing 'exclusive' deals with promoters. I just don't think it's good for the sport.

However, having said that, Warren's quality of shows lately is world class, and it looks like there's more to come with Calzaghe and Woods (Inshallah).

[Chambers2]

I wish the networks would all get away with doing 'exclusive' deals with promoters. I just don't think it's good for the sport.

Its unbelievable that they keep signing these exclusive contracts with Warren, you'd have thought that all TV stations would have learnt their lesson after allegedly served up the WBU shit to Sky for years. They at least need strict quality control guidelines within the contract.

Exclusive contracts don't suit the TV stations or the fans, they only suit Warren

[steve689]

It will be interesting when the Setanta one comes around, i was seated next to a couple of boys from Setanta at the recent McCloskey fight and they said the response has been really positive and they are definately looking to invest in Boxing for the foreseeable future.

Apparently their bid to show Hatton-Mayweather matched SKY'S BUT sky got the gig because of their previous experience in building up these big PPV events.

[stujones]

I wonder if the US fights will come to an end now on Setanta... that word EXCLUSIVE has been used in the press release.

[stujones]

Ian,

Not sure if you asked it.... but not included it in your report... but did you mention Hatton vs Lazcano and why ITV didn't go for it.

They were complaining about a lack of prime time coverage for the big fights... surely this one would have got Millions of lay fans tuned in.

[dondada]

Ian,

Not sure if you asked it.... but not included it in your report... but did you mention Hatton vs Lazcano and why ITV didn't go for it.

They were complaining about a lack of prime time coverage for the big fights... surely this one would have got Millions of lay fans tuned in.

The interview was done before the fight was made. Sky made a packet from the Mayweather PPV and have a decent 'model' to roll out for this fight.

[harrygreb]

good stuff ian. i really enjoyed this and look forward to the rest.
i hope you dropped the york hall engagement to chat to mosey

[dondada]

good stuff ian. i really enjoyed this and look forward to the rest.
i hope you dropped the york hall engagement to chat to mosey

I got there on time anyway, harry! Would hate to miss the bar opening, I mean, those crucial four-rounders!

[Autobarn]

I wonder if the US fights will come to an end now on Setanta... that word EXCLUSIVE has been used in the press release.

yeah, here we go, Warren exclusive. Is this where the wheels come off?

[The Law]

Boxing and TV has provoked quite a lot of debate recently. I interviewed the top men from each of the big four UK channels to get their views and also got some interesting viewing figures.

Nothing in boxing writing took me as long as this series so you bastards better read it!

There'll be one a week for the next month and I start with ITV:

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3319- ... t-One.html

I'd be interested in your views and opinions - not on the writing - but on the views of the TV execs and perhaps the statistics.

I just noticed this thread. I simply can't wait for the next installment! Great work Ian!

[dondada]

Boxing and TV has provoked quite a lot of debate recently. I interviewed the top men from each of the big four UK channels to get their views and also got some interesting viewing figures.

Nothing in boxing writing took me as long as this series so you bastards better read it!

There'll be one a week for the next month and I start with ITV:

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3319- ... t-One.html

I'd be interested in your views and opinions - not on the writing - but on the views of the TV execs and perhaps the statistics.

I just noticed this thread. I simply can't wait for the next installment! Great work Ian!

Thanks mate. BBC should be up tomorrow.

[Syntax Error]

Excellent stuff Mr McNeilly; very interesting read.

I'm particularly looking forward to the BBC interview.

[DG.]

Boxing and TV has provoked quite a lot of debate recently. I interviewed the top men from each of the big four UK channels to get their views and also got some interesting viewing figures.

Nothing in boxing writing took me as long as this series so you bastards better read it!

There'll be one a week for the next month and I start with ITV:

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3319- ... t-One.html

I'd be interested in your views and opinions - not on the writing - but on the views of the TV execs and perhaps the statistics.

[DG.]

Ian,

Not sure if you asked it.... but not included it in your report... but did you mention Hatton vs Lazcano and why ITV didn't go for it.

They were complaining about a lack of prime time coverage for the big fights... surely this one would have got Millions of lay fans tuned in.

The Hattons want the money that goes with PPV.

I doubt ITV were even consulted.

[ArtOfWar]

The viewing figures statistic is interesting. For at least half the year, ITV has to battle against MoTD on BBC1, which is for the same demographic.

The Khan fight on Sat just missed the start of MoTD. Perhaps a change in start time might help. Say 8.00pm. And make sure it's in the contract that ITV has a say on the start time.

Finally, make sure you have a say in the fighter's involved, like HBO.

I may be naive on these matters, but surely this is boxing contract 101 here?!

Having a say in the fighters involved wouldn't work for ITV, because they don't have the money to make the big fights in the first place. Anyway you look at it British boxing is at the mercy of the big American tv channels if they want to make big fights, unless someone else wants to take the financial hit.

[leforge]

Trevor East was he the guy who gave Warrent he 10 year contract at sky.

[The Law]

Boxing and TV has provoked quite a lot of debate recently. I interviewed the top men from each of the big four UK channels to get their views and also got some interesting viewing figures.

Nothing in boxing writing took me as long as this series so you bastards better read it!

There'll be one a week for the next month and I start with ITV:

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3319- ... t-One.html

I'd be interested in your views and opinions - not on the writing - but on the views of the TV execs and perhaps the statistics.

I just noticed this thread. I simply can't wait for the next installment! Great work Ian!

Thanks mate. BBC should be up tomorrow.

Happy days! I'll keep an eye out for it