ESPN launch uk channel.

[teddy007]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8138992.stm

Sounds good, hopefull this can save boxing and ufc, thoughts?

[sweetscience]

still too dear @ £12 opposed to Sky Sports @ £7

[15829]

like to see haymaker and hennesy sign deals aswell as golden boy and toprank and just to be greedy saueland as well

[Chambers2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8138992.stm

Sounds good, hopefull this can save boxing and ufc, thoughts?

It's excellent news if it means we get more boxing on the box, I just wish Sky weren't mentioned so many times in that article. I'll definately be subscribing if they're investing in British boxing such as broadcasting Hayemaker and Hennessey shows especially..... ESPN The Saviour of Boxing (The King is dead, long live the King)

Setantwho?

[steve689]

still too dear @ £12 opposed to Sky Sports @ £7

So is ESPN one channel for £12 then? I don't subscribe to SKY SS so can you clarify that £7 payment. Is that per SKY Sports channel mate?

[Spud]

Got to say I will subscribe!!

[sweetscience]

still too dear @ £12 opposed to Sky Sports @ £7

So is ESPN one channel for £12 then? I don't subscribe to SKY SS so can you clarify that £7 payment. Is that per SKY Sports channel mate?

i cancelled SS (3/4 channels) and got £7 knocked off my bill... so in yes.. its £7 for all the channels.

[Wake up call]

I'll defo subscribe if they have British boxing on.

Personally I can see all the big international fights finding their way back to Sky again, probably on a delayed basis like the recent Ortiz fight. I can't see ESPN securing international rights from Top Rank, Goldenboy etc as they have deals with HBO/TIME WARNER in the states and I doubt they will want their promoters dealing with their big rivals ESPN/DISNEY in any capacity. Yes Sky is part of Fox but they are trading under a different name in the UK. ESPN are in their own name and HBO wont like them getting any credit.

Of course it's down to the promoter who they sell the international rights to but HBO are the ones that stump up the cash for most of Top Rank's and GBP shows to happen in the first place and can probably put something in the contracts to prevent it.

Then again, I could being cynical here.

Hopefully ESPN come up trumps and prove me wrong.

If one thing should be for certain then at least we should get better coverage of ESPN Friday night fights then Channel Five currently serve up at 2.30am or whatever on a Monday morning.

[stujones]

Good point Wake up call... I hope ESPN will be good to make press releases about boxing well in advance. If they offer the same or similar to Setanta then I'll subscribe. I do have concerns though.

[Hardhitters11]

I have been paying £11.00 for Sky sport's anyway so could switch to this!

[junior pepa seed]

It will be 9 quid if you already have sky sports package.
Also they will have an hd channel thrown in free.....aug 3rd sounds good I m in.

[chesh]

Is it good news? I've just read the article twice and there's no mention at all of boxing.

[sweetscience]

£12 for 1 channel is a rip off...end of

[chinny]

Even if you are a footy fan who will sign up to ESPN anyway, I'd urge you not to subscribe until they sign up some boxing content. The bean counters (who will report to the decision makers) will be looking at the subscription numbers every day, and anyone who signs up now (when all they have confirmed is 46 prem league games plus some US sport we used to get for free) will be earmarked as a soft touch.

It is also very important that if/when signing up we all make it clear we are subscribing due to boxing content (if they ask, which if they are worth their salt they will). If people subscribe now it sends a poor message. If we subscribe when we see some boxing content, it sends the right message.

Rant over...!

[The_Don1]

Is it good news? I've just read the article twice and there's no mention at all of boxing.

quite, I think people need to calm down until ESPN at least display the merest hint that they will be broadcasting boxing in future.

[hitman_hatton1]

yeah i'm in to.

like me football and that's 99p cheaper than setanta.

hopefully they buy up some american fight cards and some uk promoters.

[LethalLeprechaun]

I've been living in the US for the past year, and outside of Friday Night Fights, I haven't seen much boxing coverage on the channel. In saying that, their sister channel, ESPN Classic did recently show the Klitschko-Chagaev fight live, although I suspect it was only because HBO and Showtime didn't show much interest. They also have a Spanish channel called ESPN Deportes that occasionally shows fights featuring Latin American fighters.

In saying that, they do appear to be the most successful US sports channel, and much like Sky in the UK, have rights to the most popular sports such as American Football, baseball, basketball and Nascar. This suggests they have a fair amount of money to play with and will likely be adding some other good sporting events on top of their Premiership football coverage.

However, given their domination in the US sports broadcasting market, I don't see rival channels such as HBO or Showtime being too keen to sell them their international rights to boxing.

Also, for those not aware of it, I'd recommend the ESPN boxing podcast hosted by Kieran Mulvaney.

[alexpaterson]

Magic news I hope they get some of the British promoters like Hennessy or Hayemaker and also keep there FNF and show it on the British channel every Friday that would be great