ITV NOT OUT OF BOXING ITS JUST GOING PPV!!!!!!

[exittored]

Why the SAD FACE? this is BRILL NEWS

I'm all for ITV PPV, beats net streams or having to have Sky for Sky PPV

[MightyWarrior]

Great news....I think.
Taking the view that PPV is inevitable, better to have ITV at least offering the option - hope you get to pay for a one off event, at least, rather than monthly, and give all the crap a miss.

[Syntax Error]

Here is a piece by Kevin Mitchell about the Tourney and about half way down it says it will be on ITV'S new PPV channel :(
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ju ... re-dirrell

It won't last.

Does any remember the ill-fated ITV Digital?

Now is not the time to revisit that fiasco.

[exittored]

It won't last.

Does any remember the ill-fated ITV Digital?

Now is not the time to revisit that fiasco.

Geez thats a bit negative, it hasn't even started yet!

This would allow ITV to keep showing top class boxing and for that, i'd pay plus you dont have to have SKY TV to watch these fights eaither!

[the patriot]

Here is a piece by Kevin Mitchell about the Tourney and about half way down it says it will be on ITV'S new PPV channel :(
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ju ... re-dirrell

I new it was too good to be true

Why can't they just get it out to the masses on free to air :?? :?? :??

Get the general public interested in the sport again !!

[banjo]

Problem is ITV don't have the same financial clout as Sky or BBC so if they want to broadcast the big fights I suppose this is the best way of funding it.

[Autobarn]

it certainly gives boxing a chance. i was sceptical about this ITV PPV thing when someone told me recently. anyway, this tourney thing is official, it's an exciting idea, it could be massive and it could bring ppl to watch boxing that would normally watch other combat sports.

[chinny]

I take a fair bit of interest in who is doing what broadcast wise and this is the first I've heard of an ITV PPV venture.

There are LOADS of hoops to jump through before you can set up a brand new channel on the various platforms.

IMO ITV have much more pressing issues to deal with. They need to sort their core business out, tie down Simon Cowell to a new contract. I just can't see where this fits into their strategy.

I'd suggest Mick should speak to ESPN. Or are his hands tied by the ITV contract which runs until the end of the yeasr and supposedly includes all Uk based bouts (which of course Dirrell would be)?

[Autobarn]

the 168 tourney, nonetheless, is big news and a lot of ppl may want to shove their fingers in the pie. it has world champs, it has american olympians, in an intensely competitive format. it has big potential, it is an ambitious project that goes way beyond "boxing is a business, deal with it, and while we're at it, Father Christmas isn't real" - and who knows - if marketed right on ITV1, prime time ads, documentaries, updates, whatever - then it could have some success. i don't want to PPV for anything but this is something fresh, and i'm more likely to pay for this than, say, the Khan-Kotelnik show. TV can't afford the big fights without subscription channels & charging PPV.

[Autobarn]

"hardly the stuff of PPV"

an event featuring 3 world champions, an event that will match champions v champions, champions v prospects, prospects v prospects, in a competitive format

froch-dirrell is PPV worthy. it will be part of a dual broadcast with abraham-taylor. at least that how they're doing it on showtime.

[saturday_kid]

Would each fight be Pay-Per-View or what?

I can't see many UK customers buying any of the non-Froch fights in the tournament (other than hardcore boxing fans).

I'm no big fan of Pay-Per-View, I don't want us to get to the stage in the U.S, I think it will further marganilise boxing as a sport here. However I suppose one good thing about being ITV PPV is that it'll be accesible to everyone to buy as a one off, so I'd rather them than Sky, lesser of two evils somewhat.

[Autobarn]

technology - i.e. digital Tv - has pointed the way to PPV and terrestrial channels can't/won't fork out the big money to put the big fights together. it's just how it is.

[Autobarn]

i just hope they promote it properly, give it a good push on their main free channel

[boxingchat]

So what happens when Froch gets done (Probably only by Kessler) will it be like Winbledon once Murray/Henman are out?

[DavidPayne]

He can still make the semi-final though, so...ya know, the format should ensure the best four fighters make the semi's.

[Adamj1987]

they should stil have free shows on ITV4 with big world level fighst on PPV not just hennessy ones

[Old bones Ian]

Will the average punter pay for PPV if they don't know who the boxer is?
The reason Froch is becoming a name is because he's been on free TV for alot of his career, ITV have still got to have free shows to build boxers up into PPV worthy boxers

[Chambers2]

It's excellent news IMO, in the current boxing/broadcasting climate any boxing on TV is good news even it 's PPV.

I'm loving this super6 tournament, there'll undoubtedly be problems alonmg the way, but Showtime should be commended IMO for trying something different. Here's hoping it runs relatively smoothly and with UK coverage

COME ON FROCHY!!!

[Autobarn]

Will the average punter pay for PPV if they don't know who the boxer is?
The reason Froch is becoming a name is because he's been on free TV for alot of his career, ITV have still got to have free shows to build boxers up into PPV worthy boxers

they may pay for the event more so than the fighter

[hitman_hatton1]

more paying out.

just hope they don't charge nearly 15 quid like sky do.

[Autobarn]

it's actually be worth £15 if they really are doing a dual broadcast of the froch and abraham fights. just don't pay for shite sports channels and kon ppvs. use the leftover money to buy real fights. this is not run-of-the-mill boxing

[Dioufy]

it's actually be worth £15 if they really are doing a dual broadcast of the froch and abraham fights. just don't pay for shite sports channels and kon ppvs. use the leftover money to buy real fights. this is not run-of-the-mill boxing

I'm sorry. but no fight at all is worth an extra £15 to watch on television. Put aside a TV license, electricity bills, Sky Sports, Setanta/ESPN and it's a joke. I will never buy another PPV again. Free cable/free streams are the way forward.

[Autobarn]

i think in about 1995 boxing went in a certain direction and there's no going back. this is a special event and should be worth it. it costs a bloody lot to get top fighters to fight each other, especially ones from different continents/countries. (didn't warren say he lost money on calzaghe-kessler?)

personally i will wet the bed at potential matchups like froch v kessler, kessler v abraham.

in a few months, froch in another hard title defence v a slick tricky bugger, and whoever thought we'd ever get to see abraham v taylor, and that on the same night, too.

brilliant stuff. competitive fights. someone had a revolution in his bed

[Autobarn]

it's actually be worth £15 if they really are doing a dual broadcast of the froch and abraham fights. just don't pay for shite sports channels and kon ppvs. use the leftover money to buy real fights. this is not run-of-the-mill boxing

I'm sorry. but no fight at all is worth an extra £15 to watch on television. Put aside a TV license, electricity bills, Sky Sports, Setanta/ESPN and it's a joke. I will never buy another PPV again. Free cable/free streams are the way forward.

no they are not. boxing is reliant upon TV money, and particularly PPV money. you think internet PPV is the way forward? sit hunched over a computer at night time with a cup of coffee next to you

[Adamj1987]

i think in about 1995 boxing went in a certain direction and there's no going back. this is a special event and should be worth it. it costs a bloody lot to get top fighters to fight each other, especially ones from different continents/countries. (didn't warren say he lost money on calzaghe-kessler?)

personally i will wet the bed at potential matchups like froch v kessler, kessler v abraham.

in a few months, froch in another hard title defence v a slick tricky bugger, and whoever thought we'd ever get to see abraham v taylor, and that on the same night, too.

brilliant stuff. competitive fights. someone had a revolution in his bed

i agree, but its just a shame boxing has lost such a core audience due to fights being lost to PPV. i remember going down the pub with 10 or mates just to watch the big British middleweight fights from the 90's yet when i talk to those mates today not one still watches boxing.

its a shame most places dont put boxing on any more theres 1 place in preston that puts skys friday night fights on and between 5-8 of u go down and sit on the table near 1 of the TVs