ESPN Friday Night Fights.

[stujones]

I thought Premier Sports were taking over the contract in the New Year.... Well, its New Year and there is a fight scheduled on Friday - but nothing on the Premiersports EPG or on the Website.

There are rumours mounting about the stability of Premiersports. Apparently they decided it wasn't worth the trip to show a Non League Football match that they were scheduled to show. No explanation as to why they didn't show it.

[chrisfinch]

Friday's show is scheduled for ESPN on saturday afternoon, which is certainly fishy.

[Kit]

I was wondering the same thing, having weekly Friday night fights was the the reason I finally caved in and signed up.

From their statement:
"31 Friday Night Fight events will air live beginning in January 2011 with an initial 2 year deal"

So does that mean 31 fights each year or over 2 years?; If that is over 104 weeks then that is only one show every 3 to 4 weeks, perhaps they havent bought the rights to every ESPN show?
But later in their text it goes on to say " exclusive coverage of espn Friday night fights" So how can ESPN be showing it?

As for the football cancellations, hopefully it is just down to the weather hampering the camera or presentation crew?

I'll be very disappointed if they are not showing this.

They seem to do a fair bit through Facebook but I cant see any mention of it?

[chrisfinch]

I reckon that means 31 cards a year. I'm not sad enough to have counted, but it's on most weeks until about August/September time, which would be about 31 weeks. They have odd specials as well.

But there is definitely something up. I'd have said that Premier haven't updated their EPG yet, but I can't imagine ESPN would schedule it if they didn't have the rights? No sign of FNF on Setanta in Ireland, either which isn't promising as everything Premier have shown so far boxing-wise has been on Setanta in Ireland.

[ourkid1984]

I find asking them on their Facebook page is a good way of getting a good quick and honest answer but I would suspect that they will show 31 a year with espn still showing some that Premier don't pick up or that's my hope anyway.

I can't remember exactly what date they gave for their first FNF but I'm sure it wasn't this early on in January, even if it is I wouldn't be suprised that they don't update their epg until about Thursday. I think they were quite late in releasing start time information about another fight in the US but can't remember which one.

[chinny]

ESPN having the card on Saturday afternoon is good enough for me.

So the deal is that Premier sports have it live?

There was a bloke from Premier on another forum saying that Williams v Martinez got so little interest that they considered the viability of the whole thing.

[chrisfinch]

Confirmed on their facebook that Premier Sports are now not showing it, but indeed ESPN are at midday on saturday.

As things stands ESPN as showing the first event delayed on Saturday at midday. There are some ongoing issues here that both parties are trying to resolve.

Poor form really, announcing to the world your showing it and then, well, not.

[ricardoo3]

ESPN agreed to sell it to them then took it back when they realised it did not look good to not even show thier own content.

[stujones]

ESPN agreed to sell it to them then took it back when they realised it did not look good to not even show thier own content.

So the deal is dead in the water then?

I guess that means you can kiss goodbye any chance for ESPN to show additional boxing.