Channel 5 has 'no plans to show boxing at the moment'

[dondada]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2013/channe ... ing-moment

I know there's another thread on this but as this is a significant departure from rumour to confirmation I didn't want it to get buried.

A shame for fight fans (and the fighters, Hennessy, etc.)

[lefty]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2013/channe ... ing-moment

I know there's another thread on this but as this is a significant departure from rumour to confirmation I didn't want it to get buried.

A shame for fight fans (and the fighters, Hennessy, etc.)

I think personally that Mick has been guilty at times of putting on some poor matches when it comes to fury! Guys like Vinny Madelone I mean. That could part of the reason why Channel 5 are bailing.

[dondada]

Nah, that's what happens when I forget to click 'publish'.

It's fine now.

[Poncey]

There's rumours this is because they're trying to go with the UFC contract which will be cancelled by ESPN when it folds soon.

And there are ways around the contract Channel 5 has with the late night casino.

[fightscorecollector]

Could Eubank Jnr end up with Eddie Hearn??? Like father like son eh??

Interesting at the the Fury-Cunningham presser the fight was announced that it would be on channel 5.

Lets see what happens with Hennessy's stable. He needs TV for them but im sure he will have options eg: would allegedly or Sky want to showcase his stable. I think they would.

[ILikeBeer]

This is sad news for British boxing, but it seems to be the way it goes with terrestrial.

BBC threw a lot of money at Audley expecting competitive fights straight from his debut. Even went as far as signing Danny Williams, Michael Sprott and Herbie Hide in anticipation of Audley fighting them on the BBC. When this didn't happen, and the public started turning on Audley, they bailed.

ITV then signed Amir Khan, and hilariously managed to televise Audley vs Sprott 1, and both Audley vs Williams matches. Thus cashing in on a lot of BBC's work. It worked for a while, they even manage to get Calzaghe on board. But Warren being Warren signed Calzaghe to fight muppets like Manfredo, split up with Calzaghe and ITV moved everybody who wasn't Khan to ITV 4. They ended up canning too.

Now Channel 5 have gone down a similar route. Sadly, post Chisora, they haven't made any competitive fights for Fury. Though I'm surprised how early it has happened, because I was under the impression the channel was getting good ratings with the boxing, this was going to happen sooner or later when people got bored of mismatches. I was expecting another couple of years though. What with DeGale just arriving, Tyson Fury 'moving up' to fight a cruiserweight in America and the fact ratings were still good though, I thought they still had a while before Channel 5 canned it. Maybe it was just a budget issue? Big Mick wasn't going mental hiring out big venues for Channel 5 was he?

Shame at the end of the day. Boxing should have a terrestrial television presence, it just doesn't seem to get promoted properly when it moves.

[ArtOfWar]

There's rumours this is because they're trying to go with the UFC contract which will be cancelled by ESPN when it folds soon.

And there are ways around the contract Channel 5 has with the late night casino.

That would be gleaming. I hope things work out for all connected with Hennessey but I'd take UFC over their fare and day of the week.

Indeed it would be great news if true. I thought the UFC would end up with Sky considering the deal they have with FOX in America.

[rm1]

The fact that there is no boxing on terrestrial TV is a tragedy for the long term future of the sport-hopefully one that will soon be remedied. I suspect it's not Fat Mick's fault but rather Channel 5 putting short term cost saving over long term investments that would boost the channel in the long run. It's gone for low costs over quality and is clearly heading even further down market.

[TopGun]

I never understand why the terristerial channels always pull the plug on boxing. Channel 5 was getting great ratings, more than what they would get at that time slot with any other programme.

Back in the day ITV got stupid amounts of people watching Eubank/Benn. So why do they pull the plug? Surely with great viewing figures comes lots of advertising demands?

[ILikeBeer]

I never understand why the terristerial channels always pull the plug on boxing. Channel 5 was getting great ratings, more than what they would get at that time slot with any other programme.

Back in the day ITV got stupid amounts of people watching Eubank/Benn. So why do they pull the plug? Surely with great viewing figures comes lots of advertising demands?

I get the feeling Five's budget weren't up too much. Look at some of the venues. A Sports Hall in Hull and a Shopping Mall in Kent for DeGale. An Equestrian Centre in Somerset for Tyson Fury, which was absolutely nowhere near where he lived. It was almost as if Mick was finding venues on the cheap. Could that be because Five weren't stomping up much cash?

Seems odd that they pull the plug now, considering the ratings they were getting. Maybe there was some falling out over finances?

[doctorboxing]

There's rumours this is because they're trying to go with the UFC contract which will be cancelled by ESPN when it folds soon.

And there are ways around the contract Channel 5 has with the late night casino.

Also strong rumours that SKY Sports have got the UFC rights in the bag. It's a shame when TV companies are fighting over UFC and happy to drop boxing. That is what happens when the best fight the best and the fans get the fights they want to see and know who the champion at each weight is.

I know it is all about money, but the Price-Fury fight not happening because neither promoter would fight on a rival TV channel shows what a farce this is. Imagine if Murray never faced Federer or Man United never played Liverpool, because they had all negotiated their own TV rights!

I do feel sorry for Meaty Mick though, he worked hard to get a TV deal out of nowhere when everyone thought he was down and out. Fury/Eubank/DeGale will all demand to be on TV somehow so this might all be good for allegedly. I would love to see Eddie Hearn/Adam Smith try and offer Mick some sort of a deal where they could work together and get them on SKY.

[mfc_se15]

Is bad news this, was really good having boxing on terrestrial. I know plenty of people with a bit of an interest in boxing that enjoyed seeing the odd fight on channel 5 as they don't have sky/allegedly/loaded.

[ILikeBeer]

I get the feeling Five's budget weren't up too much. Look at some of the venues. A Sports Hall in Hull and a Shopping Mall in Kent for DeGale. An Equestrian Centre in Somerset for Tyson Fury, which was absolutely nowhere near where he lived. It was almost as if Mick was finding venues on the cheap. Could that be because Five weren't stomping up much cash?

Neither Degale nor Fury have been big ticket sellers. That's the reason for the small venues. The TV station should not really be subsidising the venue costs, although I acknowledge it does happen occasionally, particularly in the USA.

I was under the impression that Fury had a loyal fan base. A lot of them are chavs, but they always seem to turn up to his fights. Saying that, from memory the Chisora / Fury fight at Wembley looked half empty. So maybe you're right.

I've got nothing against small venue shows, don't get me wrong. Town Hall shows tend to have a good atmosphere. It's just noticeable that some of them weren't particularly local to the person fightable.

[Boxing Addict]

If mayweather vs guerrero or a manny fight was on primetime ppv then yes i think c5 would have kept going

fury price would have been massive for c5 and great for british boxing but thats what happens if you don't get the fights on

understand if c5 don't like the politics of boxing!!!!!

lets face it eubank jnr is interesting but a long way away and as soon as his gets to the top he'll move to sky as sky box office is back and every top fighter will want some of that

tyson fury is fighting in the states C5 - late morning show

degale would have been good as he is a real talent and will win the world title - can he not join matchroom

[Jack B]

I get the feeling Five's budget weren't up too much. Look at some of the venues. A Sports Hall in Hull and a Shopping Mall in Kent for DeGale. An Equestrian Centre in Somerset for Tyson Fury, which was absolutely nowhere near where he lived. It was almost as if Mick was finding venues on the cheap. Could that be because Five weren't stomping up much cash?

Neither Degale nor Fury have been big ticket sellers. That's the reason for the small venues. The TV station should not really be subsidising the venue costs, although I acknowledge it does happen occasionally, particularly in the USA.

Good point. The vast swathes of empty seats on show at the Odyssey for Fury-Johnson were, quite frankly, pretty embarrassing for somebody who we are repeatedly told is the 'biggest name in British boxing'.

[rm1]

i think this is a strategic mistake for C5 as British boxing is on the up at the moment, how are they going to feel if fury is world champ? I think they lack a long term approach only being interested in short term money saving.

[Chris W 1982]

Will we ever see boxing long term on terrestrial TV again?

BBC had an Olympic gold heavyweight but bailed after a few years.

ITV had Amir Khan, Joe Calzaghe and an adequate supporting cast but even they lost interest in the end.

In Fury, DeGale and Eubank Jnr, Mick couldve been onto something interesting but his project on 5 hasn't been given enough time to succeed.

I'm of the opinion that BBC and ITV would rather book some sort of reality TV programme in the boxing weekend slot and capitaliise on voting revenue.

5 could probably pick up a Steven Seagall or Jean Claude Van Damme film for next to nothing and there wouldnt be much difference in the ratings that would obtain compared to Fury/Rogan.

Fans want proper fights but proper fights tend to cost money. Money that TV companies don't want to spend on boxing.

[ILikeBeer]

Will we ever see boxing long term on terrestrial TV again?

BBC had an Olympic gold heavyweight but bailed after a few years.

ITV had Amir Khan, Joe Calzaghe and an adequate supporting cast but even they lost interest in the end.

In Fury, DeGale and Eubank Jnr, Mick couldve been onto something interesting but his project on 5 hasn't been given enough time to succeed.

I'm of the opinion that BBC and ITV would rather book some sort of reality TV programme in the boxing weekend slot and capitaliise on voting revenue.

5 could probably pick up a Steven Seagall or Jean Claude Van Damme film for next to nothing and there wouldnt be much difference in the ratings that would obtain compared to Fury/Rogan.

Fans want proper fights but proper fights tend to cost money. Money that TV companies don't want to spend on boxing.

You reckon? I thought Boxing was doing some of Five's best ratings?

[ILikeBeer]

They've deleted the Tweet. They might do something mental like releasing an official statement to clear up the confusion.

Somebody tweet DeGale. His idiotic ramblings on the subject might be quite amusing.

[Poncey]

Sky cancelled the UCMMA contract they had. But the stumbling block was PPV. At least that's what I was told.

Also depends whether Fox bring their Fox Sports 1 channel over here which replaced SPEED in the US.

I personally think MMA and Boxing compliment each other and have never really understood why channels prefer to choose between the two

[Chris W 1982]

Will we ever see boxing long term on terrestrial TV again?

BBC had an Olympic gold heavyweight but bailed after a few years.

ITV had Amir Khan, Joe Calzaghe and an adequate supporting cast but even they lost interest in the end.

In Fury, DeGale and Eubank Jnr, Mick couldve been onto something interesting but his project on 5 hasn't been given enough time to succeed.

I'm of the opinion that BBC and ITV would rather book some sort of reality TV programme in the boxing weekend slot and capitaliise on voting revenue.

5 could probably pick up a Steven Seagall or Jean Claude Van Damme film for next to nothing and there wouldnt be much difference in the ratings that would obtain compared to Fury/Rogan.

The ratings were good but they come at a cost

Fans want proper fights but proper fights tend to cost money. Money that TV companies don't want to spend on boxing.

You reckon? I thought Boxing was doing some of Five's best ratings?

[lefty]

That is what happens when the best fight the best and the fans get the fights they want to see and know who the champion at each weight is.

It's not so much the best fighting the best in MMA, it's more the most marketable fighters in the dominant organisation fighting each other. It's a subtle difference but it's a difference. That doesn't invalidate the general point you were making.

I dont agree entirely with that as the UFC does tend to put say the number 2 fighter against the number 3 and so forth. They're not afraid to make the interesting fights. Obviously thats easier to do when you possess all the fighters under contract though.

[lefty]

It's not so much the best fighting the best in MMA, it's more the most marketable fighters in the dominant organisation fighting each other. It's a subtle difference but it's a difference. That doesn't invalidate the general point you were making.[/quote]
I dont agree entirely with that as the UFC does tend to put say the number 2 fighter against the number 3 and so forth. They're not afraid to make the interesting fights. Obviously thats easier to do when you possess all the fighters under contract though.[/quote]

I agree. I must not have explained myself clearly enough for you to understand.[/quote]

Well I dont know if they're always the most marketable either! Some of the guys in the UFC are boring as hell to watch and I doubt they command great viewing figures for their fights, its just that they're the best guys in that division and thus the UFC wants them in the organisation.

[lefty]

Well I dont know if they're always the most marketable either! Some of the guys in the UFC are boring as hell to watch and I doubt they command great viewing figures for their fights, its just that they're the best guys in that division and thus the UFC wants them in the organisation.

Boring fighters don't usually keep their contracts for long.

GSP isnt the most exciting to be fair! ...... theres also some other wrestlers in the organisation who arent the most exciting guys to watch but they win so they stay. Jon Fitch was in the UFC for a good amount of time until he was recently cut and he was boring as hell to watch a lot of the time!

[ThereByTheGrace]

A sad day for all when men cuddling in a cage is more marketable than the noble art of boxing.