Hennessy Sports/Channel 5 - where does it go from here?

[Jack B]

With all the talk of Haye-Fury I have been wondering about the future of boxing on Channel 5, as well as Hennessy's stable in general.

Obviously earlier in the year there was a lot of conjecture about Channel 5's long-term future in the sport. Whilst subsequently they have showed Fury-Cunningham and, more recently, DeGale-Bozic, you would have to assume that they won't be best pleased that their marquee boxer's biggest fight is now being shown on a rival broadcaster - especially after the work they have put in building him over the past couple of years. Could the Haye-Fury fight be the catalyst to the end of free-to-air boxing on 5?

You also have to wonder about the long-term ramifications for Hennessy Sports. Ok, so in the short term they are co-promoting a massive fight. But, let's face it, Fury is a huge underdog and, if he loses, what do they have left? They could well have burnt their bridges with Channel 5. A defeat for Tyson and he is much less marketable. Rumours are DeGale wants out (he's been linked with Top Rank). Eubank Jr can't be too happy with his lack of activity. And he doesn't have much else.

Thoughts?

[Gazmac81]

when Eubanks was on that food show with Tim Lovejoy he was saying he was on Channel 5 to build his profile and then look to move to sky

thought that was a bit cheeky , the food show wasnt even on channel 5 either so Lovejoy didnt really entertain it more

[palooka]

Hennessey will have to reach out to allegedly the same as other promoters have done.

[mickey1975]

The chances are C5 pulled the plug on Meaty Mick, not the other way round.

[palooka]

The chances are C5 pulled the plug on Meaty Mick, not the other way round.

The television people are fickle fuckers though, Hennessey (and Goodwin) will be better off on allegedly.

[whiskey]

They did serious ratings on C5, just shows what a fickle bunch of muppets they are for not getting behind the sport.

Then again, I suppose we should be grateful that a terrestrial broadcaster is giving us a few crumbs here and there.

[black panther]

I feel for Hennessy; he's had stints on just about every boxing outlet in the UK tv wise; BBC, ITV, Sky, Primetime & now Channel five. He actually had a pretty damn good stable at one point too; Fury, Barker, Froch, Galahad, Eubank Jnr....shame he couldn't keep hold of Barker & Froch.

[expe]

If Fury wins, Hennessy won't be short of offers, if he loses, that may well be it with 5.

[wrimc]

I feel for Hennessy; he's had stints on just about every boxing outlet in the UK tv wise; BBC, ITV, Sky, Primetime & now Channel five. He actually had a pretty damn good stable at one point too; Fury, Barker, Froch, Galahad, Eubank Jnr....shame he couldn't keep hold of Barker & Froch.

At one point arguably the best stable in the country. Froch as world champion, Barker and Murray were near mando status for the WBC. He obviously had Fury who has grown into a big star. He was very unlucky with the timing of losing his TV deal. I think if he had the backing he would have kept all of them and had them all in world title shots.

[palooka]

I feel for Hennessy; he's had stints on just about every boxing outlet in the UK tv wise; BBC, ITV, Sky, Primetime & now Channel five. He actually had a pretty damn good stable at one point too; Fury, Barker, Froch, Galahad, Eubank Jnr....shame he couldn't keep hold of Barker & Froch.

At one point arguably the best stable in the country. Froch as world champion, Barker and Murray were near mando status for the WBC. He obviously had Fury who has grown into a big star. He was very unlucky with the timing of losing his TV deal. I think if he had the backing he would have kept all of them and had them all in world title shots.

He must have killed a robin.

[squared circle]

The fight is surely only sky because of haye currently being a sky fighter? ie the charr fight was going to be on sky sports? (I know matchroom aren't promoting this one).

If fury had been fighting pulev, or Thompson, or whoever then wouldn't that have been on primetime more likely than not?

[lefty]

Some of the fights Hennessy put on channel 5 werent exactly the best though, maybe that's why channel 5 have pulled out *if they have that is* or are going to be.

[Parson Cross]

14 September 2013 at Magna Rotherham. Barry aka Kid Galahad top of bill for British title. Live on Channel 5.

[WelshJack]

14 September 2013 at Magna Rotherham. Barry aka Kid Galahad top of bill for British title. Live on Channel 5.

Gutted I thought Hennessey would put all his fighters on Fury bill to get a deal with sky.

[mickey1975]

14 September 2013 at Magna Rotherham. Barry aka Kid Galahad top of bill for British title. Live on Channel 5.

Gutted I thought Hennessey would put all his fighters on Fury bill to get a deal with sky.

Sky didn't like Mick before they went exclusive with Eddie! There was no chance of that happening, ever.

[bripez]

I feel for Hennessy; he's had stints on just about every boxing outlet in the UK tv wise; BBC, ITV, Sky, Primetime & now Channel five. He actually had a pretty damn good stable at one point too; Fury, Barker, Froch, Galahad, Eubank Jnr....shame he couldn't keep hold of Barker & Froch.

I feel the same.

I understood that Ch 5 pulled the plug on Mick and then went on a fight-to fight arrangement.

Ch 5 dropped a bollock - but there again ironically if there was a contract with Hennessey in place then it is unlikely that the Haye fight would be happening.

[WelshJack]

14 September 2013 at Magna Rotherham. Barry aka Kid Galahad top of bill for British title. Live on Channel 5.

Gutted I thought Hennessey would put all his fighters on Fury bill to get a deal with sky.

Sky didn't like Mick before they went exclusive with Eddie! There was no chance of that happening, ever.

But if his fighters impress surely they can't turn him away and even more so if Fury wins.

[Jack B]

Gutted I thought Hennessey would put all his fighters on Fury bill to get a deal with sky.

Sky didn't like Mick before they went exclusive with Eddie! There was no chance of that happening, ever.

But if his fighters impress surely they can't turn him away and even more so if Fury wins.

Sky/Matchroom/Hayemaker obviously aren't banking on a Fury win. This is just the beginning of the Haye resurrection as far as they are concerned. 4 fight deal - the original plan being to start with a Charr fight on normal Sky Sports to rebuild him and keep the fans happy. But now it will just be Fury and then back on to the Klitschkos... once he's on PPV he won't want to come off it.... but other than Wlad/Vitali fight I don't see anything being PPV worthy...

[jizzle]

Hennessy has two big problems when it comes to his business:

1) The guy can't hold down a TV contract - BBC, ITV, C5 and SKY can't ALL be wrong

2) He can't keep top level fighters happy

If he solves those two he'll be eating pies for life!