Why doesn't the BBC show live boxing ??

[gazzman87]

Its a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to the public to show us what we want to watch.
Why didn't they jump on to the hype of the public popularity of the boxing in the Olympic games?
The BBC shows curling,swimming,diving,rowing,equestrian-jumping,velodrome-cycling and other minor sports whenever they can under the guise of doing a public service. (Which must get next to nothing in terms of ratings) But boxing is probably the only big legit sport that gets nothing.
I get showing boxing can be expensive but with the crap they waste money on surely they could put on even 4 or 5 big shows a year.

What are your thoughts?

[gazza8]

Its a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to the public to show us what we want to watch.
Why didn't they jump on to the hype of the public popularity of the boxing in the Olympic games?
The BBC shows curling,swimming,diving,rowing,equestrian-jumping,velodrome-cycling and other minor sports whenever they can under the guise of doing a public service. (Which must get next to nothing in terms of ratings) But boxing is probably the only big legit sport that gets nothing.
I get showing boxing can be expensive but with the crap they waste money on surely they could put on even 4 or 5 big shows a year.

What are your thoughts?

Never going to happen. A minority sport which licence payers would cause an uproar if boxing was on peak time viewing.

[funso banjo baby]

the boxing public chose pay per view and the sky monopoly

thanks a lot, idiots

[David McAllister]

the boxing public chose pay per view and the sky monopoly

thanks a lot, idiots

Can you expand on that comment a bit more, I always thought the main reason for BBC not being involved was after what happened with Audley Harrison when he turned pro?

I get more sports with my Sky subscription than just boxing and as for PPV if you don't want to watch don't buy it, but don't blame a company for providing a service if it makes them money.

Do you really think that BBC or ITV could realistically afford to put on the bigger shows on their primetime slots on a Saturday like Sky or allegedly do?

[chad]

The BBC pulled out of boxing due to its unpredictability. Too many shows being cancelled or changed significantly, sometimes with only a few days notice. It was becoming a nightmare trying to find programming, at such short notice, to fill last minute gaps in their primetime schedule.

My understanding it’s for these same reasons boxing is unlikely to make a return to ITV. With Frank allegedly, Frank Maloney and Ricky Hatton being released from their SKY TV deals in the past 2 years, it’s not like terrestrial channels haven’t had the opportunity to get back into boxing. All 3 promoters have confirmed that they did attempt to get on board with the BBC and ITV with little of no interest from the broadcasters. Whilst Channel 5 are having a go, it’s very unlikely we’ll see proper live big time boxing return to terrestrial TV. Thank goodness for SKY and allegedly commitment to the sport.

[stevedoc]

Its a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to the public to show us what we want to watch.
Why didn't they jump on to the hype of the public popularity of the boxing in the Olympic games?
The BBC shows curling,swimming,diving,rowing,equestrian-jumping,velodrome-cycling and other minor sports whenever they can under the guise of doing a public service. (Which must get next to nothing in terms of ratings) But boxing is probably the only big legit sport that gets nothing.
I get showing boxing can be expensive but with the crap they waste money on surely they could put on even 4 or 5 big shows a year.

What are your thoughts?

Never going to happen. A minority sport which licence payers would cause an uproar if boxing was on peak time viewing.

it has happened many times ....and boxing isn't a minority sport ..bbc had decades of showing live boxing on a saturday night ,it was just that auderly harrison conned them that thhe bbc hasn't been big on boxing

[spudder56]

Its a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to the public to show us what we want to watch.
Why didn't they jump on to the hype of the public popularity of the boxing in the Olympic games?
The BBC shows curling,swimming,diving,rowing,equestrian-jumping,velodrome-cycling and other minor sports whenever they can under the guise of doing a public service. (Which must get next to nothing in terms of ratings) But boxing is probably the only big legit sport that gets nothing.
I get showing boxing can be expensive but with the crap they waste money on surely they could put on even 4 or 5 big shows a year.

What are your thoughts?

Never going to happen. A minority sport which licence payers would cause an uproar if boxing was on peak time viewing.

it has happened many times ....and boxing isn't a minority sport ..bbc had decades of showing live boxing on a saturday night ,it was just that auderly harrison conned them that thhe bbc hasn't been big on boxing

Spot on mate Fraudley conned the BBC and Public big time and ruined any hope of the BBC being involved ever again THE MAN HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR IMO

[nobby_nobbins]

The BBC pulled out of boxing due to its unpredictability. Too many shows being cancelled or changed significantly, sometimes with only a few days notice. It was becoming a nightmare trying to find programming, at such short notice, to fill last minute gaps in their primetime schedule.

My understanding it’s for these same reasons boxing is unlikely to make a return to ITV. With Frank allegedly, Frank Maloney and Ricky Hatton being released from their SKY TV deals in the past 2 years, it’s not like terrestrial channels haven’t had the opportunity to get back into boxing. All 3 promoters have confirmed that they did attempt to get on board with the BBC and ITV with little of no interest from the broadcasters. Whilst Channel 5 are having a go, it’s very unlikely we’ll see proper live big time boxing return to terrestrial TV. Thank goodness for SKY and allegedly commitment to the sport.

Sky in the early days played a clever game. They sat back and watched terrestrial channels invest in a fighter, using their reach to establish a huge fanbase for him. Then, with the fighter on the verge of challenging for the big titles, Sky would dangle a huge load of cash and poach him away, in the hope that his addicted fans would be forced to stump up the subscription to continue to follow his career.

[Parson Cross]

Broadcasting is a business.
Boxing is a business.
Boxing has also been turned into a minority sport like it or like it not.
More money and profit showing dickheads eating slugs or gay estate agents flogging houses.
Matchroom I suspect do as well if not better out of Sky with all their other broadcasts.

[orbtastic]

The BBC pulled out of boxing due to its unpredictability. Too many shows being cancelled or changed significantly, sometimes with only a few days notice. It was becoming a nightmare trying to find programming, at such short notice, to fill last minute gaps in their primetime schedule.

My understanding it’s for these same reasons boxing is unlikely to make a return to ITV. With Frank allegedly, Frank Maloney and Ricky Hatton being released from their SKY TV deals in the past 2 years, it’s not like terrestrial channels haven’t had the opportunity to get back into boxing. All 3 promoters have confirmed that they did attempt to get on board with the BBC and ITV with little of no interest from the broadcasters. Whilst Channel 5 are having a go, it’s very unlikely we’ll see proper live big time boxing return to terrestrial TV. Thank goodness for SKY and allegedly commitment to the sport.

Sky in the early days played a clever game. They sat back and watched terrestrial channels invest in a fighter, using their reach to establish a huge fanbase for him. Then, with the fighter on the verge of challenging for the big titles, Sky would dangle a huge load of cash and poach him away, in the hope that his addicted fans would be forced to stump up the subscription to continue to follow his career.

Surely it was more to do with Francis Warren esq. moving his huge stable of fighters wholesale to SKY?

Eubank had already done a "solo" deal with them, his whole "world tour" schtick where he almost came unstuck several times.

[DavidPayne]

Spot on mate Fraudley conned the BBC and Public big time and ruined any hope of the BBC being involved ever again THE MAN HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR IMO

AUDLEY WASN'T ENTIRELY TO BLAME.

With regard ITV, on the cusp of a new FW deal at ITV; Hatton left him and Danny Williams got nits and phoned in sick.

[bripez]

In answer to the question, the only reason can be because they don't get the ratings.

Whether we like it or not, the general public would rather watch Come Dancing or somebody from TOWIE eating a Kangaroo bollock than watch boxing.

There again, I am a boxing fan - I don't have Sky sports or allegedly but watch what I can .

In the last week I watched the Hughie and Degale fights - I( found both to be boring and if I was a casual fan I wouldn't be rushing to watch another promotion any time soon.

[gazza8]

Its a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to the public to show us what we want to watch.
Why didn't they jump on to the hype of the public popularity of the boxing in the Olympic games?
The BBC shows curling,swimming,diving,rowing,equestrian-jumping,velodrome-cycling and other minor sports whenever they can under the guise of doing a public service. (Which must get next to nothing in terms of ratings) But boxing is probably the only big legit sport that gets nothing.
I get showing boxing can be expensive but with the crap they waste money on surely they could put on even 4 or 5 big shows a year.

What are your thoughts?

Never going to happen. A minority sport which licence payers would cause an uproar if boxing was on peak time viewing.

it has happened many times ....and boxing isn't a minority sport ..bbc had decades of showing live boxing on a saturday night ,it was just that auderly harrison conned them that thhe bbc hasn't been big on boxing

a hate to burst you bubble, it saddens me, but in Britain 2013 boxing is a minority sport.

Outwith the big fights, fight night doesnt rank anywhere on skys most watch programs in comparison with football, darts, golf, wwe, super league or even american football. There is no profit or ratings for the bbc to show boxing, they would rather show you people trying to dance or casualty! Also nothing is going to shift MOTD.

the fact the majority of boxing, outwith matchroom is shown on a speciality channel tells you everything you need to know

[funso banjo baby]

it was predicted that Sky Tv would have a major impact leading to the decline of boxing as a 'major' sport in the UK.

there is no ambiguity here

do some research back to 1989/1990 and then join the dots....

unfortunately the average boxing fan was frontline to receive everything the murdocracy attempted.

only premiership football thrives (in complete isolation) due in part to debt picked up by major global investors...but also a strong supporters network and voice...which boxing lacks completely. Football is considered trendy and accessible to ordinary people at grassroots - boxing isnt.

on several occasions there have been 'opportunities' for fans to resist the commodification of the sport they supposedly love so much:

the first that springs to mind is Amir Khan's switch from itv to sky for the Prescott fight , most fans had the platform so just went with it.

One of a huge amount of silly mistakes.

a useful analogy would be the founding of the national lottery in the mid 90's --- anyone with a knowledge of the history of the lottery from the elizabethan period onward would know why it was suppressed continually. it opened the floodgates to 24 hour gambling in the uk.
the fact that its run now by a canadian pensions firm is, frankly, horrible.

but hey, its made us all rich hasnt it

[expe]

Most of the decisions the BBC make have no logic behind them at all, so it doesn't surprise me boxing isn't on there.

[Horse]

The BBC doesn't show live boxing because they are evil.

The licence fee should be scrapped.

[jameswilson]

As soon as I saw the thread title I knew this thread was gonna have halfwits saying the usual 'ohhhhhhhhh it's all Audley's fault!!!' again. The BBC showed more than just A-Force promotions shows and if it was the case that his shows weren't being watched by anyone and the Hennessy and Haye (can't remember who he was promoted by at the time) shows were being watched by billions then you'd have to be a berk not to realise they would just drop Audley and stick with the rest.