Viewing figures

[maverick23]

Since boxing has returned all the reports abo viewing figures are about how poor they’ve been.

Top Rank’s shows have really struggled (particularly in comparison with UFC who are drawing in 3-4 times the amount) with their, on the whole, one sided shows.

Mike Coppinger reported that the BT show on Saturday had an average of 10,000 viewers with a peak of 24,000. I have no idea if those numbers are accurate but, directionally, it’s certainly not a good sign.

Whilst the Brad Foster vs Beech fight was a good scrap the other fights on FW’s 2 shows have been quite underwhelming.

Eddie’s been promoting the hell out his garden show this weekend and the line up is certainly a lot stronger than the 2 FW shows but is there still a big mainstream appetite now for boxing?

I work for a non-sport TV company and viewing figures are still really strong across our channel and all of the other channels we work with. Why do people think that hasn’t yet translated to boxing?

[dalcumly]

I can only speak for myself but when live football returned with the Bundesliga I just couldn't get up much interest without the crowds in attendance and the silence even though I had been looking forward to it.
When the Premiership returned the option was there for 'crowd noise' , making, for me , a slight improvement, but the football lacked 'something'. The players didn't have the crowd driving them on. After all home teams usually win across all levels of football.
I recorded the first FW show and watched it later . The fights weren't bad, but it just seemed 'unreal', like watching a good quality sparring session in a quite gym.
I don't think it's simply the lack of an atmosphere, there seems to be an unintended lack of 'bite' with the boxers as well. Eddie Hearns PPV event in August will be interesting. Firstly I think the viewing figures will be exceptionally low, but two big men thumping shots into each other, at a steady pace with no crowd to ' encourage ' them to ' up it' will lead to a boring contest.

[Boxerbeetle]

Frankly I think a lot of people have simply cancelled their sport channel subscriptions since March due to the lack of live events, and haven’t bothered picking them back up again.

[milpool]

Frankly I think a lot of people have simply cancelled their sport channel subscriptions since March due to the lack of live events, and haven’t bothered picking them back up again.

Agree with this.

For all the sports that I've watched without crowds, the cricket was fine, the hum of the crowd they put in seemed to work, but then I watch a bit of county cricket so I'm used to not many people watching. The crowd noises they had at the darts was OK to an extent, although when one of them missed the seventh dart in a nine darter attempt, they were late in piping in the 'ooooh' and it just sounded ridiculous.

Watching the BT show wasn't too bad, it was like being at an early undercard fight which gave you the feeling that you were watching a new kid on the block take on a journeyman and therefore there wasn't much at stake.

Eddie's garden show will be interesting and I suspect will be a totally different beast to what we've seen on BT in terms of atmosphere and presentation.

[rd350lc]

Frankly I think a lot of people have simply cancelled their sport channel subscriptions since March due to the lack of live events, and haven’t bothered picking them back up again.

I think they will lose customers permanently tbh With many people tightening their belts due to the current situation.
For me I hope football gets the biggest reality check and the players are payed sensible money .

[chiggsy]

Same as quite a few others on here in that i'm really struggling to get into any of the usual sports i normally watch due to the lack of atmosphere.

I didn't really notice at the time how much of huge difference it makes as a viewer at least for me anyway.

[Onamastus]

Will they still play 'Sweet Caroline' between bouts in an empty room?

[brilo33]

have to admit ive cut sky sports fed up of football and there crap, its not same with out fans either, i would pay just for boxing on sky if they did it different , otherwise ill watch it back a day later or watch stream or family or freinds watch it around there

[veriton]

i've watched them both, and looking forward to tonight.

i dont mind the studio, feels hardcore in terms of just watching the sport side of it but there's obviously no sense of occassion.

I really dislike the fake crowd hum they put on, it's off putting as obviously not really. also, why dont we get all the corner talk? perfect opportunity, instead of commentator waffle.

so far these have been trade fights, be interesting to see what dubois does as he seems to be crossing over.

[maverick23]

I’ve watched both BT shows so far and, outside of the good trade fight between Foster and Beech, the fights have pretty one sided and predictable.

I haven’t seen any promotion at all for the show tonight. Seems strange if the viewing figures are to be believed and especially none of the casuals would recognise any of the fighters on the show.

ITV reported record viewing figures for the snooker they had on a month or so back and apparently the darts and UFC (in the US and U.K.) have been doing well too. Whilst the UFC is still doing very competitive fights, it seems strange that both sports are doing v.well whilst boxing is struggling.

[Delta Jay]

There’s only been rubbish shows so far and the one this weekend is really good. That’s why!

I think they were poorly promoted as well because I only realised the other day quite how many fights I’d missed. But I’m all set for the three cards this weekend now and can’t wait.

I hate canned laughter and canned crowd noises, and love hearing a good thud of a shot or when the cornerman says “motherfucker” 9 times in 40 seconds. I just miss actually going to the shows.

[dookus]

I hate canned laughter and canned crowd noises, and love hearing a good thud of a shot or when the cornerman says “motherfucker” 9 times in 40 seconds. I just miss actually going to the shows.

It has been great hearing the corners yelling "stick that fúcking jab out" etc throughout the rounds - reminds me of sparring

[Delta Jay]

I hate canned laughter and canned crowd noises, and love hearing a good thud of a shot or when the cornerman says “motherfucker” 9 times in 40 seconds. I just miss actually going to the shows.

It has been great hearing the corners yelling "stick that fúcking jab out" etc throughout the rounds - reminds me of sparring

Might have been the last Teofimo Lopez fight, the ostensibly white cornerman said the N word a couple of times and the commentary went silent for a minute then apologised for the “extremely” bad language. Amazing

[dookus]

I hate canned laughter and canned crowd noises, and love hearing a good thud of a shot or when the cornerman says “motherfucker” 9 times in 40 seconds. I just miss actually going to the shows.

It has been great hearing the corners yelling "stick that fúcking jab out" etc throughout the rounds - reminds me of sparring

Might have been the last Teofimo Lopez fight, the ostensibly white cornerman said the N word a couple of times and the commentary went silent for a minute then apologised for the “extremely” bad language. Amazing

You can put as much gloss as you like on boxing, but it is what it is...

[Delta Jay]

It has been great hearing the corners yelling "stick that fúcking jab out" etc throughout the rounds - reminds me of sparring

Might have been the last Teofimo Lopez fight, the ostensibly white cornerman said the N word a couple of times and the commentary went silent for a minute then apologised for the “extremely” bad language. Amazing

You can put as much gloss as you like on boxing, but it is what it is...

I was thinking that myself, it just doesn’t happen in cricket

[coghaugen11]

Considering Benn-Watson had 10M for a Commonwealth title fight, scarey and worrying that 10K are watching the up and coming Joyce (10 years their senior incidentally).

[iestynvenables]

look at channel 5, viewers about 2million in the last card.

[rd350lc]

look at channel 5, viewers about 2million in the last card.

That's pretty good, I'd love to see free to air TV do ok .

[margaret thatcher]

One of the bt numbers was reported as 5k, that's the lowest tv number ive ever seen

[coghaugen11]

Considering Benn-Watson had 10M for a Commonwealth title fight, scarey and worrying that 10K are watching the up and coming Joyce (10 years their senior incidentally).

And Benn-Watson was 10PM on a Sunday.

[mullenman]

Bt card was probably the worst card ever in television. These fights could not even be called undercard fights

[3132DW]

Bt card was probably the worst card ever in television. These fights could not even be called undercard fights

Here’s an even better one....Andy Ayling of Queensbury was that bitter he tried to get Fight Camp stopped/scrapped by reporting David Diamante was not in country long enough etc....saying the didn’t meet Quarantine Rules. That’s how bitter the BT/FW mob are.

[Glass Joe]

Must admit the boxing studio scene is a bit repetitive for me

[margaret thatcher]

3000 is absolutely dreadful

[JamieM]

FW shows have been horrendous, even with the lockdown it takes alot to watch them, eddie is blowing him out the water. Progressively over the next month fast car is going to stick nails in his coffin, all of which I am going to love as he is a piece of garbage who treats his fighters with ni respect. He had a game changer in Dubois v joyce and chucked it while eddie ran with povetkin against whyte.