Interesting UK TV deals...Warren, Hatton, ITV

Big Pussy · Post by **Big Pussy** » 08 May 2007, 03:51

From the Guardian:

TV and the boxing promoter allegedly are at odds over a new deal to screen Amir Khan and Joe Calzaghe's fights for the next two years, with Warren seeking a better offer from the commercial broadcaster and considering competing bids from the BBC and satellite broadcaster Setanta Sport.

Warren is likely to decide this week which of the three bids to accept and it is thought that ITV's current offer falls short of Warren's valuation. ITV's deal expires at the end of next month, two weeks before Khan's next fight.

At ITV, meanwhile, there are doubts about whether Warren will deliver cards of a high enough quality to justify regular scheduling on ITV1. Executives have been disappointed at boxing's ratings performance - apart from the Audley Harrison-Danny Williams fight, which drew eight million viewers, audiences have averaged fewer than three million - and there is concern at the quality of opponents Khan has faced. ITV were also unhappy that Ricky Hatton left Warren's stable during the current deal.

Warren counters that the investment in Khan is long-term and has drawn parallels with Naseem Hamed, whose early fights appeared on ITV, only for Sky to step in and screen his world title bouts. Setanta Sport meanwhile will today confirm that it is to screen Hatton's next fight on pay-per-view.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 08 May 2007, 03:54

I hope Warren doesn't go to Setanta. I think that would be a mistake.

I might buy a Calzaghe-Kessler/Froch PPV but no way would I subscribe to the channel for weekly or fortnightly shows, I already spend £40 a month on Sky, it has to stop somewhere.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 May 2007, 04:00

Good I say. I'm glad yet another outlet is officially fvcked off with him. What does that tell you? He'll get away with anything if given the chance.

Warren will continue to fvck boxing over if ppl keep offering him exclusive flattering deals. He is under no pressure to deliver credibility. How many bridges does he have to burn, how many fans does he have to turn off, before this man gets sent to the fvcking moon?

Whatever ITV paid him, they paid him too much. The last show was one of the biggest jokes in boxing history. The trade press were fuming - Glyn Leach called it callous bullying in his editorial - and everyone knows it was appalling from a sporting POV.

PompeyScot · Post by **PompeyScot** » 08 May 2007, 04:43

You have to laugh considering boxingchat's putdown of Setanta over the weekend in regards to Hatton fighting on there.

Good for ITV I say, making a stand against the crap which Warren has been serving up. If I was them I'd do away with this exckusive contract nonsense and say to Warren that he can have a deal but it can't be exclusive, and ITV should have the rights to bid for any other fight which it can. Basically, if Warren wants the exclusivity then he has to deliver fights people want to see, and who will tune into ITV to see them, simple as.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 May 2007, 04:55

at least ITV have shown interest in other fights ie hatton-castillo (thwarted nonetheless by petty warren whose contract doesn't excpisre till after the fight). and at least they will smart up about exclusive deals.

and at least it brings the beeb into the frame

setanta is a poor idea. no one has the bloody channel! then again, it will be a PPV for Warren's bumper shows. he doesn't do that many so instead of purchasing the channel, you'll purchase PPVs perhaps?

Personally, I can't see a PPV every 2 months being much cop, nor would shelling out for the Setanta channel just to see a fight card every now & again.

His fighters would go off the radar though the beeb may get delayed rights I suppose.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 08 May 2007, 05:03

I hope he stays on one of the terrestrial channels anyway.

At least Sky Sports Is on In the pub but Sentanta's never shown anywhere.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 May 2007, 05:21

Tsukiyomi wrote:I hope he stays on one of the terrestrial channels anyway.

At least Sky Sports Is on In the pub but Sentanta's never shown anywhere.

perhaps it would be a well deserved obscurity, anyway? how can you have all that talent and waste it so badly? He's done this with Sky and now he's done this with ITV. This man hurts boxing in the long run.

look at the Japanese. Koki Kameda wins the WBA light fly vs a genuine top 6 opponent, at a very young age. Then beats him more convincingly and looks for fights with Brian Viloria and Pong Wong!...in fact Koki, Nobuo Nashiro, Hasegawa, Kawashima have all been matched very respectively for the most.

Kit · Post by **Kit** » 08 May 2007, 05:34

For all the complaining about the the coverage and the quality of the fights themselves. I would be absolutely gutted if boxing was lost from terrestrial TV again.

It is not perfect but all that is needed is a few simple adjustments.

How about removing removing the exclusivity from any new contracts and have all the British promoters compete for the Saturday night dates on ITV.

Whoever can deliver the high profile fights required gets the ITV date. With a larger budget and a far wider audience. This would force the promoters to provide quality and perhaps even to work together to make the big fights!?

Maybe show some international action and have a monthly round up show?!

Then ban the WBU and all intercontinental trinkets.

Also bring back Gary Mason and allow the analysts say what they actually think!

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 08 May 2007, 05:36

Deserved? He's the only promoter who brought boxing back to terrestrial tv and regardless of some mismatches, he showed people are still Interested In watching the sport with Millions of viewers watching.

It's not deserved for the sport, Frank has got millions watching boxing again.

Frank's fighters don't deserve to go on Sentanta.

He has helped the sport too.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 May 2007, 05:50

but some of his shows have been outright PATHETIC.

when he was at sky, and when i saw a more casual fan, i actually found it all unwatchable.

now that i'm more of a die hard follower, i can nearly stomach the shit he shovels on ITV. but my mates that watch combat sports can't stand it, knowing it's shite sportsmanship bringing in opponents who are there to lose.

anyway, comeuppance can be a bit of a myth. frank probably won't get his. cos some stupid TV company will bail him out with an exclusive and in about 3 years' time will be fed up, & drop him.

all this money getting chucked around, so little sense among the TV gimps. any of these ppl actually have a brain? 1st Sky, now ITV...whose stupidity will be used next time?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 08 May 2007, 07:54

Final Fight wrote:Good I say. I'm glad yet another outlet is officially fvcked off with him. What does that tell you? He'll get away with anything if given the chance.

Warren will continue to fvck boxing over if ppl keep offering him exclusive flattering deals. He is under no pressure to deliver credibility. How many bridges does he have to burn, how many fans does he have to turn off, before this man gets sent to the fvcking moon?

Whatever ITV paid him, they paid him too much. The last show was one of the biggest jokes in boxing history. The trade press were fuming - Glyn Leach called it callous bullying in his editorial - and everyone knows it was appalling from a sporting POV.

Yet, BM gave it a massive preview the month before.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 08 May 2007, 07:57

It would be good if Warren bills went to the BBC and ITV got interested in some world bills. Although, I do doubt the BBC would show some of the fights that ITV 4 have shown us (some of the best bouts).

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 08 May 2007, 08:47

Frank has got some of the biggest prospects, biggest fighters and is the biggest promoter in this country..how him going to a pay channel which nobody has could can be construed as a good thing im not too sure...

I hope he stays terrestrial or gets back in bed with SKY, its a disaster if he doesnt

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 08 May 2007, 08:49

ill not be subscribing to no hatton ppv fight on setanta, ill find the stream on some website...it never fails.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 08 May 2007, 09:00

I think he stay with ITV, if not sky setanta would be a bad move.

stepper · Post by **stepper** » 08 May 2007, 14:45

If the BEEB get into bed with SN they will be stripped bare and shoved out the back door within a year. If a guy like A-Farce can "relieve" them of a £million Frank will have to do them for £5million to keep face.

The outcome I would prefer is this;

1) Nobody signs exclusive deals.
2) The BEEB return to boxing using BBC3 and 4 to screen small hall shows.
3) ITV use their financial clout in the open marketplace much as SKY are doing now, picking events they want to screen based on good cards.
4) SN join the marketplace and sell their events on the quality of the card. They have some great boxers and should survive well with competitive matchmaking.
5) Setanta join the open marketplace but do some work with their marketing team to ensure they can generate advertising for free to air coverage and don't rely on PPV alone. They should rely less on freelance camera/ production teams as well if they want exciting coverage and remember that fans want to watch the whole show. I saw them once dismantling their kit during a good fight because they had filmed the main event.

sweetscience · Post by **sweetscience** » 08 May 2007, 15:17

i think sky do it best

they have some good fighters who are usually involved in good fights Haye/Froch/Hunter etc etc and then show the best fight of the undercard be it a pro debutant or a couple of crap heavyweights

and also the best yankee fighters

+ theres is on a friday night, i go out in town on a satdy night

i think i have only watched two itv cards, and id consider myself a diehard

Fat_Bob · Post by **Fat_Bob** » 08 May 2007, 15:20

I’m not convinced ITV are bothered about the standard of Warren’s shows – they’re probably just looking for a way out of boxing after rather unexpectedly having a ridiculously large offer to cover the FA Cup and England games accepted.

The Khan factor means someone will pick up Sports Network shows, but if Sky and ITV are definitely out of the picture, it probably won’t be for the money Warren is used to.

On a related matter, does anyone know what sort of money Sky pays for the Friday night cards and what sort of viewing figures they generate? Is boxing good value for Sky compared to rugby league, darts etc?

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 08 May 2007, 15:23

Darts is the second most watched sport on sky after football. I am sure sky would have him back on a fight by fight deal or they have say in show if on a contract.

split_decision · Post by **split_decision** » 11 May 2007, 12:14

stepper wrote:4) SN join the marketplace and sell their events on the quality of the card. They have some great boxers and should survive well with competitive matchmaking.

Not Really Sports Networks style though is it?