Tvboxer wrote:Glyn
I don't understand your thinking at all.
A UK channel giving UK boxers work, and a UK perspective on a fight featuring a UK boxer can only be a good thing. The line up might always be to everyones cup of tea, but that's life.
There is no live Showtime feed, so that is a non starter, and is only a valid option for fights featured live where the economics don't stack up for a studio production.
So have a heart mate, and support the guys who's careers give you a living.
Enjoy the fight.
David McConachie
Dave
I do understand your thinking, I just don't agree with it. My arguments become a matter of theory if the Showtime feed was not available, but I stand by my theory - consistency of broadcast format is important to a tournament such as Super Six, and to deviate only on the occasions when a British fighter is involved, as your network does, makes no sense to me. But as I said, only theory, there was no Showtime feed. You can't always get what you want - but that doesn't stop you wanting it.
I disagree with your ‘Brits need Brits’ mindset. British fans are quite capable of understanding the bastardised version of our language that the Americans speak. And if Americans are in a position to give a more informed broadcast, as surely has to be the case with a Showtime team that covers every Super Six fight, then Americans should have the job in my opinion - in theory, I now understand this was not possible on this occasion. But your convenient and inconsistent patriotism has no place in a world sport, in my opinion.
This ‘have a heart, support the people who give me a living’ theme of yours bothers me greatly. You can do one there Dave. My magazine has supported and will continue to support the careers of the fighters and ex-fighters on your broadcast for far longer than your network has been in existence. You have no right to suggest otherwise. Your giving them a couple of hundred quid VERY occasionally is neither here nor there. Big deal. TV companies such as yours come and go (though I sincerely hope Primetime stays around and thrives), as does the support of TV companies for boxing in general, but Boxing Monthly has been there supporting their careers for over 20 years now. We are a constant, your industry is not.
If you are so bothered about the supporting of the boxers and ex-boxers featured in last night’s broadcast, lead the way Dave - use them for ALL the Super Six fights, the Klitschko fights too, Pascal-Hopkins (well done on that, by the way) as well. Don’t just pick them up and drop them as you see fit, support them consistently - my call for a consistent broadcast quality is at the basis of my comments on this subject and you are in a position to create one. But you haven’t. Before you start pointing the finger at others, take a look at yourself Dave.
As regards the likes of Ron McIntosh and Andy Kershaw, I’m no more bothered about their livelihoods than they are about mine. There’s no malice in that attitude, but we’re all pros and we stand and fall by what we do. That’s life. I don’t owe them, they don’t owe me. They know that as well as I do.
And to expand further on your theme, a magazine that has been in existence for 21 years clearly owes nothing to a TV network that is maybe a year old. Though I/we are genuinely grateful to anyone who puts boxing on TV in this current climate, we owe them nothing but gratitude. There is no question of owing the kind of unconditional support to which you appear to be alluding. And anyone, myself included, who chooses to put themselves in the public domain lays themselves open to comment, critical or otherwise, and must expect it.
All this notwithstanding, I enjoyed last night’s broadcast! My initial fears turned out to be ungrounded and, as I said earlier on this thread, I am happy to eat my words on that front. It would have been nice if your ‘studio ringside’ commentators had got the name Abraham(s) right on a more consistent basis, such accuracy adds to the authority and professionalism of a commentary. But all in all, not a bad effort, well done. Some nice colour footage interspersed with the action and the studio boys warmed up as the evening went on - largely due to the efforts of Andy Kershaw, I think, who worked hard to get them going. Fair play.
Thanks for your comments Dave, but understand I am not partisan, I look at a bigger picture. That’s where our perspectives differ. My concerns are not with specific companies or individuals, but with the health and growth of an entire sport, the betterment of a larger situation so that we will ALL benefit, the fans included. I don’t expect people to always agree with my beliefs and views, but I have always stated them and will continue to do so. And I always welcome comment on them.
Thanks and all the best
Glyn
