So now that Frankie is back in bed with SKY

[oliverfennell]

I think going straight to PPV is a stunning mis-calculation by FW.

What I hate is that if it does misfire and there isn't much of a take up then he can just put Amir's next few fights on normal Sky Sports 1 and nobody (obviously we will but not the general public) will remember that they tried to shaft us.

To be honest though - I think only Lennox Lewis has gone from PPV to not PPV. You could say Calzaghe but they were part of Massive bills. There has been a few yanks I guess (Oscar).

Even after a major setback Sky tend to keep their "ppv" fighters as ppv... Hatton, Naz, Tyson

The only time Lewis was non-PPV after he started was Rahman I, and that was on BBC, so that's different. Calzaghe has never headlined a UK PPV (Setanta isn't PPV, and he was on Tyson undercards). So you're right, Sky has never "gone backwards" in this regard.

[stujones]

I think going straight to PPV is a stunning mis-calculation by FW.

What I hate is that if it does misfire and there isn't much of a take up then he can just put Amir's next few fights on normal Sky Sports 1 and nobody (obviously we will but not the general public) will remember that they tried to shaft us.

To be honest though - I think only Lennox Lewis has gone from PPV to not PPV. You could say Calzaghe but they were part of Massive bills. There has been a few yanks I guess (Oscar).

Even after a major setback Sky tend to keep their "ppv" fighters as ppv... Hatton, Naz, Tyson

The only time Lewis was non-PPV after he started was Rahman I, and that was on BBC, so that's different. Calzaghe has never headlined a UK PPV (Setanta isn't PPV, and he was on Tyson undercards). So you're right, Sky has never "gone backwards" in this regard.

Lewis vs McCall II was PPV - Then it went back to Akinwande on Sky Sports - through till Golota.

Calzaghe vs Reid was PPV (Oscar vs Quartey was the US leg).

Calzaghe vs Woodhall headlined a UK only PPV.

Calzaghe vs Eubank co-headlined a UK only PPV.

[oliverfennell]

Lewis vs McCall II was PPV - Then it went back to Akinwande on Sky Sports - through till Golota.

Calzaghe vs Reid was PPV (Oscar vs Quartey was the US leg).

Calzaghe vs Woodhall headlined a UK only PPV.

Calzaghe vs Eubank co-headlined a UK only PPV.

I honestly don't remember McCall 2 being PPV, although I didn't have Sky at the time, so could be wrong. Calzaghe-Reid could not be classed as Calzaghe headlining a PPV, for the reasons you said. Calzaghe-Woodhall was NOT PPV, I remember that clearly. Calzaghe-Eubank may officially have been co-main event but it was undeniably Naz who was the PPV fighter that night.

[chinny]

When did hatton become PPV? Was it the Tzyzu fight. I can't remember as I was there.

[leforge]

I thought Oliveria fight was PPV the Uk leg of american fight

[stujones]

McCall vs Lewis 2 was definately PPV - although as part of the PPV you got Johnston vs Hamed the following day - but it was definately the heavyweight attraction they hyped as the main event.

Disagree on the Hamed / Calzaghe vs Eubank bill. Hamed was fighting a fairly late notice job who wasn't a big name. Calzahge vs Collins was the fight given the most attention.

You could then argue that Hamed himself (early career) went from PPV to non PPV. Hamed vs Molina, Johnston and Hardy were PPV - Hamed vs Cabrera wasn't.

[leforge]

It was the Klitschko v Williams fight

[Autobarn]

Sky used to do some really good PPVs. Remember "Judgement Night"? Holyfield-Tyson 1 bill from America, and Collins-Benn, Wright-Bingham, Hamed-Molina from the UK.

That pisses all over Khan-Prescott & Arthur-Cook!

The bitter irony is that British fighters didn't get much worldwide recognition, in '96 aside from Naz, Lewis etc. Now, in '08, there are Brits who are acknowledged in America, respected on the world scene, and the fights being put on are relativly laughable.

[oliverfennell]

Sky used to do some really good PPVs. Remember "Judgement Night"? Holyfield-Tyson 1 bill from America, and Collins-Benn, Wright-Bingham, Hamed-Molina from the UK.

That pisses all over Khan-Prescott & Arthur-Cook!

The bitter irony is that British fighters didn't get much worldwide recognition, in '96 aside from Naz, Lewis etc. Now, in '08, there are Brits who are acknowledged in America, respected on the world scene, and the fights being put on are relativly laughable.

Yeah, how awesome was that! Tyson-Holyfield, Akinwande-Zolkin, Moorer-Botha and Ricardo Lopez in the States, Collins-Benn, Hamed-Molina, Wright-Bingham in the UK (plus Herbie Hide, Danny Williams, Carl Thompson and Michael Brodie in lesser bouts).

Now I think about it, that is probably the greatest single night of boxing of all time! And maybe the single best British promotion ever - certainly for name value, anyway, if not for the eventual contests.

[stujones]

Was the Benn vs Collins 2 part of the bill, part of the PPV? I don't think it was!

Yes they did the countdown shows with those fights hyped but no.... as I am now remembering... that was on Sky Sports! Cause they were advertising the Tyson vs Holyfield PPV during the breaks.

Sky didn't show the Ricardo Lopez fight. We had Christy Martin and highlights of Scott Welch's fight from the states. I don't think they showed the Carl Thompson fight from the UK show, might have shown some of Gomez.

I'm 100% sure that the Hide vs Tucker bill as part of Judgement night 2 was free.

[oliverfennell]

Was the Benn vs Collins 2 part of the bill, part of the PPV? I don't think it was!

Yes they did the countdown shows with those fights hyped but no.... as I am now remembering... that was on Sky Sports! Cause they were advertising the Tyson vs Holyfield PPV during the breaks.

Sky didn't show the Ricardo Lopez fight. We had Christy Martin and highlights of Scott Welch's fight from the states. I don't think they showed the Carl Thompson fight from the UK show, might have shown some of Gomez.

I'm 100% sure that the Hide vs Tucker bill as part of Judgement night 2 was free.

I don't care if The God Channel covered the UK leg and then we switched over to CBeebies for Tyson, it was still awesome!

[stujones]

No, all I am saying is can you imagine a bill like Benn vs Collins 2 being on normal Sky now?

[dondada]

I haven't had any response from Setanta following my request for a statement from them last week.

All of a sudden Warren fighters aren't the same as Sports Network fighters, hey? And, according to BN, the man himself was 'coy' about the difference? Hmmm.

[twenty six]

Ian,
I think the crux of this is that Sports Network do not hold a Promotors licence.
Technically, the Setanta deal is with Sports Network.
If they can't find a Promotor to deal with ie use their licence, then they cannot promote a show - end of.
Now, Wazza does hold a Promotor's licence hence on every show to date it reads "Wazza in conjunction with ...."
So, Wazza refuses to Promote SN shows on Setanta ....... but agrees to Promote SN shows on Sky.
No issues with the fighters, whether contracted to SN or Wazza.
If this is anywhere right - and I may be a million miles off the mark - then that's an astute business move by Wazza.
This all started when Wazza realised that his "exclusivity" deal with Setanta was not as he believed.
If Setanta had not done a deal with another Promotor(s) then I've no doubt at all that Khan would be on Setanta right now.

[dondada]

Ian,
I think the crux of this is that Sports Network do not hold a Promotors licence.
Technically, the Setanta deal is with Sports Network.
If they can't find a Promotor to deal with ie use their licence, then they cannot promote a show - end of.
Now, Wazza does hold a Promotor's licence hence on every show to date it reads "Wazza in conjunction with ...."
So, Wazza refuses to Promote SN shows on Setanta ....... but agrees to Promote SN shows on Sky.
No issues with the fighters, whether contracted to SN or Wazza.
If this is anywhere right - and I may be a million miles off the mark - then that's an astute business move by Wazza.
This all started when Wazza realised that his "exclusivity" deal with Setanta was not as he believed.
If Setanta had not done a deal with another Promotor(s) then I've no doubt at all that Khan would be on Setanta right now.

You eloquently state what I've managed to work out from this. But I can scarcely believe it. Why the f*ck have SN been called 'Europe's leading promoter' etc if they have no promoter's licence?! 'Only in boxing'.

If what you outline is true, surely it means that Setanta's side of the contract is completely reliant on what FW wants to give them? Jesus.

[twenty six]

Well, that's how I see it, Ian.
OK Setanta fell for it, but Sky falling for it AGAIN !!
Beggar's belief.

[stujones]

Surely it would have be the end of the term "Sports Network" then? Surely if Mark Burdis says on the next Sky/ allegedly bill... "allegedly in conjuction/association with SN" or "allegedly's sports network"... then Setanta can say - no, no, no.

[leforge]

Will Mark Burdis still be MC that the big question?

[Autobarn]

Is what Warren did grossly misleading to Setanta? Is there a lawsuit in this? Hasn't FW tried to sue fighters for less serious "breaches of contract"?

I bleeding well hope Sky have been on guard. Not for their sakes, but so that one promoter doesn't basically do anything he wants.

Also, with Warren having 20 shows on Sky, does anyone bet that he'll get priority, at least when Khan wants to fight?

[Poncey]

He has to 'Barn because every Khan fight will probably be on B/O, so SKY will want to maximise its revenue by ensuring it doesn't coincide with other events.

I really hope this isn't the beginning of B/O for every FW fight card ala HBO (excluding WCB and BAD).

[leforge]

It only be khan other fights will be Friday night ones. Khan the only fighter who will sell he got. There very few british fighters that could be box office, David Haye if won world title would be, Hatton obviously possibly Calzaghe. But we dont have too worry about Haye and Joe as they on Setanta.

[Poncey]

Has that been confirmed in a SKY statement?

Also, what's to stop them having B/O for Enzo's WBO fights if he beats Banks?

[BAMBI]

How many Big Fights were scheduled on Friday nights? I recall the tyson vs Galota was on a friday night?
Sorry to bounce off topic, just curious and recall at times that were some unforgettable friday nights with big names.

Did the Uk show the Tyson vs Mcnealy bout? I recall that few Cinemas in London were charging like 10 quid a pop to watch it live.

[leforge]

From reading the press relaeses there be Friday night fights as well. Enzo fight will be on normal sky it might be on Sat though but that wont sell on box office or him in future..

[overhand_right]

Did the Uk show the Tyson vs Mcnealy bout? I recall that few Cinemas in London were charging like 10 quid a pop to watch it live.

Sky seemed to buy the rights to Tyson / McNeeley a day or two later.

They played the 49 sec farce, with a bit of cool preview, then highlights of Seldon v Hipp and a few rds of Quincy Taylor v Julian Jackson and only the 2nd rd of Terry Norris's revenge kayo of Santana.

Could of been handled much better.