BoxRec

Can I dump SKY and just pay for boxing content? Theoretically every single fight they put on PPV or not?

It seems like a couple of years ago we never had it so good. St the start of this year we had so many top guys on the verge of big fights. But for the most part it hasn't happened.

We lost Froch. Khan has been largely dormant waiting for Mayweather/Pac. Meanwhile Brook seems to have been waiting for Khan. Quigg and Frampton seems to be on ice.

We may never see another like Froch for decades.

Not long ago a Eddie was the saviour of UK Boxing on here.
Anyone who dared suggest it was on a downward spiral got short shrift.
The facts are simple.
Exclusivity does not work.
Hearn has cherry picked his squad and being frank - excuse the pun - could have signed anyone he chose.
Exclusivity has meant that the amount Sky put in the kitty has reduced substantially per show.
Conclusion is that you get the left hand side of the card in total non risk match ups.
When was the last time a Hearn fighter faced a decent domestic fighter signed to another stable ?
When was the last time you saw a quality World title opponent on these shores on Sky ?
There might be some examples but my interest in the sport is at such a low ebb I don't think J even care anymore.
Get with the programme boys. Like it or like it not boxing is a minority sport.
As such it gets minority investment from Sky - but if anything gets your juices going it's £16.95.
200k sales cover all costs.
Hearn is a lucky charm.
Talk about fall on your feet.
He puts a fight on that at best was a British title fight Froch v Groves which turns into this super fight with controversy.
Everyone then lauds Eddie as the master tactician. No - fornicating lucky twat !
Stop watching pick your shows and go live.
Alternatively keep paying.

Parson Cross wrote: When was the last time you saw a quality World title opponent on these shores on Sky ?

Linares and Gradovich, but you're right...Sky is too pricey for fight fans. I dont bother with it any more, just got my allegedly.

veriton wrote:Linares and Gradovich, but you're right...Sky is too pricey for fight fans. I dont bother with it any more, just got my allegedly.

Gradovich is not really "quality" is he?

He was one of the P4P weakest world champions in boxing.

Linares isn't anything special either.

Here's a look back at some of the comments from Eddie Hearn and Adam Smith when Matchroom became the exclusive promoter to SKY Sports back in 2012.

"I am delighted that Matchroom has reached this ground-breaking agreement with Sky Sports," said Hearn. "The future of boxing for fight fans and TV viewers is deeper bills with more title fights and more competitive fights in packed out arenas. We have a great stable of talent at Matchroom Sport and they will benefit from regular boxing at high-profile, atmospheric events in huge title fights in the coming seasons."

Sky's boxing chief Adam Smith said: "We are happy to support what we hope will be an exciting new era for boxing. At its best boxing is one of the sports that truly appeals and excites, not just to the loyal trade audience but to the casual fan too. I believe this sport is a sleeping giant and I think over the next year or two we will see it rise again. Times have been tough but we know that by sticking to quality and providing deep, thick and atmospheric shows with highly competitive fights, at a variety of different levels, should be the perfect blend. We are happy to support what we hope will be an exciting new era for boxing."

I think Eddie made a great start but things have gotten stale over the past 12 to 18 months. We used to be able to watch the full undercard on red button but they stopped doing this and they've binned Ringside. For me the huge title fights have failed to materilaise. Froch vs. Bute was simply fantastic but most other big title fights have been on SKY Box Office or abroad. I honestly thought that when this deal was done, and PPV was very much a dirty word to both Eddie and SKY, that we'd see shows like Froch Vs. Kessler II or Brook Vs. Alexander for the world title take place in the UK on SKY Sports. Too much focus on the casual fan and taking the "loyal trade audience" for granted. Boxing on SKY is on its arse.

Just got sky bk on last month, where is ringside??? Has that been dropped. Also boxing tonight on bt sports

I get the impression that most people are more interested in what goes on out of the ring than in it. It's an era of tittle tattling manginas with camcorders, fancy haircuts and twitter accounts. The internet has killed off 'proper' boxing people.

Sklar wrote:I get the impression that most people are more interested in what goes on out of the ring than in it. It's an era of tittle tattling manginas with camcorders, fancy haircuts and twitter accounts. The internet has killed off 'proper' boxing people.

Sad, but true.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/20/media/e ... t645pstory

As so it begins..

ESPN stateside are shedding several hundred jobs as people start cancelling their sports subs.

"The layoffs are seen as both a reaction to, and preparation for, wrenching changes in the cable television business. Cable channels like ESPN, which depend on subscriber fees, have been pinched by the small but growing number of viewers unsubscribing."

- cable/sat television It hit saturation point a few years ago, after years of steady growth. And now it's snapping back faster than an elastic band. Many of those still on board are due to heavy discounts, offers and 'please come back' freebies.

Let's be honest, everyone knows someone whom has either left or is on some sort of extraordinary deal ?

I almost left Sky a few months ago & only stayed because they offered me a great deal. I know loads of people in exactly the same boat. Surely it won't be too long until Sky focus primarily on their internet packages, with their TV stuff all being delivered in a Netflix type way? Satellite & cable will probably be reserved for those living in more rural areas which don't yet have high speed internet.

Maybe that'll turn out well for boxing fans - perhaps we'll be able to subscribe purely to boxing channels in future...

jamiem26 wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think the allegedly model is the way forward, but the way to make it really work is to have the promoters working together (yeah I know, dream on) - putting their content on the channel, and then charging PPV's when the fight demands it.

Boxing fans are not necessarily fans of other sports, I watch almost any sport, but I don't follow them to the extent I'm prepared to pay 22 quid a month for sports channels.

I'm happy with my allegedly subscription, which I think I got at a bargain rate, and in any case is good value. I won't be watching any matchroom stuff, unless they have a PPV worth buying.

Won't be watching any Matchroom fights that re on standard Sky? Smith/Fielding? Crolla/Perez?

No, because I don't have, and have no intention of shelling out for Sky it again. As I said, if Matchroom have a fight with is worthy/compelling enough for PPV - I'll buy it, but I'm not shelling out 250 quid a year for what are generally poor matchups where one fighter is the overwhelming favourite.

If Sky were a platform who screened fights of multiple promoters, I'd think about it again. As long as it's a one horse race - no thanks.

Sky are choking the quality of the fights that can be made with the sums they are affording matchroom to put shows together I reckon.

Correct - but whose fault is that Gomez ?

Parson Cross wrote:Correct - but whose fault is that Gomez ?

Ours?

no one can tell a fighter when enough is enough , think the shame in not fighting again would eat them up worst then the beating, best thing is dont pay for it, they will have to stop then, but i would go with Érik Morales after the pac man win
, and Barrera when he fought khan

brilo33 wrote:no one can tell a fighter when enough is enough , think the shame in not fighting again would eat them up worst then the beating, best thing is dont pay for it, they will have to stop then, but i would go with Érik Morales after the pac man win
, and Barrera when he fought khan

Both good picks, Bri but on wrong thread