ITV not happy with Saturday show

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:14

ITV wont offer contract to any other promoters, Warren got the names. It be interesting to see what he does if they dont renew.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:19

ITV, like BBC with Audley, obviously did not have a clue what they were getting themselves in for, and unlik eus didn't know about Warrens long dodgy history.

His exclusive contract benefits him only and not british boxing, and ITV dumping him would the ULTIMATE HUMILIATION. "Take your crappy fights and do one!!" maybe it would force him to stage some real fights. Last saturday was an absolute ABORTION, one of the most crooked cards in history. Those 35,000 welsh men must be muppets.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:25

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I really hope this doesn't make the end of ITV's association with boxing. This would be a really dreadful situation. Far better for ITV to negotiate a more sensible contract that is not exclusive to one promoter. There isn't any promoter in the country I would negotiate an exclusive contract with.

ITV should be showing only the best fights, the most important, and / or the most potentially exciting matchups.

The difficulty of course, is that some promoters may not wish to be involved in any deal which involves their rivals being given the opportunity to showcase their talent, and therefore you end up with a situation where it again becomes impossible to stage the big fights.

Why, oh why, oh why can promoters just not work with each other for a change? It would be so much better for our sport as a whole.

Imagine how many fights we would have been treated to by now if the likes of Warren, Hobson, Maloney and Hennessy were all working with one another. The mind boggles.

My thoughts exactly James, we all dislike Warrens match making but we'd be even more against ITV pulling out of boxing

In 1 way ITV only showing Warren fights makes it easier for them. Warren does all the management, writes the scipts etc.

Why can't Hennessey, Fight Academy etc get on the blower to ITV arrange a meeting and offer their services

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:36

Either way, if something is big enough it has to happen. Haye-Macca, Calzaghe-Woods, Khan-Thaxton and so on. There are too many good ones that won't happen.

But when you look to America, Lewis and Tyson still managed to get it on, didn't they. Lewis with HBO, Tyson with Showtime. Money was there to be made so it happened, both stations broadcast it, Lennon Jr AND Buffer were called in, and both cable stations sort of swapped staff, with Lampley and Czyz etc.

Warren's got to make things happen. I fnot where does he go?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:42

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:I really hope this doesn't make the end of ITV's association with boxing. This would be a really dreadful situation. Far better for ITV to negotiate a more sensible contract that is not exclusive to one promoter. There isn't any promoter in the country I would negotiate an exclusive contract with.

ITV should be showing only the best fights, the most important, and / or the most potentially exciting matchups.

The difficulty of course, is that some promoters may not wish to be involved in any deal which involves their rivals being given the opportunity to showcase their talent, and therefore you end up with a situation where it again becomes impossible to stage the big fights.

Why, oh why, oh why can promoters just not work with each other for a change? It would be so much better for our sport as a whole.

Imagine how many fights we would have been treated to by now if the likes of Warren, Hobson, Maloney and Hennessy were all working with one another. The mind boggles.

My thoughts exactly James, we all dislike Warrens match making but we'd be even more against ITV pulling out of boxing

In 1 way ITV only showing Warren fights makes it easier for them. Warren does all the management, writes the scipts etc.

Why can't Hennessey, Fight Academy etc get on the blower to ITV arrange a meeting and offer their services

I suspect that Sports Network would not be interested in a contract unless it was exclusive, though this is only speculation on my part.

How about ITV just bid for fights as they see fit? Or make agreements to show certain fighters who they pick from various promoters?

We will see what happens in June. Until their current contract runs out, ITV cannot show fights from other promoters.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:52

ITV if they stick with boxing it will be warren only. Dont forget Grade in charge now they spent a massive amount on fa cup rights.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Apr 2007, 05:53

I think the nails in the coffin for the sport have been a bit prematurely been put in. Surely ITV have to be happy with the ratings so far... if I remember correctly, Woods vs Johnson, Calzaghe vs Lacy and Harrison vs Williams 1 especially did excellent in the ratings.

Surely, I hope ITV sees this and appreciates that its the fights and not the sport that is in ratings decline (if it is indeed the case). So, I can only echo James' sentiments - lets hope that if it is the end of ITV's association with British boxing (because, lets face it - if Hennessey/Matchroom and Fight Academy are on Sky there is nobody else with a big enough stable) - its not the end of ITV's association with the sport and maybe some big US bills could come our way.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 12 Apr 2007, 06:32

stujones wrote:I think the nails in the coffin for the sport have been a bit prematurely been put in. Surely ITV have to be happy with the ratings so far... if I remember correctly, Woods vs Johnson, Calzaghe vs Lacy and Harrison vs Williams 1 especially did excellent in the ratings.

Surely, I hope ITV sees this and appreciates that its the fights and not the sport that is in ratings decline (if it is indeed the case). So, I can only echo James' sentiments - lets hope that if it is the end of ITV's association with British boxing (because, lets face it - if Hennessey/Matchroom and Fight Academy are on Sky there is nobody else with a big enough stable) - its not the end of ITV's association with the sport and maybe some big US bills could come our way.

Perhaps it's just a reaction to say "Last Saturday's show was not good enough - do better." As opposed to to being the last straw.

It it can make Warren get his arse into gear then that's cool. Calzaghe-Manfredo should never have happened. At the very least his quality #1 contender Inkin should have been. Surely it's not too much to ask a promoter to make FIGHTS rather than showcases.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 06:47

Does anyone have a link the article on ITV not being happy. I am surprised if they have admitted to this, as on their website, the event is being talked about as a raging success.

Sure, the gate may have been huge, but they bought the tickets BEFORE the event, not AFTER.

Thats a bit like pulling a really fit bird and bragging about it after she never answers her phone again after you come in your pants before she's even undressed. The hype machine was in overdrive, but the actual events were dismal affairs.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 12 Apr 2007, 06:56

It was by Niall HIckman in the express yesterday they were expecting 5million viewers and got only 4.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 12 Apr 2007, 07:05

ITV's coverage has been a joke mostly and I've basically given up on Warren... he has singlehandedly destroyed British boxing with his paper champions and protected fighters etc etc... the amount of big domestic fights that he has stopped from happening is nothing short of scandalous!... the saddest thing is that he's got away with it for so long that the damage is irriversable now... One wonders if Warren could have carried on like this had he not got the BBBC in his pocket??.... when you have a sports promoter basically buying that sports ruling body, then you have problems imo... He's basically in recent years treated boxing like his own private monopoly game...

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 12 Apr 2007, 07:42

leforge wrote:It was by Niall HIckman in the express yesterday they were expecting 5million viewers and got only 4.

would that be the same guy who, along with the Hatton family and the publishers, is up to his eyeballs in shit over the Hatton book?

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 12 Apr 2007, 08:31

Yes I think some person, but the show was very poor. What will be undercard to Sprott v Skelton 2?

G-man · Post by **G-man** » 12 Apr 2007, 08:31

There's been some stuff on the radio about it too.

Talksport reported ITV were interested in showing Hatton's next fight.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 12 Apr 2007, 08:34

Sky will show Hatton next fight, it be pay per view. They might show it delayed like BBC did last time.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:11

Funny how boxingchat never turns up on these threads to defend SN's position isnt it??

You cant defend the indefensible it would seem..

caster · Post by **caster** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:24

If the people who pay me don't get value for money, then I get potted - same should go for Sports Network.

Personally, I think Frank Maloney and Hennessy give far better value for money.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:25

After reading all of the previous FW bashing posts (which are all valid) the first things that jumps out at me, should ITV tell FW to piss off, is the worrying thought of SkySports welcoming him back into the fold.

This fills me with dread, because I've really been enjoying the quality of Sky's boxing since FW moved to ITV. It improved instantly IMO which is no coincidence. I can't bear the idea of FW coming back and start bollocksing up all the good work that's taken place.

The bottom line is REAL boxing fans don't enjoy FW's style of promoting and all the crap that comes with it.

SKY, Please don't let this arsehole back into the mix.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:28

Terence wrote:At least it shows that you cannot polish a turd even if 35,000 turn-up to try and watch you do so.

Actually you can, but you've got to stick it in the freezer overnight first.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:39

How GREAT would it be if Sky didn't want Warren and his bullsh#t shows back?

ITV, BBC, and Sky should all be in the mix, only picking good quality fights to broadcast. Unfortunately this will never happen with "exclusive" deals and people in terrestrial TV not having a clue about the sport.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:44

Having said all that. The Contender series has gone down very well with those that have seen it, and I think Warren's show is going to go down very well when broadcast.

However, I do find it very strange that they are going to broadcast each fight individually, rather than showing the tournament in one go. Isn't that going to make for strange viewing months after the event?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:59

Didn't know that bees had freezers!

I bought some triffic Morroccan pollen the other day.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:20

I was meant to be there for Easter but couldn't make it due to being laid up with a terrible fever.

I may (no pun intended) try and get down for May instead though.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:25

Here's what I hope. ITV and HBO ged fed up and cut him loose. From then on Warren has to negotiate fight by fight with Sky AND Showtime. Any bullshit and he doesn't get TV dates. This would appear to be the best way to keep this man in check.

I was just watching some old Big Fight Live fights, and comparing them to Saturday's Millennium Stadium show is a shicking kick in the teeth. Ppl new to the sport these days simply see a stacked deck in favor of the house fighter v an overmatched guy who doesn't belong there.

emma · Post by **emma** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:47

Typical ITV pull the plug and Kell hasnt even been on tv yet

It would be best if ITV did all the boxing shows IMO eg Hobsons, warrens, hennesey.

The fact is FW shows are crap. How many rematches have we had? we've had williams vs harrison, hobson vs keeton, williams vs skelton.