Potential for more free to air boxing in the UK?

[chad]

In recent months we've seen Channel 5 up their commitment to boxing bringing us some good cards, GGG Vs. Murray being the latest.

Channel 5 is owned by Viacom. Viacom own US cable network Spike. Spike recently agreed a broadcast deal with Al Haymon for his PBC series and Spike is being launched here in the UK, on Freeview, soon:

http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/10/vimn-pr ... nch-spike/

"Spike UK will air a range of programmes from its US sister network, acquired films and television series and a library of content from other Viacom brands such as Comedy Central and MTV."

Hopefully Premier Boxing Champions will be shown.

[chad]

The Spike TV UK website is now up and running. Not much on there at the moment however one thing that did catch my eye:

"Live it like Spike and be the first to hear all about our exclusive shows from the UK and US, Box Office dramas, big budget movies and adrenaline fuelled sports... "

http://www.spiketv.co.uk/

No launch date confirmed but rumours it will be mid to late April. Daniel Jacobs Vs. Caleb Truax is on Spike TV in America on 24th April. Would be one hell of a launch if the UK channels starts that day, and shows the boxing!

[thatllbeme]

haymon is paying to be on spike tv not the other way round so he will probably still own the international broadcasting rights and sell them to whoever pays the most

[chad]

Not free to air but PBC replaces Friday Night Fights on ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... ights-espn

"The deal with ESPN, which will retain the worldwide rights to the fights and editorial control over the broadcast, is just the latest for Haymon in an ambitious project that has already altered the landscape of televised boxing in the United States as he continues to lock up one broadcast platform after another with a series of time-buy deals that include the return of boxing to three broadcast networks -- ABC, NBC and CBS -- after decades in which they largely ignored boxing."

Looks like PBC might come to BT Sports?

[ste1983]

Not free to air but PBC replaces Friday Night Fights on ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12 ... ights-espn

"The deal with ESPN, which will retain the worldwide rights to the fights and editorial control over the broadcast, is just the latest for Haymon in an ambitious project that has already altered the landscape of televised boxing in the United States as he continues to lock up one broadcast platform after another with a series of time-buy deals that include the return of boxing to three broadcast networks -- ABC, NBC and CBS -- after decades in which they largely ignored boxing."

Looks like PBC might come to BT Sports?

Have to say I'm bit gutted about this the old ESPN Friday Night Fights might not be top end but its been a good place to watch some decent domestic (USA) level type stuff and pick up on potential world class fighters early.

I'm gonna miss it, I know the PBC will be of a higher level but it will be less frequent (very similar to when Sky went from Friday Fight Night to the current set up...over here). Also worrying it seems Haymon is monoploising all the tv outlets in the states, he's made some decent matches so far but how long will that continue with no competition. Competition breads good matchmaking.

Be interesting to see if these shows stay on ESPN (UK) / Bt Sport as Friday Night Fights have been.

[stujones]

Not a given that this will be on BT sport.... allegedly have won rights to other ESPN cards (not considered FNF) such as Wilder vs Steverne.

[chad]

Spike TV UK was sending out Tweets over the weekend about their up coming programming. Nothing confirmed but lots of hints and cryptic posts. Yesterday they posted a blurry picture of 2 boxers in the ring. Holding out hope PBC is coming to UK freeview via Spike UK.

[thatllbeme]

will spike tv uk be on virgin media?

[moogie101]

Spike TV USA & UK are very much different entities.

Spike USA had the UFC for a while before it moved to Fox Sports, but the UK version never had any UFC shows.

[ScottDetonator]

Have to say I'm bit gutted about this the old ESPN Friday Night Fights might not be top end but its been a good place to watch some decent domestic (USA) level type stuff and pick up on potential world class fighters early.

I'm gonna miss it, I know the PBC will be of a higher level but it will be less frequent (very similar to when Sky went from Friday Fight Night to the current set up...over here). Also worrying it seems Haymon is monoploising all the tv outlets in the states, he's made some decent matches so far but how long will that continue with no competition. Competition breads good matchmaking.

Be interesting to see if these shows stay on ESPN (UK) / Bt Sport as Friday Night Fights have been.

I'm going to miss FNF as well Ste. Watched it for years. Ok, some of the fights are pretty bad but the show overall has always been quality production wise and insightful for getting snippets of information from the States. Hopefully, Teddy Atlas will still be about somewhere.

Going to miss watching it on a Saturday morning over a bacon growler and a cuppa

[chad]

will spike tv uk be on virgin media?

Should be on freeview, SKY and Virgin Media according to rumours on Digital Spy and Cable Forum.

This article suggests they plan to launch on Virgin Media and Freesat

http://realitybox.co.uk/viacom-channel- ... in-the-uk/

[handsofstone]

Have to say I'm bit gutted about this the old ESPN Friday Night Fights might not be top end but its been a good place to watch some decent domestic (USA) level type stuff and pick up on potential world class fighters early.

I'm gonna miss it, I know the PBC will be of a higher level but it will be less frequent (very similar to when Sky went from Friday Fight Night to the current set up...over here). Also worrying it seems Haymon is monoploising all the tv outlets in the states, he's made some decent matches so far but how long will that continue with no competition. Competition breads good matchmaking.

Be interesting to see if these shows stay on ESPN (UK) / Bt Sport as Friday Night Fights have been.

I'm going to miss FNF as well Ste. Watched it for years. Ok, some of the fights are pretty bad but the show overall has always been quality production wise and insightful for getting snippets of information from the States. Hopefully, Teddy Atlas will still be about somewhere.

Going to miss watching it on a Saturday morning over a bacon growler and a cuppa

i agree

[chad]

Noticed Top Rank are showing boxing on TruTV in America. I made contact with TruTV here in the UK asking if they would also be showing the boxing. Unfortunately they came back today to confirm they have no plans to show boxing

[ERIC GUY]

GUY SPORTS has the most boxing shows

[handsofstone]

GUY SPORTS has the most boxing shows

I'm not into that kind of thing sorry Eric

[Mrb8s]

I have just checked the Spike TV schedule for the 24th April and there is some programmes which are blank and say paid content, I rekon that's the Direll v Jack fight. Think Frank Warrens channel will keep showing the shows

Hope not but reckon AL Haymon will keep selling the rights in the Uk to Frank Warrens Channel