2017 the biggest year of televised boxing ever?
Posted: 18 Jan 2017, 19:10
It's been a slow start for boxing on TV so far this year but in the coming weeks the live shows start coming thick and fast.
2017 could become the year when boxing coverage and exposure on TV surpasses anything we've seen. We are heading into what promises to be the busiest 12 months ever.
B0xnati0n will serve up their usual 65+ live shows. SKY have shown a renewed commitment to international action. Eddie Hearn confirmed recently SKY will be showing more fights from abroad. With the 20 Matchroom shows and other cards they pick up, SKY will broadcast around 35 events. Whilst BT are now in cahoots with B0xnati0n they themselves will broadcast around 12 PCB on ESPN shows. Talking of PBC, Spike TV will show around 12 of Al Haymons events on a tape delay basis. McGuigan and Channel 5 will provide us with around 6 live shows whilst ITV will reportedly do as much as 20.... but 12 would be more realistic.
That's 150 shows before considering the odd event a channel like Eurosport will inevitably cover plus local TV channels like STV Glasgow chipping in with a live show here and there.
13 shows per month on TV is a very realistic expectation. Even those with just Freeview are going to see around 3 shows per month.
It's great news for the sport and boxing fans.
2017 could become the year when boxing coverage and exposure on TV surpasses anything we've seen. We are heading into what promises to be the busiest 12 months ever.
B0xnati0n will serve up their usual 65+ live shows. SKY have shown a renewed commitment to international action. Eddie Hearn confirmed recently SKY will be showing more fights from abroad. With the 20 Matchroom shows and other cards they pick up, SKY will broadcast around 35 events. Whilst BT are now in cahoots with B0xnati0n they themselves will broadcast around 12 PCB on ESPN shows. Talking of PBC, Spike TV will show around 12 of Al Haymons events on a tape delay basis. McGuigan and Channel 5 will provide us with around 6 live shows whilst ITV will reportedly do as much as 20.... but 12 would be more realistic.
That's 150 shows before considering the odd event a channel like Eurosport will inevitably cover plus local TV channels like STV Glasgow chipping in with a live show here and there.
13 shows per month on TV is a very realistic expectation. Even those with just Freeview are going to see around 3 shows per month.
It's great news for the sport and boxing fans.