Will boxing return to terrestrial?

[coghaugen11]

5M viewers here

Kelly-David A had what, less than 100K at a guess?

Surely Area, Brit, Comm and EU fights could be broadcast terrestrially on say BBC1, and then they are built into bigger stars for once they move over to say Sky PPV on the world scene? Meaning more buys, far more buys. Wouldn’t ITV or BBC accept a financial offer from a Matchroom? An investment. A long-term business model to improve future PPV numbers....


The official top 10 boxing viewing figures in GB history:

Ali v Frazier 1971 BBC 27.3
McGuigan v Cabrera 1986 BBC 18.3
McGuigan v Pedroza 1985 BBC 18.0
Eubank v Benn 1993 ITV 16.3
Malinga v Eubank 1992 ITV 13.3
Benn v McClellan 1995 ITV 13.1
Rocchigiani v Eubank 1994 ITV 12.3
Eubank v Close 1993 ITV 11.5
Eubank v Thornton 1992 ITV 10.3
Eubank v Holmes 1993 ITV 10.1,
Bruno v Marin 1995 ITV 10.1

This is worlds apart. A gap can be bridged. Let the wider public get back into this shit (and reap the reward ££ down the line).

[THEBUTCH]

Shame Bruno was on Sky when he beat Oliver McCall. That would have done some numbers on ITV or BBC.

[Oiky]

Don't think the majority of folk give a f**k about boxing tbh

Shame,but true

Bods will show up for a big bout,but other than that don't care

[Terminator666]

Tv in general doesn’t get the viewing figures it did back then. Terrestrial will probably pick up the odd bit of boxing but nothing more

[Cholo_cws]

With Daniel Kinahan involved in the sport? Surely not.

[coghaugen11]

With Daniel Kinahan involved in the sport? Surely not.

This is a very good point. He may well have killed the sport off. We can only pray that Saunders gets destroyed by Canelo and disappears.

[emallini]

When I make 10 mill I will sort boxing out

[high tower 1]

Regional shows would work eg bbc Yorkshire for Yorkshire shows.

[maverick23]

Regional shows would work eg bbc Yorkshire for Yorkshire shows.

They’d be expensive for the viewers they’d bring in. Even if they’re just paying £15k towards it, BBC Yorkshire could probably get the same quantity of viewers with a repeat of something else.

[Fightnight Scores]

I don't recall the last time I watched "live" television, not sure how much lifestyles and trends change but especially now with the numbers of channels people have to choose from, plus on-demand and streaming services, I don't think we will ever get those kinds of live TV viewing figures again beyond maybe a World Cup final if England ever made it there.

That being said BBC would likely throw any boxing on the red button, like they do with snooker. How much does that cause a barrier and affect viewing numbers instead of it just being there on BBC for example I don't know.

I think ITV have stopped their PPV boxing now haven't they? And I don't recall if they are putting on any boxing on one of their sister stations like ITV4 anymore.

[high tower 1]

Boxing on channel 5 does decent numbers. People will still tune in for fighting even if not die hards. I suppose audley has ole ty to answer for.

[moogie101]

Great historical viewing figures but without sounding old these are from very different times.

Now there are so many more channels, the Internet, watching on catch up etc. Also aside from the couple of huge names (AJ and Fury) boxing is even more of a fringe sport than back then.

No way it would get close to those numbers again.

[Oiky]

Boxings definitely a fringe sport,no one really gives a s**t about it at all beyond those that have bin round it all their lives

I think most folk beyond those that are not about any sort of fighting at all,like a 1minute knockout highlight vid,or enjoy seeing a short clip of a good combo that leads to a stoppage,

But tuning in and watching a full show on normal telly,or watching a hungry fighter start his career at York hall? Na.. Most bods can't be messed,I even know people who enjoy some flashy training vids but couldn't care less for an actual boxing match

[maverick23]

Boxing on channel 5 does decent numbers. People will still tune in for fighting even if not die hards. I suppose audley has ole ty to answer for.

It does do decent numbers but the cost and hassle of putting on a live boxing are more than just showing a movie repeat which will likely do similar viewing figures.

The main difference will be the ‘quality’ of audience as boxing will give more men with decent disposable incomes that other potential programming so they’ll get good rates for their adverts.

[coghaugen11]

Bring back Grandstand. There was always boxing on there, ABA’s or Duff cards. Every Saturday day time it seemed. Blokes marvelled over the ‘Fab Four’ on ITV, and blokes on their day off sat and watched Grandstand with cuppas and bacon sarnies.

[CaptainSpacerod]

How many people would watch Fury v Joshua if it aired on ITV on a Saturday night at 9pm ?
30 million ? Boooooom - a whole new generation of boxing fans

[bigjack]

Bring back Grandstand. There was always boxing on there, ABA’s or Duff cards. Every Saturday day time it seemed. Blokes marvelled over the ‘Fab Four’ on ITV, and blokes on their day off sat and watched Grandstand with cuppas and bacon sarnies.

Grandstand
world of sport
mid weeks sports special
sporstnight
fight night
seconds out
big fight live

then came screensport
eurosport
sky
sky box office


all were either pure boxing or had boxing on their show often and there were times when there was simply too many shows on to see them all and the old VHS recorder was very useful.

[Muttley]

When I make 10 mill I will sort boxing out

Listen. If you make £10 million,boxing is the last sport you would invest in. You would be skint in no time.

[coghaugen11]

How many people would watch Fury v Joshua if it aired on ITV on a Saturday night at 9pm ?
30 million ? Boooooom - a whole new generation of boxing fans

At least 5 million just for the intrigue (bare in mind all the toffs would be too stubborn to watch two scrapping meat heads over a game show on bbc or something sophisticated on Sky Movies or Sky Atlantic). Fury has a great first name and people have heard of him, and Anthony Joshua is really well known.

[Frostieballs]

I think it could be successful if a major broadcaster properly invested in a set of fighters.

In the past, shows have been thrown into late night slots with little build up. All the terrestrial broadcasters are guilty of that.

People like a story. If told regularly and with the right fighters (not necessarily elite fighters) it could have its day again.

One of the major issues is that established broadcasters are reluctant to invest in a very political sport that at times can appear shady.

[Ruthless-RKO]

When Khan was on ITV earlier in his career, he was averaging between 3m to 6m.

One of his fights even did 10m..

This was what around 2006-2009?

Different times, but still good figures.

[emallini]

When I make 10 mill I will sort boxing out

Listen. If you make £10 million,boxing is the last sport you would invest in. You would be skint in no time.

Good point

[coghaugen11]

Khan was a national hero after the Olympics.

Sad really. He’s looked at a bit of a joke now.

[mickey1975]

Khan was a national hero after the Olympics.

Sad really. He’s looked at a bit of a joke now.

Could be worse. He could be skint and everyone laughing at his career. Saying he dodged everybody.

[coghaugen11]

Khan was a national hero after the Olympics.

Sad really. He’s looked at a bit of a joke now.

Could be worse. He could be skint and everyone laughing at his career. Saying he dodged everybody.

Eh?