Showtime overtakes HBO as Boxing’s Leader

[PHONETOOL]

by Phonetool


This has been a long time coming, but SHOWTIME has taken the lead and is now the leader in broadcasting the sport of boxing.

As we look at the beginning of the year, Showtime is already getting off to a great start: Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga, Lucian Bute vs. Brian Magee, and that’s just the beginning. As most know, HBO has dropped the Klitschko brothers from their programming while Showtime welcomes more boxing programming. Showtime picks up one of the biggest moneymaking flights of the year: Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley. Then, looking forward to the summer, the super six picks up again with Andre Ward vs. Arthur Abraham.

In the early 80s, one of HBO’s signatures was boxing, they picked up a lot of loyal customers during that time and I was one of them. One of HBO’s latest downfalls, in my opinion, was the cancellation of their broadcast contract with the heavyweight champion Klitschko brothers. What kind of sense does that make to cancel a broadcast contract with the heavyweight champions of the world? I’m not a broadcast executive, but I have to wonder who made that decision. HBO could have simply broadcast the fights live during the afternoon and I’m sure their American viewing audience would have increased.

Showtime, on the other hand, is moving forward and picking up subscribers and becoming more friendly with boxing promoters creating a good working relationship which, HBO seems to no longer to have. Showtime has the connections with the CBS broadcast network and if they decide to use broadcast television for some boxing programming leading up to their subscription broadcast, both Showtime and their customers will benefit. I now subscribe to Showtime. Great job SHOWTIME for giving boxing fans the programming that we want to see.


Source of information is The Boxing Tribune


http://theboxingtribune.com/2011/02/showtime-overtakes-hbo-as-the-leader-in-broadcasting-the-sport-boxing-in-2011/

[sharky20]

Hbo has really been reducing their boxing coverage in the last few years. I remember, I think it was 2007, they had ppvs almost every month and regular boxing cards every couple weeks. I dont know why they dont have the Klitscko brothers anymore, maybe cause they are european they get no respect. They want an american heavyweight champion. Showtime with mma have taken over especially with the acquistion of the next Pacquio ppv fight. Hbo has an outdated view of mma as well and are behind Showtime who had elite xc and currently strikeforce. Showtime has shobox which showcases upcoming fighters. The fights aren't always the most entertaining but they are trying to create new stars at least.

[Yogi]

The biggest problem with showtime is that their format pretty much sucks. Compared to HBO or ESPN, their announcers are boring. Showtime has a lot of hurdles to overcome. One of them is that they don't have near the subscribers that HBO has. Showbox may features a lot of up and coming fighters, but most of those fights just down right suck. ESPN's Friday Night Fights also features a lot of up and coming fighters, and they usually have way better match-ups. Actually, if you forget about the names and just look at the quality of the match-ups, I probably see as many good fights on ESPN as I do HBO and Showtime combined. If ESPN could move Firday Night Fights to a network channel, they would be kicking both HBO and Showtime's butts. Maybe Showtime should work with ESPN and try to get a second airing of Friday Night Fights to put on CBS. Even if they put it on a sub channel, that would go a long way to generating interest back into the sport.