Great article on HBO Boxing's declining ratings

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=33888

To sum up how bad ratings have gotten. In 2007 there was a big deal about the Calzaghe-Kessler fight getting worst ratings ever for Championship Boxing, with 1.59 live viewers. Three years later, the highest rated HBO WBC event is on par with lowest rated event in 2007.

The writer sums it up well stating death wish for HBO Boxing ratings is have a fight on BAD in some casino.

There lot reasons for that. One, these casinios usualy never in major cities or markets, so almost no major media coverage. And promoter's do nothing to promote the fight after getting a site fee from casinio, since up to the casinio to sell the tickets, not them.

Also, time for BAD to be moved to different time of the week. Fridays and Saturday nights are worse time to showcase anything. Most people, especialy younger people, are out getting drunk or picking up women, or whatever.

BAD should be moved to Tuesday or Weds nights at a reasonable time

GrantZilla (Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:21 am) wrote:http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=33888

To sum up how bad ratings have gotten. In 2007 there was a big deal about the Calzaghe-Kessler fight getting worst ratings ever for Championship Boxing, with 1.59 live viewers. Three years later, the highest rated HBO WBC event is on par with lowest rated event in 2007.

The writer sums it up well stating death wish for HBO Boxing ratings is have a fight on BAD in some casino.

There lot reasons for that. One, these casinios usualy never in major cities or markets, so almost no major media coverage. And promoter's do nothing to promote the fight after getting a site fee from casinio, since up to the casinio to sell the tickets, not them.

Also, time for BAD to be moved to different time of the week. Fridays and Saturday nights are worse time to showcase anything. Most people, especialy younger people, are out getting drunk or picking up women, or whatever.

BAD should be moved to Tuesday or Weds nights at a reasonable time

I've been saying that for a long time. Fridays and Saturdays are death slots for ANYTHING on TV. There's a reason why Thursdays and Sundays are traditionally a big programming nights for networks. And given the target demographics for boxing it's foolish to expect good ratings on Fridays or Saturdays - guys aren't home!

If I'm an executive at Time Warner, I'm finding out Hershman's contract terms at Showtime in hopes that I can poach him for double the salary to run HBO sports....

Shitty match ups = low ratings

in the UK they got rid of Friday Fight Night's because the ratings were so poor and it was proven that Saturday night always gets the highest viewing figures here. I guess this would be true in the US as well. the problem with people at HBO is it seems as if they have a set of staff that appear to have a guaranteed job for life. i imagine that it's a closed shop at HBO and they have the same guys putting on the same shows without any innovative changes being made. it needs a big shake up and there are just so many little things that these TV networks could be doing to sell their product better. instead they seem to be content with the viewing figures falling without taking action which could potentially be dangerous for the sport if it isn't able to keep up with the ohter rival products. it may be just me but when i see a HBO broadcast i just get wound up by their totally self-absorbed broadcasting team who seem to think they are the ones putting on the show. i think Lampley is an awful commentator, he's biased, he's very selective as to what he sees happen in the ring and he doesn't pick the right times to get excited in his commentary. they do nothing to captivate the audience because they are always too busy talking about what they want to amongst themselves instead of talking about what is actually happening in the fight

dbudge Saturday nights are just as bad. Friday-Saturday night as Tobe stated, is death time slot. Why nothing but re-runs on network TV, and shows geared to older people.

Only time Saturday nights get good ratings if it's some college football game or a big event type thing. Like a PPV with two name fighters. UFC made their PPVs an event, so younger people go out to bars or whatever. More of event then actual fights.

HBO charges too damn much for PPVs so most bars don't play them anymore. Why I don't get any PPV fights at bars in Portland. I beleive it's over a grand for a bar owner to get licence fee, so he'd have to have entirly packed house to just break even.

GrantZilla wrote:dbudge Saturday nights are just as bad. Friday-Saturday night as Tobe stated, is death time slot. Why nothing but re-runs on network TV, and shows geared to older people.

Only time Saturday nights get good ratings if it's some college football game or a big event type thing. Like a PPV with two name fighters. UFC made their PPVs an event, so younger people go out to bars or whatever. More of event then actual fights.

HBO charges too damn much for PPVs so most bars don't play them anymore. Why I don't get any PPV fights at bars in Portland. I beleive it's over a grand for a bar owner to get licence fee, so he'd have to have entirly packed house to just break even.

yeh i know it is ridiculous what you get charged for fights and the regularity at which they are sold like it with the shitty undercards. i mean a fight like Mosley vs Mora wouldn't sell to anybody at £35 over here. that's outrageous to be honest. i don't see why they set a standard of $50 for PPV fights and then they go upto $60 for HD etc, it's a joke.