Good to see the Campbell/Garcia fight at a UK friendly time. Do we think there is any chance it becomes a trend? Fights in Vegas at 4-5am UK draw v small audiences in UK/Europe. Surely Having a 3PM fight makes more sense to open up more markets and revenue especially for PPV's I cant see that many viewers in the US would object to afternoon fights (NFL/NBA/MLB games happen in the PM too?)
US fights at UK/Europe friendly times?
- Thread starter Ar558a
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I enjoyed when the MMA fights were on in the UAE. Far better times for us here in Britain.
With DAZN broadcasts that would make sense in order to boost subscriptions once they put their prices up but it wouldn't make sense to only do that to suit UK fans, it should be done to accomodate viewers in other countries too when one of their fighters is headlining and that would encourage fans to sign up.
But I can't see it for PPV broadcasters as they're likely to lose US market share if the main event is on at 3pm on a Saturday, people will be out shopping, taking the kids to their music lessons and running other errands and the casuals won't cancel those plans to watch boxing. The market share gained in say the UK won't make up for the loss of US viewership so it doesn't make any commercial sense. Showtime and ESPN are used to collecting $80 per household, British broadcasters certainly won't pay them that in rights fees.
And the last reason I can't see it happening is because the live gate will be compromised, fans will still turn up but they do more drinking and gambling in the evenings and those activities bring in the money for the venues.
But I can't see it for PPV broadcasters as they're likely to lose US market share if the main event is on at 3pm on a Saturday, people will be out shopping, taking the kids to their music lessons and running other errands and the casuals won't cancel those plans to watch boxing. The market share gained in say the UK won't make up for the loss of US viewership so it doesn't make any commercial sense. Showtime and ESPN are used to collecting $80 per household, British broadcasters certainly won't pay them that in rights fees.
And the last reason I can't see it happening is because the live gate will be compromised, fans will still turn up but they do more drinking and gambling in the evenings and those activities bring in the money for the venues.
Well UK friendly is effectively Europe friendly so we have potential circa 500m viewers.
You think that 3pm on a weekend is a bad time for live sport? Interesting I would have thought any US viewer who is willing to stump up $70-100 for a fight would watch it whenever. I'm not expecting all fights to go this ways as obviously there would be little extra revenue to be gained from viewers if there was no UK interest but anywhere there is a UK fighter in the main fight you would think there is the potential to add several hundred thousand viewers at £20($27ish) thats $5m extra roughly for an extra 200k.
I still see loads of fans at day games in the NFL and MLB so I'm not sure that is true and if the fight is in Vegas it makes little difference as the drinking and gambling is 24/7!
No I don't think 3pm Saturday is a bad time for live sport, but it is for a boxing match being screened live against the sports you mentioned like the NFL and MLB. Aren't they on at the same time? So even if you assume everyone is home watching sport at 3pm and they're not out running their errands, if the NFL is on for free or on satelite no one will be tuning in for a $80 PPV at the expense of that as far as I'm concerned. I would but I'm not a casual and the casuals are the ones who make up the bulk of the PPV buys.
I can't see any broadcaster wanting to pit boxing against the NFL, that's the kind of irresponsible broadcasting decision that can cost an MD his job. DAZN didn't even have enough confidence to show a Canelo fight when the UFC was on and instead they delayed delayed delayed the start of the fight waiting for the UFC to finish even though the crowd at the venue had to suffer a period of restlessness and wanted the fight to start DAZN knew no one would switch off the UFC to go to the boxing.
Boxing isn't big enough to compete especially when you have to pay $80 for the privilege. You are right about the extra potential viewers being Europe-wide rather than just in the UK but the US broadcaster won't be collecting those PPV buys, they'll get one payment from the European broadcasters beforehand and that's it meanwhile their own direct PPV buys take a hit because Americans are busy watching their number 1 or 2 sport instead.
Well in the states there is often a live game on somewhere. I'm amazed that anyone willing to pay $80 dollars is considered a casual but maybe the attitude is different in the states. I wouldn't necessarily suggest counter programming against the NFL (most NFL games are on Sundays anyway) but it shows people will watch mid afternoon. MLB games are so plentiful that no individual game would be a distraction (they have 15 a day for 6 months!).
Sounds like Boxing has a substantial issue if the Biggest star (well in the US at least) can't even beat UFC! Still think there would be a way to get it to work but you are right due to the US viewers happiness to pay outrageous prices it gives the rest of us little power as the US TV companies hold sway.