Passing on UFC A Wise Move by HBO (AUDIO)

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman discusses the decision by HBO not to televise UFC shows.

When we interviewed Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, at the September 19 Mayweather-Hatton news conference in New York, he said that talks between HBO and UFC were ongoing. Last week, however, he issued a statement (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6487759.html) saying that the deal was now off.

This week we explain in depth why it was a wise move by HBO to end negotiations about airing the UFC product, and how their business models are in conflict. We also offer a critique of the elitist nature of HBO's programming in general, including its boxing series.

http://fightbeat.com/podcast/noufc.mp3

 

So Mayweather apologized for nothing?

 

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I actually think it was a wise move on UFC. They had the same issues Arum used to bitch about in dealing with HBO - last say on production. HBO wanted to strip it down and give it that same business feel that comes with your standard GPHM show, and IMO Dana White was right to say, "Thanks but no thanks."

 

^^^Yep.

 

HBO sucks for the most part

 

What is this guys deal with upper middle class white people, I am not apart of that group but damn....

 

Just listening now. Will comment as a whole when it's done, but 1 minute i, I do have to ask...

what's an analysisist? ::

 

GOLDMAN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

 

Didn't the UFC want to use their own set of announcers?

I thought that was one of the major sticking points regarding production.

The UFC does get a lot of mileage out of Goldberg and Rogan shilling for the product (during telecasts, on ESPN, etc.).

 

Yes, I think that was one of the issues. I don't know who HBO has laying around that could do UFC broadcasts. Perhaps their concern is Goldberg and Rogan sending subliminal (or even blatant) messages that their product is better than boxing, though it doesn't seem to stop Lampley and co. shitting on MMA at any given moment.

I understand that with HBO putting up the money, they want to have final say in what makes the airwaves. But there's also nothing wrong with leaving well enough alone if it means getting a favorable return on your investment. Even as a diehard fan of The Wire, I can understand why HBO was reluctant to bring it back for a 4th and even 5th season - poor ratings gave them the right to bitch even if it's the best-reviewed show in the network's history. But to sweat this shit up front over something that's already working only accentuates their reluctance to get involved with UFC or anything MMA-related in the first place.

 

They probably view the UFC as ToughMan at best. Which wouldn't be surprising considering the level of skill displayed by one of the UFC's biggest stars Chuck Liddell in his most recent fight against Keith Jardine. That was a pretty f*cking pathetic showing of skills by Liddell. Looked like a drunk bar fighter at best with his paunch sticking out. No footwork, no speed, no gameplan. Just go out and swing like a toughman level competitor.::

 

The UFC would benefit from a change of announcers. Bas Rutten would be choice #1.

 

Perhaps, it's not a common misconception (I admit that was my take without initially giving it a chance). But with HBO, I think it's more of an ego thing, that they have to dictate the terms rather than be dictated to, even if someone else's suggestion is and works better.

 

Actually that had nothing to do with anything that's being discussed, but thanks for playing. Bye.

 

I know, I'm just taking a shot at Liddell.::

 

From what I remember a year ago when all this HBO/UFC thing started is that HBO didn't respect MMA. They considered it ToughMan at best with less rules. A year later, they still don't like it. They don't want MMA on their network. They were just looking at reaching that demographic.

 

They should get Quadros too. He is 100000x better then Goldberg.

 

Dont say that shit with TFK around here. He can't accept that that fight had the skill level of a bar fight.

 

Sounded like allot of built up hate like someone that never got anywhere in life and blames it on "the man", it is ok to make a point but fuck.. I got it after saying it for the 25th time.

 

Yeah, but UFC dummies nead to hear it 25times to get it ::

 

I think the sports dept. didn't want MMA, but the exec (Chris Albrecht) that got arrested at the DLH-Mayweather fight wanted it.

When he left, I think that pretty much ended the realistic chances of it happening.

 

Perhaps they'd want to introduce someone to fill the journalist/columnist position like they had with Merchant.

Plus, there would seem to be a double-standard with the network's coverage of boxing and MMA, to have an exclusive contract with one MMA organization which would then provide it's own titles, rankings, and announcers, etc.

 

see how easy it is to fill in the blanks and dismiss HBO's argument ::

 

I wasn't aware that was I wrote was HBO's argument.

 

true. still, i put it out there incase HBO attempts to latch to such an excuse. but its still almost the same thing, or at least not that different than what they do now, from a moral standpoint.

 

That's because they all have cauliflower ears.

 

speaking of UFC, their star Randy Couture has apparently resigned from the organization.

 

Kellerman. He repeatedly fielded questions about MMA in that "To the Max" program without preparation. Heck, Jim Lampley's called nearly every sport under the Sun.

 

yeah but lampley has already spoken out against mma on several broadcasts (read erratic's sig for my take on one of them). I wouldn't want to hear him call an MMA show any more than I'd want Goldberg and Rogan calling a World Championship Boxing broadcast. (though Rogan is probably more objective toward boxing than Lampley is to MMA)