Showtime is probably out of boxing

Showtime's parent company Paramount is merging Showtime with Paramount+. Though it's not confirmed yet, it doesn't look like boxing is gonna be apart of that merger.

Paramount is focused on the NFL and various futbol leagues, but they probably feel boxing ain't worth the investment.

So, that's it. The history of HBO and Showtime boxing will officially end this year, in all likelihood.

Say what you want, but it's sad imo. I feel like a big part of my childhood to young adulthood is dying.

HBO and Showtime have been synonymous with boxing in the U.S. going back to the 70s. Well, the 80s in the case of Showtime.

 

looks dead to me, look at their upcoming schedule. aside from a shitty PPV that woulda been a Boxing after dark card back in the day, in Benavidez vs Plant, there is nothing of note

 

Yeah, Benavidez-Plant would have 100% been a BAD main event 25 years ago.

 

This Actually EXPLAINS the Litany of Unwarranted PPV's Put Out by PBC in the Last Year or So...

Thurman-Barrios
Ruiz-Ortiz
Wilder-Helenius

Among Others, Those Fights Had NOfuckingBUSINESS Being on PPV, Yet PBC Proceeded Accordingly...Like a Salesman MILKING Every Last Drop, Every Remnant of His Product, Until it Inevitably Crashes & Burns...





REED

 

They'll be missed. Showtime's boxing history is actually really underrated. They've covered some of the biggest upsets in boxing history, i.e., Hearns-Barkley 1, Curry-McCrory, Tyson-Holy, Randall-Chavez.

And of course, they covered arguably the best fight OAT in Corrales-Castillo.

Sure, they're now a shell of themselves, but that's like remembering Roy when he was a shot old man.

I'll choose to remember Showtime (and HBO) for what they were in their primes.

 

will miss bernstein...

 

If anyone defends the state of boxing’s health in terms of mainstream popularity, this should set them right.

 

I have noticed fights showing up on parliament plus

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/elusiveraf/status/1706664810094432346

Cancelled after 2024

 

I saw it coming.

 

Showtime meeting the same fate as HBO boxing. I feel like this is becoming a new phase in boxing now that both HBO and Showtime Boxing will be gone.

 

It’s a blow. Boxing was already missing HBO’s coverage and now Showtime is on the outs.

But yeah as REED pointed out, all those cards PBC was putting out that didn’t need to be PPV was a major sign of the current state of affairs.

Man, I’m missing the 90s and early-mid 2000s more and more every day.

 

Maybe there's a silver lining here. It's not unreasonable to imagine that some of boxing's problems were caused or at least enabled by outfits like HBO and Showtime.

 

I don't think boxing being linked to premium channels specializing in tv series and movies really helped the sport's popularity to be honest. How many soccer moms got hooked up on boxing because it came right after Sex in the city?? It s much better that boxing be showcased on dedicated sports channels as there's a much greater possible ''synergy'' with the casual viewers there.

 

so its better that matchups on HBO/.Showtime, who had millionS of subscribers, are now ppv?

 

Lol, Showtime and HBO (when it was still showcasing boxing) have been putting any half decent fight on PPV for a looooong time. Anything ''free'' was basically a showcase or between nobodies (at least to the mainstream fans).

 

SHObox has consistently had the most competitive matchups over the last decade of any network or app.

 

What are you talking about? Only fights HBO and Showtime showed not on PPV were showcases. I'm glad - can ditch Showtime now (already ditched HBO)

 

And now we'll see those fights elsewhere in all likelihod.

 

these two posts are contradictory. which is it?

who pays for content these days anyway?

all the shit is easily availble on free streams.

 

I'm not sure your point. You seem to be suggesting boxing will get worse because showtime is going away. I dont agree with that.

 

Im saying shoBox was the best series on any network as far as making even money matchups between undefeated prospects./ showcasing future champions.

it was free of any promoter obligations.

 

There's no positive spins to put on this. Showtime leaving boxing hurts boxing.

 

The only thing that can save showtime is TexMex vs Reed

 

Time will tell.

 

Yeah i dont see it as a big loss for boxing. Showtime sucked hard for a fuckload of years

 

Shobox type fight aren't being out on PPV anytime soon yes in a vacuum Showtime getting out if boxing is a terrible news. But in reality, most of those fights will simply migrate to another platform. My guess is that it s one that will be more committed to boxing, offer better value (for boxing fans)and where the average viewer will be far more likely to get hooked on the sport.

 

agREED...

Nostalgia Aside, the Effects Will Be MINIMAL On the Sport Overall...If Anything, Having Fewer Boxing Outlets Should Create Fewer ROADBLOCKS to Meaningful Fights...

To Be Clear, REED Ain't HAPPY Showtime is Closing Up Shop, But HBO Doing Likewise Years Ago Makes This LESS of a Blow...Par for the Course, Basically...Makes REED Feel Even Better About His DAZN and ESPN+ Subscriptions...



REED

 

Ultimately, the Networks Have THEMSELVES to Blame...

HBO Would Still OWN the Sport of Boxing "To This Day!!", if Not for 2 Moves...

1. Sticking By Larry Merchant When King & Team Tyson Made it Known They WOULDN'T Fight on HBO Again, as Looooooooooong as Merchant was a Broadcaster...Tyson Took His Talents to Showtime...

2. HBO Being THREATENED Enough By the Inevitability of Al Haymon's Prescence to THINK They Didn't Need Floyd and the Rest of Haymon's Stable of Fighters...HBO was Faaaaaaaaaaaar Tooooooo Worried About Haymon's INFLUENCE, When Boxing BUSINESS Should've Been Top of Mind...

Not Only Did HBO Shoot THEMSELVES in the Foot, They Reloaded and Put a Bullet in the Other Foot as Well...




REED

 

HBO woes were extensively written about by Thomas Hausser. In a nutshell, they were bidding against themselves and overpaying by a huge margin for insignificant fights. They had the biggest budget by far so exclusive contracts was way more of an hindrance for them than a plus (even moreso for their subscribers).