Thomas Hauser: How HBO Lost Manny Pacquiao

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To be fair, the targeted audience is probably more likely to be up after midnight than before noon on a Saturday.

 

Isn't that the same number that was watching 24/7?

 

It's better than the live showing for Pac-Margarito Episode 1, which was arguably just as tough of a sell from a competitive standpoint. But yeah that's what I'm saying - for the numbers produced, seems like way too much is being made of CBS' involvement.

Arum and Showtime ran with the line that the fight would be prominently featured throughout the tournament and during the Final Four. Instead, a few commercials aired and the episode itself aired about 5-6 hours before the start of the first Final Four game.

 

OK but that's all the more reason to question why they would air the episode at that time. It's also why I say that the April 30 segment will be more telling - it's on during prime time and a week before the fight.

And while I hate when HBO and Showtime counterprogram purely for the sake of counterprogramming, I'm almost disappointed that HBO doesn't have anything boxing-wise going on that evening. Guess it's their way of keeping the door open for Pacquiao's eventual return.

 

I agree with you on the timing of it. Underwhelming.

There's still some other parts to this deal, though, the appearances on CBS talk shows, the 60 Minutes epidose with Pacquiao (and presumably commercials for it during other programs), the CBS Morning Show from Las Vegas on fight week.

 

Shane Mosley & The New York Knicks - FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao vs. Mosley Bonus

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Speaking of television appearances...

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/04/04/11/pacquiao-lined-us-tv-guestings