Why did HBO and Showtime leave boxing?

[Mike_b]

Losing HBO was catastrophic for me, the fights lost their special allure, fights with up and coming talent turned in house celebrities came to a stop. Fringe contenders and working class fighters stopped getting shine... Juan lazcano, Carlos Hernandez, the Barrera Morales s, the Stevie Johnston's, Kevin Kelley's, = these fighters were showcased with RESPECT for their craft and what they contributed to boxing. This was the face of boxing, Roy: the best who ever did it in the ring, Jim= the best who ever told it in the game, and max, the grandmaster of sorts/ super duper boxing fan job every fanatic or hardcore would want! Showcase was a close second, when ya couldn't get enough HBO. Sincerely these two channels were like pizza hut and dominos, good quality no matter what the pizza!

Ps you could argue between who was the best commentators, but you have to admit, your favorite ones were GREAT!!!

[PRvazquez]

Can somebody copy hbos format for the love of god? These new broadcasts stink with the presentation!

[ELPacman]

Respectfully but Turki had fugh all to do with HBO / Sho not being around
He brought but nothing new to the game besides an abundance of coin making it easier to make the harder ( $$$ ) fights

Yeah, I'm not really pointing at Turki for the HBO/Showtime fallout. At that time, it was more so the apps and new ways to get boxing. You had obviously DAZN, then the ESPN+ app. The weird ones like Triller who just put on circus type bouts. I can't recall if PBC was doing there thing around that time as well, but I feel like it may have also exist then. After all those, then Turki showed up.

[MulaKO]

Yeah, I'm not really pointing at Turki for the HBO/Showtime fallout. At that time, it was more so the apps and new ways to get boxing. You had obviously DAZN, then the ESPN+ app. The weird ones like Triller who just put on circus type bouts. I can't recall if PBC was doing there thing around that time as well, but I feel like it may have also exist then. After all those, then Turki showed up.

All good

[PRvazquez]

They need to broadcast fights with hbos format . It had a special allure of prestige and tuxedos and class . Nowadays we get Mauro and his yelling into the mic . Awwwwwwwwwww maaaaaaamaaaaa miaaaaaaaaaaaaaa squeal

[Sheikh]

Huge reason have to do with the ratings. A significant reason is the ratings are just not there anymore. TV networks need ratings. Secondly one of the reasons for lower ratings that there are less American stars. I don't mean to be mean but Eastern European Fighters will not catch on in America as it's a foreign country. Again it's not their fault but ratings are ratings and that didn't help. But at the end of the day the budget for boxing shows are too high. Fighters are overpaid

[rickJen]

Good for HBO it left boxing. Game Of Thrones is a massive hit internationally. And the episodes are still being watched to this day.
And if you search how much each episode or season cost them to make it, it's not far from what they would pay for one or two people in boxing.
The making of GOT benefited thousands if not hundreds of people. It does sound ridiculous paying huge amounts to one or two people in boxing.

[jqSide]

Good for HBO it left boxing. Game Of Thrones is a massive hit internationally. And the episodes are still being watched to this day.
And if you search how much each episode or season cost them to make it, it's not far from what they would pay for one or two people in boxing.
The making of GOT benefited thousands if not hundreds of people. It does sound ridiculous paying huge amounts to one or two people in boxing.

Game Of Thrones will never be equaled in terms of popularity.

[ShoulderRoll]

Did the Bobfather kill ESPN ???
Sad to see but some of my best memories of boxing are courtesy of HBO and Showtime

Yes. His showcase fights and crappy undercards didn’t move the needle.

[MulaKO]

Yes. His showcase fights and crappy undercards didn’t move the needle.

Bobfather ban/g your wife or daughter
You really have it with him but didn't notice any other trying to get boxing on America’s sports network
At least it was free and open to all