Normally $74.95 PPVs have some type of super fight doing the heavy lifting. Showtime is trying a different approach for Saturday’s Charlomania PPV event. The marathon telecast will feature six fights, including five world title fights with Jermall Charlo vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko headlining in the first half of the show and Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario topping the second half.
“The fans have spoken, and we listened,” said Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza. “Fans wanted the best fighting the best. Well, we’ve got that. Without question, this is not just the biggest pay-per-view card of the year, but there is also the most value for your money on this card. I’ve never been involved with a card that has this level of quality and this level of star power.”
$12.50 per fight sounds a little better than $74.95. Too bad we can’t order a la carte.
$75 does sound expensive but with no fans I understand the price. It’s either this or no boxing until the pandemic ends…which no one has a clue when that will happen.
I am sure the Firestick owners are salivating over a freebie anyway…..LOL
How do you figure? A lot of the country is out of work and the people who aren’t are still feeling the crunch, so it’s not exactly like people are going to be lining up to shell out 75 bucks when they could spend the money on bills.
I will tell you something, Top Rank and ESPN are being smart about things during the pandemic.
Practically every week Top Rank has cards on ESPN and they have a quality card coming up in Lomachenko VS. Lopez, for which they are not charging their customers.
Free cards equals more viewers equals more interest in the sport equals more revenue for ESPN and incentive for them to continue airing fight cards.
Fuck Showtime, they lost me the minute they advertised this card for 75 bucks.
I understand how you feel, but even with ESPN’s free but boring cards could not top the level of competition showtime card is doing, I get the Lame-o-chenko VS Lopez fight but outside of that, nothing. We’re get at least 6 high level fights in one night, order the fights tell you buddies to bring the drinks an pizza and enjoy the fights.
“Lame a chenko”?
If you don’t like the guy’s fighting style (and I don’t see why, given that he’s an aggressive yet defensively responsible boxer) that’s fair enough, but the man chased after a world title in his second pro match, won a title in his third and has already unified one division in less than eighteen fights.
The man is chasing greatness; whether or not he reaches that level only time will tell, but you have to respect the effort.
I’d prefer to watch ESPN’s cards lately because at least they’re consistent and trying to showcase new talent instead of just relying on a standard roster of network boxers.
To each their own, all the same.
Six high level fights? How do you figure? According to the odds it is one competitive fight the rest mismstches.
Charge $75 and we’ll just watch free UFC super fights the one that coming up on Saturday.
With a dwindling fan base, the last thing that boxing needs is PPV preventing more potential (ie. young) fans from developing an interest in boxing.
BGoxing having a “dwindling fan base” is a myth and a mirage. Having said that, paying $75 for a couple of guys with unproven track records and a minimal fan base isn’t exactly motivating my economic engine.
Well said JDP67!!! Well said.
Dwindling fan base not a myth. Boxing used to be a major sport and a championship fight was a major event. Average sports fan would not know any of the fighters on this card.
Not a ppv worthy event. Boxing needs to rethink it’s business model . Boxing is becoming irrelevant.
After several months of undetermined COVID-19 restrictions, it seems like the days of attending/hosting fight parties occurred many moons ago. Dang!!
I’ve ordered PPV fights since the early 80’s. I remember my mom and dad took me to see the Pipino Cuevas/Thomas Hearns fight on closed circuit. But since March when this pandemic blew up, money has been hard, REAL hard so there is no way I would even think about ordering this fight on PPV. SHOWTIME makes a ton of money and they should be more compassionate during these struggling times and us loyal boxing fans…
No matter how SHO tries to spin it, its going to tank. Its WAY overpriced. Alphabet trinkets don’t fool real boxing fans. There is one real world title fight, Charlo Vs Rosario, the other fights are contenders. Not to say its a bad card, it is a good one, but not 75$ good in this COVID economy. I was going to buy it it if were around 40 or 50. Now I’ll go to a friends house to watch it, if they are even buying it.
“New Approach” lol Overpricing and praying people buy it. I mean if you get 200K buys at 75 that is 15 million. If you charged it more reasonably at say 45, and got 500K buys, you realize you actually make more in the end right SHO? 22.5 million. This is just an example, but come on….You guys have business degrees don’t you? Price point, blah blah blah
Exactly…
I dont think the buy rate would change much with a lower price. If it was 10 or 20 bucks yeah but they would lose more money that way. They know there are suckers who will buy any ppv regardless of quality. Thats who they are banking on.
One other point…..out of the six fights you are selling SHO, only one is close odds wise, and only two not outright mismatches. 4 out of 6 have odd more drastic than -500 with only the two Charlo fights being close. The other 4 are showcases, disguised as world title bouts, by the trinket maker alphabets. When I already know at least 5 out of 6 outcomes to the card, why would I fork out 75 dollars?
They are putting together 6 good fights that are competitive. There are a lot of complaints but I havent been seeing much quality matchmaking since the pandemic started. I understand many people are struggling but for those who can its a way to support Boxing and see better matchmaking. Or else Boxing will continue to die off with fewer opportunities with fewer participants willing to fight. I could see if the matchmaking was bad and we know who the winners will be. Fighters like Canelo gets paid max money for taking the minimum risk. Support these champions taking a risk.
“$12.50 per fight sounds a little better than $74.95. Too bad we can’t order a la carte”.
The problem is NONE of these fights are worth $2 much less $12.50. I don’t know what the hell Showtime is thinking.
They needed some you tubers to bring in the fringe fans – Logan Paul V KSI was a massive hit and one of the best fights of 2019. This was a PPV event and 13 and 14 yr old boys and girls along with hardcore adult fans jumped at the opportunity to buy it. Look at the UFC guys can be world champions after 7 fights after beginning training 4 years beforehand. This is what people want to see – born fighters – showmen – warriors. Check out Russian team fighting – Hip Show and X Arm. The future of PPV combat. I hope the boxers get paid is all I can say. I remember fighting for beer in bars in Thailand nowadays everyone wants millions – millions… Joe Lewis died penniless.
What a joke they are killing boxing crappy undercards and top guys avoiding each other It is why the UFC is taking over
The new approach is obviously to rape the fans, however its not really a new approach
The U.S.A economic condition is in bad shape. Showtime is reaching down into empty workers pockets trying to finance a dying business plan. Great book on this subject. ” IN THE CHEAP SEATS”.
I was wondering what could be better, pay the $ 74.95 for this PPV or buy Fire TV Stick 4K with all-new Alexa Voice Remote bundle – includes Ethernet Adapter and 2-Year Protection Plan for $72.97. If the price were $12.50, I have no doubt about my chice.