Following promoter Bob Arum's revival of closed circuit for
the June 7 De La Hoya-Chavez fight, "promoters and cable
operators looking forward to a slew of autumn matchups are
bracing for tough negotiations on splits and guarantees,"
according to the latest CABLE WORLD. According to industry
observers, if cable does not want to be shut out of future
fights, "operators will have to offer more favorable splits to
promoters or guarantees on the front or back end of an event."
Operators, who have resisted guarantees to promoters, typically
receive 50% of a fight's gross PPV revenues. Estimates on the
success of the De La Hoya fight have "varied widely." While Top
Rank claimed a $60M gross, cable execs believe Arum made closer
to $15M. One PPV exec said the fight proved that cable "isn't
the only pipeline" now, but other cable execs "appear ready to
rumble." Hugh Panero, President of Request TV, said Arum
"probably made $12 million and left another $6 million on the
table" by not going with PPV (Kim Mitchell, CABLE WORLD, 6/17).
LEFT HOOK: ABC brings heavyweight championship boxing back
to broadcast TV this weekend with the Schultz-Moorer fight on
"Wide World of Sports." Budweiser is the presenting sponsor
(Mike Reynolds, INSIDE MEDIA, 6/18).
RIGHT CROSS: HBO Sports, which rebroadcast the De La Hoya-
Chavez fight on Saturday, June 15, received its highest boxing
rating of the year -- a 15.0 rating and a 29 share. Overall the
three-fight telecast averaged a 11.8/22 (HBO).
