Sky Lands U.K. Rights To Mayweather-Pacquiao Bout, Sets PPV Price At $29.70

Sky has won the "battle for the rights" to screen Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao in the U.K., according to Jeff Powell of the London DAILY MAIL. The "richest fight of all time will not come cheap, either, for Sky Sports or its subscribers," even though Sky is "keeping faith with its core following" by keeping the base price below £20 ($29.70). It has taken what is described by industry insiders as "a very substantial offer" for Sky to "fend off fierce competition from Frank Warren's BoxNation." The price for the fight has been set at £19.95 until midnight on May 1. Since it is understood to have "broken past protocol" by offering the U.S. promoters a cut of that revenue as well as a "hefty up-front payment," it is expected Sky will have to "shatter the pay-per-view record in this country to break even." It is a risk the broadcaster is "prepared to take in return for the prestige and kudos of screening the most eagerly awaited fight of the century" (DAILY MAIL, 3/24).