[raiders72001]

A month before boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao even enter the ring, their May 2 title fight is already breaking records, with the pay-per-view bout set to cost fans $99 according to people close to the negotiations between the networks and TV distributors.HBO and Showtime, which are handling negotiations for the camps of Mr. Pacquiao and Mr. Mayweather respectively, are expected to wrap up deals with major pay-TV distributors in the next few days for the highly anticipated welterweight title fight. The negotiations stalled last week as distributors and HBO and Showtime sparred over the split of what is expected to be record-setting pay-per-view revenue.
Under the terms being discussed, the fight will be sold for $99 for a high-definition feed and $89 for standard definition, both of which are record prices. The previous high was $74.95 for high-definition and $64.95 for standard.
Initially, pay TV distributors were asked to give up as much as 70% of the revenue instead of the usual 50% to 55%. That offer was quickly rejected.
The tentative agreement now being hammered out will be less favorable to the distributors than the standard deal but not as drastic as the first offer, people with knowledge of the terms said. The final split will also be determined by the amount of marketing and promotions the various cable operators put into the fight. If certain incentives are met, the distributors have the potential to get 40% of the pay-per-view revenue.



Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza who put together Mayweather’s blockbuster six-fight deal with Showtime, discusses Floyd Mayweather’s business mind and personality.





Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao held a joint news conference on Wednesday to promote their long anticipated match scheduled for May 2 in Las Vegas. Photo: AP


The key deals for HBO and Showtime are with iN Demand, which negotiates on behalf of ComcastCorp., Time Warner CableInc. and other large cable companies, and with DirecTV, the nation’s largest satellite TV operator with more than 20 million subscribers.
The other distributors that HBO and Showtime will try to reach accords with are Dish Network and Vubiquity, which handles negotiations for AT&TInc. and other distributors.
Boxing enthusiasts have been waiting years for this fight and the popularity of Mr. Mayweather and Mr. Pacquiao is such that the bout is expected to be of interest to more than just the hard-core fan. Some industry observers have predicted that it could top three million pay-per-view purchases, which could amount to upward of $300 million. The current record is $152 million for Mr. Mayweather’s fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
But with the fight only a month away, it is crucial to wrap up the pay-per-view deals quickly so distributors can start hawking the match to consumers.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/mayweath...iew-1427927867

[boeing power]

If Mayweather wasn't undefeated you could guarantee a 3 fight minimum with him losing this fight.

But I don't see Floyd taking a fall.

Imagine how much money 3 fights would rake in though.

[raiders72001]

If Mayweather wasn't undefeated you could guarantee a 3 fight minimum with him losing this fight.

But I don't see Floyd taking a fall.

Imagine how much money 3 fights would rake in though.

A draw fight 1 would make 2 even better than 1.

[BigBusiness]

A draw fight 1 would make 2 even better than 1.

Wouldn't be surprised at all to see the first fight as a draw. Boxing is so rigged.

[jtoler]

They will still fight twice, too much money to be made. Floyd will win but let it be close enough so Pac fans will cause a little stir saying he should have won when in reality it won't be that close.

[DrunkHorseplayer]

I wouldn't pay nine dollars, much less $99, to see a C-level fight.

[thechaoz]

I'm never understand how there is do much money in boxing. How can they pay these guys so much?

[jjgold]

All the jerk off will be buying it and all the sharp like myself will be watching it for free

[Mannyfan]

Look forward to fight. Long time coming for us here. Manny will not fall. I think it will be abt lunch time here.

[shari91]

All the jerk off will be buying it and all the sharp like myself will be watching it for free

I really hope no one here would be silly enough to pay for the fight unless they were having a party at home. If sites can handle all the viewers during the soccer World Cup when the entire world was watching those streams, they can handle people watching these two fight. No one should be paying $100 to watch this. Better off putting that money on the midge to win.

[DiggityDaggityDo]

All the jerk off will be buying it and all the sharp like myself will be watching it for free

Although I probably won't even watch it for free. It's going to be a boring fight.

[Big Bear]

I will gladly pay $100 to watch this fight.

i have been anticipating this fight for 10 years!!!!

its about damn time this fight happens

[jjgold]

I will be setting up a black box where you can order for free

[DiggityDaggityDo]

I will be setting up a black box where you can order for free

Coach, 1992 called. They want your black box back.

[BigBusiness]

Coach, 1992 called. They want your black box back.

[Seaweed]

I will listen on blurry tv but not watch

[sourtwist]

I wouldn't pay nine dollars, much less $99, to see a C-level fight.

Congratulations. You have made the dumbest post of the fukkin year.

[jjgold]

If you set up a black box and run it through linux you can re sell fight in HD for $30 a pop all over internet and make a killing

host site in Russia and spend about $10,000 on advertising and you will make a quick $75,000 real fast

Channel cash through Russia only with bank accounts also in Bulgaria

[frostno98]

Should be epic. Still deciding if I should hangout in Vegas that day.

[TheMoneyShot]

Just curious... who actually pays both boxers? Where does the money come from? Doesn't one fighter get 100 million? And the other 160 million?

[TwoWays]

That's expensive. Dollar bills grow on trees for some I guess

[mirinquads]

Just curious... who actually pays both boxers? Where does the money come from? Doesn't one fighter get 100 million? And the other 160 million?

Advertisements, Ticket sales, Pay-per-view sales and so on and so on. Did you think somebody was actually like, here you go Mayweather, here's 160 million in a briefcase, and here's 100 million for you, Pacmayne?

That's not how it works, dawg.

[beermankirk]

will be the most illegally streamed ppv to date.

[eidolon]

This is going the distance and it should be close because pacman throws so many punches.

A split decision wouldn't surprise me.

[Statman]

Forgot that - There are tons of places in the Toronto area that will happily "steal" the signal for their customers. In fact, there is never a need to secure a PPV event in your home. Use the money saved instead on laying your action on the fight and make sure you play the draw.

[capone1899]

Just curious... who actually pays both boxers? Where does the money come from? Doesn't one fighter get 100 million? And the other 160 million?

The promoters pay the boxers. The gate is going to be $74 million, then they are predicting between 2.5 and 3 million PPV buys at $99.95 a pop. That's $250-300 million

[jtoler]

This is going the distance and it should be close because pacman throws so many punches.

A split decision wouldn't surprise me.

Floyd will cut that rate in half.

[Killer_Demo]

Stream-life

[Bigbill365]

[homie1975]

If you set up a black box and run it through linux you can re sell fight in HD for $30 a pop all over internet and make a killing

host site in Russia and spend about $10,000 on advertising and you will make a quick $75,000 real fast

Channel cash through Russia only with bank accounts also in Bulgaria

[AribaAriba]

Manny pacquiao is the "henry armstrong" of this era. If ur unfamillar about him google him, manny the 8 weight titles holder. Its gonna worth every money watching this even, ive talked to some co worker about this fight. Everyone even non boxing fan will tune in.it will be a night to remember.

[jtoler]

Manny pacquiao is the "henry armstrong" of this era. If ur unfamillar about him google him, manny the 8 weight titles holder. Its gonna worth every money watching this even, ive talked to some co worker about this fight. Everyone even non boxing fan will tune in.it will be a night to remember.

Only Hank did it without PED's, so Manny's not like Hank nor is he anything close to him.

[Boner_18]

Might come close to doubling the all time PPV record.

[homie1975]

Might come close to doubling the all time PPV record.

in total buys or dollars?

canelo v may hit 2.2 million ppv buys. this fight will get NOWHERE FUKKING CLOSE to 4.4 mil. in fact, i predict the UNDER 3.15 mil posted at Harrah's Las Vegas, will cash easily!!

in terms of dollars, canelo v may was $74.95 for Hd so this one is a full $25 higher, so it should smash the 150 mil that canelo v may made

[Boner_18]

Yah. $$ only.