Showtime and HBO: Positive Possibilities of Counter-Programming

Showtime and HBO have a long rivalry when it comes to boxing.  

Both have tried to outdo each other for years, and at times they have counter-programmed each other's boxing shows.

This is extremely frustrating for fans who might want to see both fights and then have to choose between the two, and it's a real problem for boxing.

But it could also be something that could help boxing become great again.  It's just a matter of how it's handled.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned is that sometimes a "free" show, which isn't really free as I mentioned in a past article, counter-programs a pay-per-view show.  It depends on the PPV, but it certainly makes it easier for fans to to choose one over the other.

Other times, one program has more exciting fights than the other. This is embarrassing, as any boxing program that a fan is paying a monthly fee to see shouldn't be anything less than exciting. But it's the truth.

Most of the time, fight fans have a harder time making a decision. Instead of getting to see live boxing several times in one month, they have to decide which program to watch.

If both HBO and Showtime continue to do this, though, they could at least improve it in three ways.

The first is that they could come up with new ways for the fans to feel connected with the program.  If Showtime and HBO both have fights on the same night, they should involve the fans as the fight is going on. It could involve panning to the crowd and showing signs that are being held, or encouraging fans to send in tweets or text in to answer a poll.

Nothing makes a fight fan more excited than feeling like they are a part of the show. Either Showtime or HBO could do this.

The second improvement is the easiest. Make the best fights possible from top to bottom. This doesn't mean the most expensive fights, but the best fights.  

There are plenty of rematches and lower-level fighters that could put on great, if not technical, fights. Building up the crowd and the energy that they exude, which can be felt by those watching the fights on TV, is important. It also builds word of mouth that those events shouldn't be missed.

It will also carry over to the main event. The fighters will be spurred on to fight harder, people will start to buzz about going to see Showtime/HBO fights live, and this will lead those who can't see them live to tune in.

The last one is to make it a rivalry. Create the question "who do you want to see more this weekend?"  If either station can do that, then they will immediately have a crossover from fans of the other network and generate buzz. It would make the biggest fight of the night Showtime versus HBO, and in turn make the matches that much better.

Obviously it would be great to see the fights without having them counter-program each other, but if HBO and Showtime won't do the most logical thing for their ratings, they could at least try the next best thing.

They could try to make it entertaining instead of frustrating.