{"id":47596,"date":"2025-04-25T15:44:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=47596"},"modified":"2025-04-25T15:44:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:44:33","slug":"history-of-ppv-boxing-prices-uk-eubank-jr-vs-benn-pay-per-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/history-of-ppv-boxing-prices-uk-eubank-jr-vs-benn-pay-per-view\/","title":{"rendered":"The History Of PPV Boxing Costs In The UK Ahead Of Conor Benn’s Fight With Chris Eubank Jr"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been 29 years since pay-per-view was introduced in the UK for the heavyweight match between Frank Bruno and Mike Tyson, and here, SportsCasting takes a look at the history of PPV prices and how much it has cost fans to watch boxing throughout the sport’s history.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cost of watching major fights has risen dramatically, reflecting the sport’s commercial growth and shift towards premium models.<\/p>\n

That rematch between Bruno and Tyson in 1996 cost boxing fans as little as \u00a39.95 if booked in advance, or \u00a314.95 if ordered on the day of the broadcast.<\/p>\n

The fight which saw Tyson stop Bruno inside three rounds in Las Vegas, Nevada, drew 660,000 buys on Sky Box Office.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2025, and that initial price would not even cover half of a boxing PPV in the UK. The highly-anticipated fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn on April 26, is priced at \u00a319.95<\/a> regardless of whether you stream the fight on DAZN or watch live on Sky Box Office.<\/p>\n

However, there was a time when the cost of watching boxing in the UK cost nothing more than the TV licence fee.<\/p>\n

Below, we look at the history of PPV boxing prices in the UK, highlighting key fights and PPV buys across different eras in the sport’s history.<\/p>\n

\"Katie
Mike Tyson (pictured with Katie Taylor) fought in the first PPV fight in UK boxing history in 1996 against Frank Bruno<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Is Pay-Per-View?<\/h2>\n

Pay-Per-View is a broadcasting format where fans pay a one-time fee to watch exclusive live events.<\/p>\n

PPV has become important in the history of boxing. Fans are paying growing prices to watch their favourite boxers on TV or streaming platforms.<\/p>\n

In boxing, PPV is a financial powerhouse and a huge consideration when it comes to drawing up contracts for fights. This is because they generate massive revenue to cover hefty fighter purses and production costs.<\/p>\n

It offers fans access to premium, can’t-miss fights and elevates marquee matchups in boxing.<\/p>\n

PPV events are also prominent in the UFC and professional wrestling – although the WWE now refers to PPV’s as premium live events and show their major shows on Netflix and previously the WWE Network.<\/p>\n

How Much Did Boxing Cost Before PPV?<\/h2>\n

Before the days when boxing fans had to consider the prices of PPV in the UK, the early history of television saw the sport as a cornerstone of free-to-air broadcasting, and was accessible to anyone with a TV.<\/p>\n

The BBC played a pioneering role and aired the UK’s first televised boxing match, Eric Boon vs Arthur Danahar, in 1939.<\/p>\n

Funded by the TV licence fee – \u00a36 for black-and-white TVs and \u00a310 for colour by the late 1960s – boxing was effectively free for viewers.<\/p>\n

Some high-profile fights, like Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper II in 1966, were shown on closed-circuit television in cinemas. An estimated 40,000 viewers paid for access – an early hint at later premium models.<\/p>\n

The 1970s saw boxing achieve massive viewership on free-to-air channels. Key fights at the time included:<\/p>\n

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    Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier (1971, BBC One, \u201cFight of the Century\u201d)<\/strong>: Drew 27.5 million viewers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman (1974, BBC One, \u201cRumble in the Jungle\u201d)<\/strong>: Attracted 26 million viewers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In 1984, ITV also began showing boxing regularly with ‘The Big Fight Live’. One notable fight shown by ITV was Frank Bruno’s heavyweight title fight with Mike Tyson in 1989.<\/p>\n

    This attracted 14.3 million viewers with an additional four million for the evening rebroadcast.<\/p>\n

    Chris Eubank Sr’s early professional fights, promoted by Barry Hearn, were often shown on ‘The Big Fight Live’. Main events on the program reportedly attracted around 10-15 million viewers though there are no official numbers.<\/p>\n

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    \u201cHE\u2019S WON THE TITLE BACK AT THIRTY-TWO!!!\u201d Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman 1080p 60fps BBC Commentary https:\/\/t.co\/9r58TbmQLq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pgsy9UTGlL<\/a><\/p>\n

    — VINTAGE BOXING\u2122\ufe0f (@VBoxingtm) February 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n