Eastman-Hopkins PPV beats expectations

16.04.05 - Despite some premature scare mongering over the figure, the number of PPV sales on Setanta PPV1 for the broadcast featuring Howard Eastman’s challenge to undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Junior Witter’s sensational win over Lovemore N’Dou in February was far higher than expected.. Rumours were rife from certain quarters that only between 1,500 and 3000 sports fans had tuned in to the historic event. The reality is approximately five times the larger number.

“I am delighted to announce that there were between 13,000 and 14,000 sales of the Eastman-Hopkins and Witter-N’Dou PPV in the United Kingdom,” said Eastman and Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy, the UK rights holder.

“This is a significant achievement given that Setanta Sports only reached a final agreement with Hennessy Sports to take the event two weeks before it took place.

“By the time all the wheels were set in motion, this only gave us ten days to try and publicise the PPV.

“This did not allow enough time for trailers etc. to be produced, so we had to focus on the sports media.

“This goes to prove that even at £14.95 and in the very early hours of the morning there is a healthy demand for the nature of quality boxing product that Hennessy Sports knows how to deliver.”