DAZN promised to eliminate Pay-Per-View when entering the boxing market in 2018. Turki Alalshikh then stated that he would drop prices in 2024.
Here we are in 2025, gearing up for three PPVs in a single seven-day period, with the prices of all three increasing from previous events.
This Friday, Ryan Garcia faces Rolly Romero on an Oscar De La Hoya card shared by Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez in separate bouts. The three-strong headliner features Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza, who will oppose the past and present world champions.
On Saturday, attention switches to Canelo Alvarez battling William Scull for the undisputed crown he should never have lost in the ring.
Those two Pay-Per-View shows come days after fans had to fork out for Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn. In another extension of the PPV platform, DAZN and Alalshikh put Eubank vs Benn behind a paywall worldwide.
Usually, with events that cater mainly to one audience, in this case, the United Kingdom, only that specific territory has to pay. That scenario no longer seems to be the case as more events are offered on PPV worldwide, rather than on a demographic basis.
Not only has the old way of doing things given way, but more PPVs and additional charges are emerging by the month.
DAZN announced ‘an offer’ to boxing fans for the forthcoming Canelo vs. Scull and Garcia vs. Romero shows. The streaming service released a statement stating that subscribers, who already pay a monthly fee, could purchase both on a double deal.
They said, “Watch both nights for just $90 [price varies by market], exclusively on DAZN. Friday, 2 May, three-fight Ring Magazine card in Times Square starting at 6 pm ET, and the highly anticipated Riyadh Season debut of Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 3 May, starting at 7 pm ET.
“In a broadcasting first, both events will be available worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV over Cinco de Mayo weekend for only $90 [pricing varies by market]. Subscribers can purchase events individually for $59.99.”
It sounds as if DAZN and Alalshikh believe they are doing fans a favor by offering two PPVs for $90. If you then add the Eubank vs Benn charge, then that’s $115 in one week for three Pay-Per-Views.
Who has that sort of money to splurge on a sport where charges of that nature usually come once every three to six months?
If this is the new normal and the way Alalshikh wants to revolutionize boxing, he can expect some blowback very soon. Fans will not accept that kind of expectancy in terms of paying out hard-earned money.
There needs to be some common sense and common ground in the current broadcasting plan, as not every event is or should be a pay-per-view (PPV) event.
Alalshikh’s previous mission to lower PPV charges to $14.99 and $9.99 across the board, which was in effect in the longer term, didn’t last long. It’s only been months since charges of $59.99, close to the Premier Boxing Champions pricing plan, have returned.
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in the Middle East has been beneficial for boxing, as it has brought together the best fighters, of which there is no doubt.
His matchmaking is helping create much-needed buzz around the sport. However, far too many times, there are broken promises, and it’s the fans left to pick up the pieces.
Should DAZN and Alalshikh fail to find a solution to the higher pricing after all that’s gone before, it may only take one other broadcaster to realize a gap in the market to fully capitalize on enticing the sport elsewhere.
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, an experienced boxing writer and World Boxing News Editor since 2010.
