Hopkins Fight Draws 330,000 PPV Buys

HBO continued its run of successful pay-per-view boxing matches as its June 10 Bernard Hopkins-Antonio Tarver fight drew 330,000 PPV buys.

The fight, in which the 41-year old Hopkins upset Tarver to win the light-heavyweight title, earned $16.5 million in PPV revenues, according to HBO senior vice president of sports operations Mark Taffet. HBO's five PPV boxing shows this year have now generated more than $112 million in PPV revenue.

“Bernard Hopkins had his legendary ending, providing at age 41 a performance for the ages that boxing fans will remember forever,” said Taffet in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to have been part of this memorable event and to be able to add it to our list of 2006 pay-per-view successes.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.