Around 50 million Americans are expected to watch this weekend’s fight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor.
Mayweather vs. McGregor has a good chance at breaking the pay-per-view record for most buys. The record was set by Mayweather’s fight with Manny Pacquiao back in 2015. In order to break the record, Mayweather vs. McGregor will need to sell almost 5 million pay-per-views.
“It’s a cultural event that crosses all demographics and all social and economic factors,” Mark Taffet, who ran pay-per-view for HBO in the past, said. “People are getting together to have a great time and we surely need an excuse to have a great time.”
According to Taffet, many people watch pay-per-view events with friends and family. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the fight averaged 10 people per household.
“I think this is first and foremost a television event,” Taffett said. “The success of this fight in the financial record books of history will be made on pay-per-view. And I believe it’s going to deliver.”
Mayweather vs. McGregor will take place Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. Showtime Sports is distributing the fight on multiple different platforms via pay-per-view.
