Turki Alalshikh confirms shift away from PPV model after August, calling time on high-priced access for fans
Riyadh Season is pulling the plug on pay-per-view boxing — and fans might finally catch a breather. The lavish, state-backed sports festival will make all of its future fight cards free for DAZN subscribers starting in November.
Turki Alalshikh, the man orchestrating Saudi Arabia’s big-money push into global sports, broke the news after meeting DAZN CEO Shay Segev. Their August 16 fight, headlined by Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte, will be the last time fans have to fork over extra cash beyond a standard subscription.
Boxing’s Billionaire Problem Just Got a Shakeup
If you’ve ever tried to follow boxing consistently, you’ve probably felt the sting. Want to watch a couple of big-name bouts each month? Better be ready to drop at least $80 per event — and that’s on top of your streaming fees.
It’s gotten absurd. Fans are paying more for two heavyweight fights than it costs to watch every Major League Baseball game all year.
Alalshikh, who’s been shelling out big bucks to turn Saudi Arabia into a global fight capital, seems done with the traditional model. And honestly, a lot of fans probably let out a sigh of relief.
He’s proven more than willing to eat short-term losses if it means building long-term credibility. And this latest move? It’s a statement. One that says: Boxing doesn’t have to be locked behind sky-high price tags.
What Changes, What Doesn’t
From November onward, every Riyadh Season and Ring-branded fight will be included with a standard DAZN subscription. No more $59.99 or $79.99 surprises on your bank statement.
But don’t confuse this with free-for-all. You’ll still need a DAZN membership, which ranges between $19.99/month in the U.S. and roughly £9.99/month in the UK. Still, it’s a sea change from where boxing was heading.
Let’s break it down:
| Event Type | Before (Until Aug 2025) | After (Starting Nov 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh Season Fights | PPV on DAZN | Included with DAZN subscription |
| The Ring Events | PPV or exclusive feeds | Included with DAZN subscription |
| August 16 Itauma vs Whyte | Last PPV Event | — |
| Monthly Subscription Fee | ~$20/month (varies) | No change |
There’s still plenty of money involved — that’s not going away. But Alalshikh seems to believe in a model where access matters more than short-term profits.
Why the PPV Model Got So Broken
The move comes as fatigue around pay-per-view boxing reached a boiling point. Between DAZN, ESPN+, and Showtime, fans were stuck juggling platforms and paying for fights that often didn’t live up to the hype.
Boxing used to be appointment television. Now? It’s felt more like a financial drain.
Two things really hurt the PPV model:
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Rising expectations and falling quality.
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Confusing schedules across too many platforms.
Plus, let’s not forget, fans were paying $80 for events with maybe one real fight on the card. The rest? Largely forgettable undercards.
No wonder even diehard fans started tuning out.
Turki Alalshikh’s War Chest and Willpower
If anyone was going to toss the PPV script out the window, it was always going to be Alalshikh. The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, he’s played a leading role in bringing Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder to Riyadh.
And unlike most promoters, he’s not depending on ticket sales or TV buys to fund it. He’s working with one of the deepest checkbooks in global sports.
One industry insider joked, “Turki’s building boxing like people build amusement parks. It’s spectacle first, revenue second.”
There’s something to that. Alalshikh knows how to put on a show. But now, he’s also giving fans a reason to tune in — without asking them to cough up more cash.
DAZN’s Balancing Act
Let’s be real — DAZN hasn’t exactly won over fans lately.
It launched with the promise of killing PPVs, then flipped and started charging them anyway. Prices went up. Quality sometimes didn’t.
That left many feeling burned.
Now, DAZN might be hoping this partnership helps fix some of that damage. And it could. Bundling Riyadh Season fights into the regular subscription tier gives DAZN something exclusive and meaningful. At the same time, it distances them from the perception that they’re just another PPV gatekeeper.
Will it be enough to rebuild trust? Too soon to tell. But it’s a decent start.
Fans React — And So Do Fighters
So far, the response online has leaned positive. Boxing Twitter — notoriously cynical — actually gave a thumbs up. That’s rare.
Some longtime fans said it reminded them of the HBO and Showtime days, when a subscription got you blockbuster fights every few weeks without having to second guess if your rent would still clear.
Of course, not everyone’s convinced. One retired fighter who spoke anonymously said the change might shift how purses are structured — especially for undercard boxers. “It’s great for fans,” he said. “But if the money gets tighter, the little guys might feel it first.”
But as of now, Alalshikh seems ready to cover the tab. He’s already set the standard by fronting costs for global-scale production and high-end talent.
Basically, the house is paying.
