Pacman's HBO numbers growing

DALLAS – The only place where Manny Pacquiao’s face hasn’t appeared is in some fastfood chain with happy meals.

Mark Taffet, senior vice president of HBO, said Wednesday that the Filipino pride, who now happens to be HBO’s pride as well, has become so popular he’s been very visible these days.

“He was at the Jimmy Kimmel Show last week with Will Farrel and singing the Beatles’ Imagine,” said Taffet.

Of course, it doesn’t end there, because the HBO official said he was on the plane a few days ago, and pulled a magazine from the seat pocket to find Pacqquiao on the cover of American Way, the official magazine of American Airlines.

It subscribes to millions, and it’s no further surprise Pacquiao’s popularity had gone sky-high. Lately he’d been on Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine, 60 Minutes and the popular Biography Channel.

“He was in Vegas with Senator Harry Reid a few days back,” said Taffet.

“I went to McDonald’s and I thought I was going to see Manny in their happy meals. But I guess they haven’t gotten into that yet,” he said.

No wonder, the home cable genius said, Pacquiao lights it up the numbers each time he figures in a pay-per-view fight, whether it’s held in Las Vegas, Dallas or even if it takes place on the Antarctica.

“With 6.25 million buys and a total of $321 million,” said Taffet, adding that Pacquiao’s last four fights averaged one million buys.

“That takes him to the super elite status and in the annals of pay-per-view history,” said the HBO official.

The third episode of the HBO’s 24/7 Pacquiao vs Margarito, he added, also turned out to be the most viewed episode in 24/7’s three-year history.

The final episode, according to Taffet, will be aired on the eve of the fight.

He said it won’t come as a surprise if record numbers are posted for the final episode.

Manny Pacquiao Pay Per View History: