For some boxing fans, the big fight Saturday night turned out to be between them and their programming provider.

Strong pay-per-view demand for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, in Las Vegas, caused problems for cable and satellite systems especially when people tried to order as the card was beginning. System outages were widespread, and that led to the start of the fight being delayed about 45 minutes to try to get more people tuned in. But still many trying to watch were in the dark when the bout began.

Charter Communications, the largest provider of subscription pay- television service in the St. Louis market, was one of the affected systems. Its outage included many channels other than the fight channel. Service reportedly was out from approximately 8 p.m., when the undercard telecasts began, until about 11:30 p.m. well into the bout.

Attempts Sunday to reach multiple Charter representatives were unsuccessful, but agents who answered the company's customer service phone line said refunds will be given to affected customers who request one. The line was called twice, with the same response both times.

Residences were charged about $100 for the high-definition feed.

A Charter customer in Pevely, Jared Kraus, was watching the scintillating Game 7 of the NBA playoff series between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs when the screen froze and went blank. Later in the night, he had a few friends coming over to watch the boxing match.

"Cable's out. Missing a ridiculous game 7 and can't order the fight. …