MMA Fighting reports that Comcast and Fox have struck a deal which will allow Fuel TV on Xfinity cable. The deal improves the viewership audience by an estimated 22 million based on the number of Xfinity cable customers.
Terms of the deal were not available but the deal means that a whole new audience of viewers will be able to see Fox’s 20 broadcast outlets including the UFC on Fuel TV.
According to the Comcast press release (via deadline.com), the retransmission deal will include the opportunity for the companies to engage in new multi-platform offerings. Thus, we can expect more collaboration online and other digital media offerings.
Payout Perspective:
The deal makes sense for both companies and will aid Fox’s rebranding of its networks – notably, Fox Sports 1 and 2. As we know, Fuel TV (and UFC programming) will end up on one or both of these networks. It also opens up more ways for the UFC to engage with viewers. Certainly, there will be online integration as Xfinity customers will have the opportunity to access content on Fox’s websites and application. It will be interesting to see how the UFC and Fox decide how to engage its audience via online content on Fox’s end. Overall, the deal means that the UFC will have a broader audience as Fuel TV will be available to 22 million more potential viewers.
This is, as you alluded to, huge for FOX. The difference in 36 million subscribers and 58 million subscribers is over $36 million in annual carriage fees (at $0.14 per month). That’s completely separate from the increase in advertising revenue generated by the channel now that it’s nearly doubling its reach.
Great news. I didn’t think it would ever happen. The timing seems especially odd since Comcast is acquiring the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal from GE, making them an even more of a direct competitor to FOX.
This is even before Fuel becomes Fox Sports 2.
From an MMA perspective–this is good news. The increased distribution will reach more viewers and help create more fans. In addition, it takes MMA deeper into the mainstream.
Look for an even more substantial jump in viewers when Fuel blends Speed, college sports, premier league and other sports into the broadcasting mix.
Bottom line: Some critics of the UFC/Fox deal pointed to the low subscriber numbers of Fuel compared to Spike–despite the reach of both Fox and FX. When Fuel is relaunced as Fox Sports 2, the Fox sports offering will be an attractive offering having not only national scope–but also international scope.
In light of these developments and the promise of future moves by Fox, the UFC deal looks better and better for both the UFC and for Fox–and great for MMA fans too.
A couple of unknowns still.
1) Will this be Fuel TV in SD and not HD. The only major provider to offer Fuel TV in HD is DirecTV. Hardly anyone gets it in HD. I wonder if this deal is just for SD, as is for the majority of Fuel households.
2) I believe this deal with Comcast gives Xfinity and Comcast the ability to offer Fuel TV, but not necessarily give it to an additional 22M. It could also be in a sports tier or higher tier would would mean fans would need to fork up another $10-15 a month. Again this is still a gray area.
Just something to think about for now.
codemaster:
No matter how you put it, when UFC content is moved to Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, it will be a complete downgrade for them. It will be a while before FS1 and FS2 get a strong foothold. CBS Sports and NBC Sports had the same aspirations and look where they are at right now.
I think Jose makes a good point in that Fuel will be “available” to 22 million subscribers. Of course, if its added to a sports tier or put on its own tier then we may be looking at how many additional people would purchase that to get Fuel.
I would hope that the deal includes Fuel HD. The overall deal seems to stress the TV Everywhere factor and one can only imagine that HD has to be a part of it.
I agree about the 22 million. People were complaining that they had comcast and didnt even have the option to purchase it. I thik this is just the option to purchase it. I would be surprised if they got the 22 million to include it into a basic package but the orginial suscribers are not. It would be a pretty big jump.
Lets see what kind of greed takes place here. Personally I was disappointed when I couldn’t get fuel.
Building FS1 and FS2 from the ground up will take years. Establishing your place as a competitor to ESPN will take a LONG time, but I’m looking forward to MMA being a part of that. Exciting times.
This is good news for those without, and I realize that I should not complain about Uverse not having Fuel in HD, at least I have had it, but is there any news on that front?
3 years until FS1 can match the Bellator ratings average…
Simple simps back again.
For the record UFC on Versus events were doing 700-800k which is what Bellator is doing now and Versus is in less homes than Fox Sports 1/Speed.
Not to mention Fox is gonna push teh shit out of this network when they launch, the UFC will be a network with more sports, not just hockey plus they have Fox network to also promote the UFC, UFC Shows on Fox Sports and the Fox Sports network, something the UFC didnt get with Versus.
So thinking they UFC cant come the gate and do what Bellator does on Spike shows you know nothing about tv, tv ratings etc.
Keep hating Simple, its all your good for.
Sampson Simpleton, LMAO!!!!
Geeked out females
Sampson Simpson has sand in his lady parts.
Someone knows by when fueltv should be available on comcast tv. Date please?
Question: At what line-up level will Fuel TV be added on Comcast? What are FOX’$ demands from Comcast and what benefits ($$) is Comcast seeking from subscribers??