MMA Payout has learned that Episode 9 of TUF 18 received a viewer average of only 452,000 viewers. It is the lowest output for this season.
TUF 18 Episodes
Episode 1: 762,000 viewers
Episode 2: 870,000 viewers
Episode 3: 639,000 viewers
Episode 4: 778,000 viewers
Episode 5: 640,000 viewers
Episode 6: 725,000 viewers
Episode 7: 672,000 viewers
Episode 8: 476,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
Last week’s TUF had low ratings but could be reconciled by the fact it was a “recap” show which featured highlights of the first 7 episodes. This first run episode featuring a woman’s fight is a change from previous weeks as there was no bump in viewership. This could have been hurt by the recap show which was the preceding episode and people may have forgotten that women were fighting this time around. Or, it could be the fact that it was Game 6 of the World Series which drew 18 million viewers in the 18-49 demo. It was also the second night of the NBA. In cable, American Horror Story on FX won the night with 3.7 million viewers in the 10pm slot.
As an aside, for those DVR’ing TUF, are you having issues recording the correct TUF? For the second week I’ve recorded the previous week’s TUF and missed the new show. With this season receiving much more of a bump from DVR viewership, I wonder if this is an issue.
“I’m thinking a new series low will be reached with a rating in the 400,000s and this season will sit in the 500-700 range.”
Looks like my prediction was pretty close thus far. Anyways wow that’s still shocking news. Can it bounce back, I think so.
Time to put this one down. At this point it is just more of an embarrassment every season.
I think the recap episode screwed the ratings and not the other stuff going on that night. Every show that goes on hiatus in the middle of a season always does worse in ratings when it comes back. They never seem to gain back the momentum and buzz they had before the break. Nobody has to be glued to the television to watch shows anymore except old people and rural people. They forget about what they were watching before and fill the time with other things, of which there are plenty of options competing for more attention.
I agree with the above. I think they should’ve killed ol yeller a few seasons ago and most definitely the recap just aggravated downward ratings. They may still bring it up to 500 or 600k but that’s still not good.
It’s sad, but inevitable, to see TUF reduced to ashes. The mighty powerhouse that did 4 M debut with TUF Rampage vs Rashad. The season that produced Forest vs Stefan, Koscheck, Florian, Sanchez and Swick. Time for a new show.
Moving this great season from FX was a death blow. More concerning than the ratings of this episode and this season is I think we can all agree that the woman have actually boosted ratings compared to what would have been on FS1. So what happens next season if they continue this without woman or the lack of novelty of being the first season with woman? I don’t see any coaching addition bring in more hype than this season. I don’t see any contestants bringing in more ratings. So next season will without a doubt be worse.
I have said they need to replace TUF without a new show and format. BUt I wont give them to much hell because this season has been great and the concept was great. Being moved from FX and to a new sports only network wasn’t their idea and beyond their control.
Sadly this would have been great to air on a low rated time slot on FOX and reach a new demo. The UFC demo is tired of it any way. Hell if it did 1 million on FOX it would be great. Its to the point where ratings are reaching what replays would bring. So why not make TUF for FOX and show replays on FS1 or 2?
@Random Dude: I agree
Funny when Dana was pissed with the fighter quitting……..You took somebody’s (expletive) lottery ticket and ripped it up,” White told Bollinger in front of both teams at the TUF Gym…..hahahaha…lottery ticket? Dana hype machine….UFC is no lottery it’s a low paying promotion
Tops,
I’m on record as saying that I think UFC fighters should get paid more, but “low” and “high” are relative terms. For an MMA fighter, the UFC is a lottery ticket, not necessarily because the pay is “high”, but because it’s the highest in the industry.
Tops is to ignorant to know what he is talking about. None of those guys on TUF were ever going to make UFC money in their entire life no matter what career path they go down. The winner of the show is going to make well over 100K the first year. A few others will have long careers making a lot of money. Some may be making over 100K per year like many non winning TUF fighters are currently doing. Even the worst guys will be able to make 10,000-20,000 per fight not including sponsorships while trying to win 50,000 OTN bonus and undisclosed bonuses. Even the worst guy on the show will make about $30,000 plus sponsorships and possible bonus’ even if he goes 0-3 for the year. That’s a lot of money when you consider at that level they can keep their day job if they have one or are making nothing and living in the gym. 30-50K per year to be absolutely horrible is a pile of money. BTW, many lotto tickets only have a $1,000 grand prize.
UFC is hyping a women champ who has to be the most boring fighter on the planet! Please fight and show us more than that boring arm bar thanks!!!
As usual b.s. is hyping what tuf fighters would be getting…hahaha…..”none of those guys on tuf were ever going to make UFC money no matter what career path they go down”…..what? You’re pre determining they’re future? Haha…
The odds are the wouldn’t. Very few MMA fighters, even the known intelligent ones, have went on to make that much money even with their UFC fame. Also the UFC isn’t putting the most talented people on TUF. Its possible to have a high paying career and fight MMA. But it is extremely unlikely that someone in a field that pays well can leave work for 6 months to film a reality show. Not only would they not be able to. It would be doubtful that anyone would leave a 100K job for 6 months to be a contestant on a reality show. If the fighters was actually talented he wouldn’t need TUF. So no, no one in TUF is making 100K outside of MMA.
So sick of hearing how the women’s bouts are a ratings “boost.” Yea relatively it is…in the worst-rated season ever. It’s a terrible sign that this is the first ever for the women, meaning these are understood to be the very best of the best…creme de la creme in the eeeentire country of the women’s circuit. Yet ratings are in the toilet all around. Have said that, regardless…TUF STILL has to be a profit-generator for UFC and Fox right (and a healthy one at that)? Production costs must be close to zero right?