Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer sheds some more light on the UFC’s ratings from its debut on the Versus network this past Sunday.
The show did a 1.14 rating and 1.24 million viewers, which is a strong number for the network, in fact a higher rating and more viewers watching than any show on the network so far this year. It would be the third highest rated MMA show ever on Versus, behind the 2008 Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver fight that did a 1.44 rating and Faber vs. Mike Brown that did a 1.15 rating, but this show beat the latter show in the key demos. The show did a 1.66 in Males 18-34 and 1.78 in Males 35-49. Versus was the second highest rated cable network for the evening in the key demos.
Payout Perspective:
There was some disappointment earlier in the week when UFC on Versus 1 failed to surpass the WEC’s records on Versus with Sunday’s show.
However, I think that when you look at all of the information that we have currently, that disappointment is bound to fade some:
- UFC on Versus was the highest rated program on Versus this year; which also could imply that, relative to when the WEC set its marks, overall viewership on the network is down.
- Versus, nor the UFC, put as much promotional muscle into this card as they did for either of the record setting WEC marks (perhaps assuming that the UFC brand was enough to carry ratings into the 1.5-2.0 range).
- The general market for MMA PPV and television programs has experienced a downturn in recent months.
If you take all those together, 1.24 million is a pretty sound rating. Moreover, in looking to the future, there are several pieces aligning in the present that will likely ensure UFC on Versus 2 sets a new record for MMA on the network in August
- The strength of up-coming fight cards (UFC 111-116 are all sound).
- UFC Undisputed 2010 is released May 25th.
- The 2nd Annual UFC Expo is expected to draw nearly 50,000 fans in May.
- Brock Lesnar may return on July 3rd; one month before UFC on Versus 2.
Highest ratings this year right after they get direct tv back? You don’t say, nice spin.
I hear you – that was my reaction at first, also. 🙂
Then I thought about all the hockey games and other programs they’ve aired since the beginning of the year…they couldn’t muster more than 1 million for a program? They just set a record for an NHL game – highest rated ever – at 622,000 which only marginally beat the previous of 577,000 set two seasons ago (a game that benefited from DirecTV’s base).
Even with that added 14 million (they only had four days to get out the message and send people to an obscure channel number); it didn’t make that much of a difference.
VS is not a known channel. Ask your friends and family what programming it broadcast and it’s number on the channel guide.
I’d like to point out. I have had to tell all my friends that VS. was back on the air. I would anticipate the rating improving from here on out.
The number was okay, but it was not home run. Regardless if it’s 2020, it doesn’t matter. UFC on Versus should have blown away all WEC events by miles. I think if they continue to show events on Versus they will get a better rating eventually, but for now let’s call a spade a spade. It fell short.