MMAPayout.com has learned that Spike’s Countdown to UFC 112 generated an average audience of 322, 000 viewers last night. The show did not benefit from any superb lead-in or time slot (showing at 11 PM PT), which could be an indication that overall interest for the PPV event is low.
Moreover, Dana White and co. are in Abu Dhabi with the event and aren’t around to promote the show domestically. The week also began with the March Madness Finals and is ending with non-stop Tiger Woods coverage. ESPN has essentially become the Tiger Network this week and that parallels across most of the sports press.
However, it should be noted that these numbers can be tricky. The time slot and lead-ins often skew the results and we’ve had instances of supremely high Countdown programs leading into really poor buyrates (and vice-versa, UFC 91 only did 550k on the Countdown, but generated 900k+ in PPV buys).
112 is an exceptionally stacked card. Perhaps it lacks significant hype because both contenders are given such a small shot at success. That said, with both Anderson and Penn on the card, as well as Hughes and Gracie I see it hitting the 600K mark, maybe even higher. Like I stated a month ago, UFC 111-113 will come very close to hitting the 2 million buyrate.
If this show does anything beyond 450K buys I will retire from the MMA blogisphere. My prediction is 400K and I think that is generous.
Why you expect a card with four very known fighters(Penn, Silva, Hughes, Gracie) to do 400k buys?
If it were a normal card in vegas I would predict around 700k buys, but with the time factor, and a lack of N. America promoting I see 600k buys being reasonable. Anything lower than 600k will be a loss for the UFC. A card with two champions, both defending their belts should never do 400k buys, and it won’t.
Well, let me think. Absolutely no mainstream media coverage. Only 2 weeks from the last PPV. Poor countdown ratings. Time difference. Not one fight of remote interest.
i think it will do more than 400k it better silv,penn,hughes,gracie it better these are all stars here come yall
We’re into the unknown territory, here. The UFC has never had a non-domestic card sell more than 365k (UFC 99), but they’ve also never put two title fights on the same non-domestic card; in fact, its usually 50/50 as to whether they put a title fight on a non-domestic card altogether.
Despite the line-up, I’m inclined to think that the non-existent media coverage and lack of promotion on the UFC’s end could bring this card down from what would normally be a 600-700k event.
I do think that 400k is within reach, however. There are some selling points with the hardcore base that will likely influence many to purchase; especially coming off UFC 111 that kind of got everyone revved up again.
Kelsey,
I will definitely be looking forward to reading your UFC 112 wrap-up. A TON of factors to take into account after and during the showings.