MMAPayout.com has learned that since moving from Fridays at 10PM to its new timeslot on Wednesdays at 11PM, the ratings for Spike TV’s Best of Pride series have by jumped over 40%. The last three telecasts of the series have drawn 995k, 950k, and 911k, respectively – compared to the series average of 675k in the old slot.
Payout Perspective:
Spike has really done a great job in the last 6-12 months of maximizing its viewership through program scheduling. I’ve noticed a shift in the way the network has positioned shows to build an audience that lasts for more than one hour at a time. Evidently it’s working.
Many had thought the dismal ratings the BOP series had garnered in initial telecasts was a sign of the UFC’s brand power, but these ratings might suggest that the UFC isn’t the only type of MMA that casual fans are truly interested in. Moreover, the ratings might also support the idea that fans are equally interested in the personalities as they are the brand/sport itself.
Certainly, this revelation provides an opportunity for the UFC to experiment a little bit in regards to how they promote their up-coming fights. I’d expect to see a great deal of Rampage Jackson and Rogerio Nogueira in the lead up to UFC 114 at the end of May.
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