MMAPayout.com has learned that Spike’s final episode of the Ultimate Fighter Season 11 earned a 1.24 HH on the strength of an average audience of 1.6 million viewers on Wednesday night. The special two-hour broadcast also earned a 2.0 in the M18-34 and 1.7 in M18-49.
Quarterlies: 1.09, 1.01, 1.08, 1.24, 1.32, 1.42, 1.37, 1.43
Payout Perspective:
The final ratings are in and Season 11 ranks 5th on the series list in terms of overall HH ratings with a 1.27; which is a decent up-tick from what the series was doing prior to TUF 10. Although, it remains to be seen whether this year’s show experienced a bump due to TUF 10 or whether the mild renewal of interest is a sign of the UFC’s success in the larger sports landscape.
Here’s a final look at the numbers:
| TUF 11 | Overall | M18-34 | M18-49 |
| Episode 1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Episode 2 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.54 |
| Episode 3 | 1.3 | 1.63 | 1.53 |
| Episode 4 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Episode 5 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 1.92 |
| Episode 6 | 1.3 | 1.54 | 1.4 |
| Episode 7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
| Episode 8 | 1 | 1.54 | 1.2 |
| Episode 9 | 1.1 | 1.53 | 1.33 |
| Episode 10 | 1.25 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| Episode 11 | 1.24 | 2 | 1.7 |
| Season Ave. | 1.2718 | 1.894545 | 1.5836 |
| Season Med. | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.54 |
| Season | Overall | % Change | M18-34 | % Change |
| 1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | ||
| 2 | 1.4 | -12.5% | 2.5 | 13.6% |
| 3 | 1.7 | 20.7% | 2.9 | 15.6% |
| 4 | 1.2 | -26.6% | 2 | -30.1% |
| 5 | 1.2 | -4.8% | 1.6 | -20.3% |
| 6 | 1.1 | -5.1% | 1.5 | -4.3% |
| 7* | 1.1 | 0.00% | 1.6 | 6.70% |
| 8 | 1.15 | 4.17% | 1.46 | -8.91% |
| 9 | 1.11 | -2.98% | 1.50 | 3.20% |
| 10 | 2.21 | 99.21% | 3.89 | 158.68% |
| 11 | 1.27 | -42.57% | 1.89 | -51.31% |
| Average | 1.3 | 2 |
This season wasn’t fantastic in terms of entertainment value – though it did have its moments – but I think the one true point for concern is that there doesn’t seem to be a bona fide star coming out of the show (nor has there been from the last few years). I wonder if the UFC might begin to channel some of these prospects it’s signing through the TUF program to give them a little more exposure and birth their star a little earlier; this as opposed to giving them a few fights on the under card of various PPVs.
Then again, the secondary purpose of TUF has always been to promote the fight between the coaches and that’s something the show has done pretty well with in the past. Next season’s contest between Team St-Pierre and Team Koscheck should fare no worse.
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