MMA Weekly reports that the 10th and final episode of TUF 13 scored 1.2 million viewers for a 0.9 household rating. The final episode which featured the two semifinals to determine the match-up for the finale saw a slight bump in ratings.
The ratings ranged between 1 million and 1.5 million viewers. This is a decrease from TUF 12’s season average of 1.7 million.
Dana White attributed the low ratings to the lack of fights to get in the house as well as the time slot on Spike.
Via MMA Weekly:
This season was moved an hour earlier in its timeslot, putting it up against some of the stiffest competition in the series’ history. The TUF 13 TV ratings were hit particularly hard by the NBA Playoffs and the season finale of American Idol.
“You know what the problem is? We changed time; I don’t like the time change,” White stated during a conversation at UFC 129. “At nine o’clock, in that slot, you’re going up against a lot of powerful programming. At 10 o’clock, that was the perfect time for us.”
Payout Perspective:
It will be interesting to see what tweaks will be made with TUF 14 after this disappointing season. Certainly TUF coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller will add personality to the show. While dos Santos and Lesnar acted professionally, there is a side of viewers that wants to see more heat like Rashard-Rampage or Tito-Chuck. Also, the rumor of the lighter weight divisions on TUF 14 should provide interest and exposure to the smaller fighters.
From a business perspective, it seems like this season of TUF may come up in negotiations on a new TV contract. White voiced his displeasure for the change from its 10pm time slot to 9pm. Certainly, the UFC does not want another poor season of ratings for its franchise series. The UFC might be in a position where it can demand that TUF be placed in a spot where it can compete with other programming in its time slot.
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