MMAPayout.com has learned that Saturday night’s two-hour UFC on FOX Pre-Show drew 83,000 viewers on Fuel TV. The network’s one-hour post-show drew 37,000 viewers.
While far short of the number posted by the event itself, the numbers compare favorably with the Fuel’s average prime time audience for the previous week of 18,000.
Why oh why is this being pushed as a major platform for UFC content? It will be very interesting to see the ratings for the first live UFC event on FUEL if FUEL doesn’t become available in A LOT of new homes in the interim. It’s like the “dark” part of the deal that it seems like every MMA promotion must agree to when signing a high-profile TV deal. Zuffa can’t be happy with so much of their programming going to FUEL in 2012. I seriously doubt the UFC be enough to draw people to such a poorly distributed network.
Zuffa is making a big gamble with the move to FOX. I believe the opinion is that if they do not, the sport will not grow. I think the true test will be looking at the picture a year from now and determining if FOX really does have the appetite for MMA to continue to promote the sport.
MV,
I wouldn’t classify Fuel as a “major” platform. It’s going to be an alternative to Facebook streams for under-undercards. I imagine the “televised” undercard will be on FX and Fox Deportes, and that will roll into the PPV. The fights will probably still be available online on some Fox website. I don’t think Fuel was intended as a replacement for Spike.
JOSE,
Do you know what Spike pulled in ratings with their true counterfeit programming? Remember? ” Dos Santos vs Cain, how they got there, only on Spike”.
Rich:
YES! 719K at 9PM. More details in write-up I will publish right now.
Fox Deportes UFC on Fox prelims ratings?
CaintheBULL,
We have it. I will be putting that and wrapping everything up in the Payout Perspective for the event. Just letting all the numbers sink in right now 🙂
The purpose of putting UFC on Fuel is for Fox to increase the number of satellite & cable providers that carry the channel. UFC programming significantly raises the channel’s profile and will be demanded by many more customers. More providers means more licensing fees that Fox collects for Fuel and if they make it in demand enough, they will raise the price of their licensing fee.
The UFC now has an outlet for hours of ancillary type shows aside from their main products.