DirecTV is offering a UFC 6 pack of PPVs starting with UFC 152. Subscribers purchasing the 6 pack will receive 6 PPVs for the price of 5.
Subscribers can make a one-time payment of $225 or 2 payments of $112.50. The offer includes UFC 152 through 157. Here are the current main events for those events:
UFC 152 – Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort
UFC 153 – Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
UFC 154 – GSP vs. Carlos Condit
UFC 155 – JDS vs. Cain II
UFC 156 – TBD
UFC 157 – TBD
Payout Perspective:
UFC 156 and 157 could be a “white elephant” as subscribers do not know what they will get with those events. But, the first 4 PPVs look solid.
Dish Network had the same deal earlier this year. It’s a smart idea as it gets subscribers that are fans but pick and choose which PPVs they purchase. The allure of getting a “free” PPV can persuade on the fence consumers. The hope is that subscribers will think that they “might as well” purchase the package as there are some big names coming up on PPVs: Jones, GSP, JDS/Cain. If DTV had a deal like this in the summer, we may have seen a better PPV buy rate for UFC 147 and 149.
Not sure if I like this or not. If the UFC had sold 300k six packs that included 151. Would they have still canceled the event knowing everyone had already paid for it and give them a shit card? Once the sells of six packs are in what is their incentive to put anything on the last cards if you have paid when the card was empty? This only encourages the UFC that you will buy any card just for the brand.
The good side of this is the UFC if this isn’t a one time thing has reason to want people to buy ahead of time so they will be honest with the card making. It is also a way to get some of the fans to see an extra couple events. Getting more eyes on the fighters and fights is how you build stars.
Not sure it was the best idea to start this after canceling an event. It will scare people away who thinks they will lose an event. Which I’m sure is t the case. All the injuries and fights people expect to happen not happening are also not going to help.
I agree with Brain and let me add a few points.
I can’t imagine they are selling many of these. It’s not much of a discount for such a commitment. It’s a lot of money up front, and if you can’t watch one of the PPVs for some reason (traveling, wife’s b-day or anniversary) then you’re screwed.
A larger discount and more flexibility as to which PPVs you want (e.g. say you prepay for 4 PPVs over the next 12 months and get a fifth one free) might be more enticing. If seen good cards turn to shit too often due to injury to lock myself in to a specific UFC event.
Given the rash of injuries that continues to plague the UFC, this would be a very unwise purchase.
That said i will be buying this. I watch every PPV and have only missed 1 live UFC PPV since i started watching in 1996. Saving money is making money so i would be silly not to. Even though i do understand why most wouldnt. BUt even if you missed an event due to travel or what ever. You still only break even. Its a nice gesture but like Diego said it could have been better. But i understand why it is the way it is. They hope people who normally would have bought 2-4 of the event commit to the extra events just to get the free one. So by giving away a free event they are actually selling more events. Diegos way would allow you to buy when ever you want and that doesnt encourage anyone to buy extra events. I aslo think the timing of this deal could have been much better.
I would like to see somethign where the more PPV events you buy in a year the bigger discount you get. This would encourage people to get more and mor events and keeps more of the fan base up to date on what is going on. You cant build fans of fighters if they are not being seen. Get the guys who only get 4 PPVs a year to see more of the fighters and get the fighters larger followings. For example yo buy all the events you get them for $15 off each. If you get 2/3 of them you get $10 off. If you get half you save $5 each.
“That said i will be buying this. I watch every PPV and have only missed 1 live UFC PPV since i started watching in 1996.”
No wonder why you defend the UFC so much and they can do no wrong in your eyes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-purchase_rationalization
Post-purchase rationalization is a cognitive bias whereby someone who purchases an expensive product or service overlooks any faults or defects in order to justify their purchase.
LOL you act like a little kid. Maybe i just like fights. Ever think of that? I have seen every UFc ever and every Pride and most of the KOTC events plus hundreds of other events. Also watch live fights pro and amateur locally. Yeah im just trying justify my purchase. hahaha what ever. Maybe you have an anti UFC bias because you cant afford the PPVs so everything they do is wrong? Ever think of that? BTW i realize what the UFC doesnt that i dont like. Unlike you i just dont cry about it. I also have friends who chip in who i have turned into MMA fans over the years. In th end i want to see the fights the UFC has and at this point i dont think the price is that bad. NHow under different situations there might be an event here and there i wouldnt buy. But that is what the UFC has meant to happen from day one. Dana said many times that the UFC doesnt set up its cards with the intentions of fans buying every card. IF there was a card i would pass on it would be the ones headlined by small fighters. The frankie cards or the Aldo cards. But there are others who prefer those weights and those fighters. I wouldnt piss and moan that Dana didnt build every single card with my particular taste in mind. I dont think this is hurting the UFC. Their numbers are down because they are breaking in new divisions. Much like their UK expansion it will have low PPV buys until you build them up. So 135, 145, etc are hurting numbers since they murged WEC. add that to the injury problems and you have low PPV sales. Not a flaw in the system or over saturation.
But you keep screaming the sky is falling chicken little!