MMA Fighting reports that UFC on FX 7 earned a record 1,857,000 million viewer average on Saturday night. Additionally, the prelims on Fuel TV received a record 255,000 viewer average.
The 1.857 million average on FX was the highest average for a live MMA broadcast on the FX network.
Via MMA Fighting:
In the key demos, Saturday’s show did a 1.71 in Males 18-34 and 1.86 in Males 18-49….Also, for the first time in the history of FX, it won the entire night in Males 18-34, Males 18-49 and total viewers 18-49, beating not only every cable station but also the major networks. The FX broadcast did a 1.23 in persons 18-49, the most desired demographic by advertisers, which even beat two of the UFC on FOX shows last year. In comparison on Saturday night, FOX did a 0.9, CBS and ABC both did 0.8’s and NBC did a 0.5 in the same demo.
Payout Perspective:
Whether it was the Belfort-Bisping matchup and Michael Bisping’s quest to earn a shot at Anderson Silva, or whether it was the lack of competition on Saturday night, Saturday’s fights were a ratings success. HBO did run a boxing card Saturday night but it was card for only the hardcore boxing fans. I am pleasantly surprised with the ratings considering the lack of known fighters on the card. For whatever reason, overseas cards do not do too well. But, Saturday bucked a trend.
Belfort has been a name since before Zuffa bought UFC
I wonder if they’ll release the ratings from Brazil.
What difference does it make if they release Brazil numbers? Boxing on Televisa and TV Azteca do huge numbers in Mexico regularly and nobody feels the need to tout them.
Same with RTL in Germany and every other country that showcases boxing for free. Huge numbers all over…
Because some fans are interested in those numbers. Apparently you’re a fan who’s interested in figures like that in regards to boxing, as you seem to have informed yourself about the sport’s foreign TV numbers, so you should be able to relate.
Yeah? I guess I just feel the need to put things in perspective for the newbies.
It was a good show and did good numbers in the US. That’s the North American perspective.
I’m guessing it crushed in Brazil, but I do hear that many fight fans down there don’t particularly care for Belfort. So it would be interesting, as MV brought up, to see how this show did in Brazil compared to other shows the UFC has held there.
Oh yeah, lest we forget, boxing is a popular sport all over the world. Just thought I would add my own non-sequitur.
FYI – the HBO World Championship boxing card in New York City drew an attendance of 4,131 people for a $238,230 live gate.
I guess my biggest gripe has to do with many MMA fans acting like they discovered a new territory in foreign countries that haven’t experienced anything like it.
Lest we forget that Acelino Freitas’ wedding was the most and STILL is the most viewed event on Brazilian television. For those that don’t know… Freitas was a 130 pound boxer. His fights drew ridiculous figures in his prime and when another boxer emerges from Brazil the same is to be expected.
The HBO card also did crazy ratings in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Khazakstan.
“For whatever reason, overseas cards do not do too well. But, Saturday bucked a trend.”
Maybe because it wasn’t an overseas card?
non-US?
Similar time zone as U.S. for this one that’s for sure.
Brazil?