Television By Numbers reports that Saturday night’s UFC on Fox 6 won key demos Saturday night on Fox. The fights featuring a Flyweight title match earned a viewer average of 3.766 million viewers.
UFC on Fox 6: Dodson v. Johnson earned a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demo which was up 13% from December 9th’s UFC on Fox 5 rating. The rating won the time slot for the demo.
UFC outdueled Figure Skating on NBC as the two live sporting events went up against each other.
Other numbers from the night:
Attendance at the United Center in Chicago was 16,091 with a paid attendance of $1.27 million (via MMA Junkie).
Bonuses:
Fight of the Night: Dodson v. Johnson
KO of the Night: Anthony Pettis
Submission of the Night:Ryan Bader
Each earned $50K. (h/t: MMA Junkie)
Payout Perspective:
A very good night for the UFC (despite production issues and twitter reports in some regions that Fox switched to a rerun of the “The Big Bang Theory” during the main event) as we are starting to see UFC-Fox relationship is starting to click. Last month, the Fox show did well but many pointed to the top level names and talent on the card that gave it the ratings boost. This time, we saw that a Flyweight main event held up in the ratings. Of course, Rampage on the card did help and we will know later this week if the ratings fell off after Jackson-Texeira. Still, Anthony Pettis and Ricardo Lamas did their part in keeping viewers interested in the first hour of the two plus hour show. The last two network shows are a good sign for the UFC. We will see if this can translate in a big PPV buy for this weeks Edgar-Aldo showdown.
It appears the UFC has finally figured it out that the UFC name alone can’t draw the numbers they want on Fox. They have to actually put fighters with name value and title fights on those shows to get good numbers.
Now to be fair last year the UFC had an unbelievable string of injuries that left them shifting a lot of fights around and even keeping PPV main cards stacked with drawing power was a challenge at times.
The average will be over 4 million when the final numbers come out. The numbers at 930 were 4.2 and was likely much higher at 10-10:15 that wasn’t counted in these numbers. When the last 15 minutes of the title fight and Dvr numbers are added it will increase dramatically.
Overrall effect… Nill
mr. sampson why allways hating on the ufc?
Let’s see, it outperformed many Saturday night primetime college football telecasts on FOX. It outperformed several Stanley Cup Finals games primtime on NBC. It outperformed the ESPN record viewed Wimbledon final in 2012. I could go on. But, nah, Sampson’s right. Absolutely terrible.
Anyone know why Bellator isn’t getting big ratings for the key demo? Bellator 86 drew 812,000 viewers, but only scored a .3 in the 18-49 male demo. I don’t get it; it seems like their product would appeal to the same demo as the UFC, but they seem to be drawing a younger audience overall (strong in the 12-24 year old bracket).
4X a year on FOX and going forward everything is on FS1 & FS2.
That means there will be a circle jerk 4X a year and every other event will fail to break 300k on the other channels.
Bellator will steady get 800k week in and week out not counting replays.
Pretty self explanatory.
Machiel Van: What’s the key demo for TNA? I would suppose, that core audience of profi-wrestling would be a little bit younger than primary demo of MMA – and since TNA is their lead-in…
I cannot think of any other reason…
Good point Caidel, hadn’t thought of it that way.
That’s pretty telling about the Bellator demo. It seems typical MMA fans are not watching and they are relying on TNA over flow and what ever fans they made from MTV which trends young also.
Sampson, I bet Bellator doesn’t do 800,000 this week!
I bet you it does… funny to see MMA fans root against it’s own sport.
While certainly not rooting against Bellator, it seems unlikely they’ll break the 800k barrier this week with no title fights and no big names like King Mo, considering they drew 812,000 last week with those two components in place.
According to an individual on this very site, MMA ratings are very dependent on “name” fighters, and this next card just doesn’t have them.
I bet you that this next week breaks 800k and if not, it still does twice as many viewers as the highest rated UFC program on Fueltv to date.
Why even compare ratings on Spike TV to those on FuelTV? Is it only because it helps to serve your agenda? FX and Spike are on an equal playing field, not FuelTV and Spike.
Also, predicting that they’ll draw the same as last week withouth any “names” goes against YOUR OWN philosophy about what draws ratings in MMA. Are you choosing to selectively ignore this? You’re always saying that drawing viewers is all about big names, so by your own logic, wouldn’t it seem extreemly likely that an event without any big names would suffer in the ratings? Or, in your mind, does that somehow only happen when the UFC brand is involved?
Are you stupid Michael?
I’m comparing viewership and reach of the product. Why do you pinheads keep crying about comparing Spike to Fueltv?
Spike shows MMA
Fueltv shows MMA
Which one gets more viewership? Pretty damn simple for you simple-minded people.
My name is not “Michael”. Look more closely.
If you want to compare the reach of each product, then you have to consider the aggregate of platforms. Bellator is available on SpikeTV. The UFC is available on FOX, FX, and FuelTV. Cherry-picking the platform with the least reach, which is inherently available in far fewer homes than SpikeTV, is not a comparison of two equal platforms, and doesn’t indicate the relative popularity or drawing power of either product to the other.
30 shows on Spike with an average live audience of 800k = 24 million
26 shows on FuelTV with an average live audience of 200k = 5.2 million
4 shows on FOX with an average live audience of 4 million = 16 million
24 million > 5.2 million + 16 million = 21.2 million
Pretty simple for the simpletons like Michael.
If it were so simple, I would hope that you would not have omitted UFC events on FX.
I thought there’s no more UFC events on FX soon enough… why would I include them when they will obviously get booted from the platform Michael?
Going FORWARD, it’ll be FOX, FS1 & FS2 for UFC.
Bellator will stay on Spike
And if we’re talking about reach and exposure, let’s not forget PPV.
Sampson Simpson, what is wrong with you. Now you resort to immature name calling. Comparing Bellator’s main show on Spike to UFC C shows on Fuel TV is ridiculous. Why are you so angry against people who disagree with you?
FX is still around, and even when it’s gone, they will still have 3 TV platforms. You named 2.
“UFC outdueled Figure Skating on NBC”
I should f-ng hope so.
Oh sure… 16 x 250k average = 4 million
With FOX, FS1/FS2 & PPV the aggregate UFC reach is equal to that of Bellator if it stays flat at 800k which isn’t likely. Upside is higher once brand is established based on consistency and the big name one-offs like Rampage who is ending up on Spike again.
4 TV platforms Michael… FOX (4X a year), FS1 (garbage), FS2 (garbage) and PPV (250K average).
Bellator just has Spike but it’s in 100 million homes which is good enough to tap into the potential audience. Viacom owns Bellator so they can program as much of it as they want to unlike UFC on FOX.
“With FOX, FS1/FS2 & PPV the aggregate UFC reach is equal to that of Bellator,”
Actually, with PPV their reach surpasses Bellator’s by a wide margin. By your numbers, if you had included all the FX/FS1 platform, the same would be true strictly in terms of TV reach as well.
Sampson Simpson, I don’t understand why you are so angry and bitter. What did Zuffa do to you that made you so angry at them?
it’s about total viewership idiot.
FuelTV is garbage, FS1 is garbage, & FS2 is garbage.
Like I said… Bellator BOMBING on Spike will STILL do twice as many viewers as the best UFC has ever done on Fuel
You’re extrapolating that Bellator will draw an average of 800k viewers across 30 events, and are basing this on the ratings 2 events, yet you consider the potential of Fox Sports 1 to be “garbage” without ANY data? When the channel doesn’t even exist yet? It will be available in AT LEAST 81 million homes from the outset. Sure that’s less than FX, but it has yet to be seen how events on that network will draw, just as it has yet to be seen how Bellator will consistently draw.
Sampson Simpson is now resorting to immature name calling. Calm down, UFC is doing fine. Bellator can’t afford to bomb on Spike while UFC C shows can afford to get the ratings it usually does on Fuel.
Writing is on the wall…
What happens if Bellator brings in Rampage to the organization and does 2-3 million viewers on Spike?
Entirely possible. Tito Ortiz? Frank Shamrock?
All feasible financially and available. You have no idea what the hell you’re talking about. You’re a whiny girl Michelle.
If your considering aggregate viewership, you have to consider the enormous amount of replays on each of the FOX Regional channels. For example, FOX Sportins Carolinas has replayed multiple UFC on FOX, UFC on FX and UFX on FUEL shows in the past couple of months. All of their regional networks have. To do a scientific comparison, you’d have to get the aggregate ratings of all of those showings as well. Isn’t that the argument? Which has more sets of eyeballs watching? I will say that it will take a few years to get Fox Sports 1 off the ground and with a firmly established loyal audience. These next few years will definitely show lower ratings than the FX shows, though higher than the FUEL TV shows. One big component missed in all of these back and forth discussions is the constant repeats across the FOX sports family of channels. I’ve personally seen six or seven showings of UFC on FUEL 3, for example, across multiple regional networks. The aggregate numbers would be extremely hard to get unless you worked for FOX, but I can bet you it’s high.
Here we go with the fan boys to the rescue, you clowns make me laugh.
MMA as a whole is garbage within itself.
Rampage Jackson is why this card got so many people watching, that’s It!
The boys seem to have gotten off topic. So here is another off topic tangent.
Do any of you feel the UFC will be able to convert the 125 lb division into a PPV division (ie headline a PPV card). I just don’t see it. I know DW thinks the division is uber-exciting, but to me the fight was just ok. I never felt either fighter was close to stopping the other or even tried for that matter. Not that it was bad, the Fox broadcast was an enjoyable evening of fights, but I doubt I would ever pay for this weight-class.
Actually Sampson Simpson, MMA fans are making you very angry. UFC is doing fine. No need to predict doom.
Simple Simpson,
You’re even more ignorant than usual today. How about a loser leaves town bet? If Bellator does less than 800k average this week you leave this site to people who understand how to apply logic to data to come up with answers. If Bellator does more than 800k average BS will leave…
And for the record, Machiel is right. There are four platforms showing the UFC – Fox, FX, Fuel and PPV. If you want to compare total viewership you have to add all four. I believe you left out PPV – which is not just millions more views, but millions more immensely lucrative views – and FX which does significantly more than Fuel to drive viewership. But, other than that, great analysis!
Oh wait, just one more point. I like Bellator, but it’s not at all obvious to me that they will put on 30 shows in 2013 with an average viewership of 800k per show. I hope they can do that, but it’s a stretch to believe considering the volatility of their viewership in the past. On the other hand we know the kinds of numbers the UFC can put up week in and week out. OK, other than those things, great analysis.
I have absolutely NO problem with that bet.
800k and higher BS leaves…
800k and lower I leave this crapola fest
Geez Sampson Simpson, it seems that you are angry with everyone and everything. Calm down and relax. It’s only MMA.
Time to go fishing… http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Trolling_drawing.jpg/300px-Trolling_drawing.jpg
“Do any of you feel the UFC will be able to convert the 125 lb division into a PPV division (ie headline a PPV card)?”
No. Even in the boom of the ’80’s and ’90’s boxing struggled to make a PPV draw out of anyone south of 125 pounds (Neith Hamed or Morales could become a PPV draw). MMA will be no different. I do, however, think they can make it viable enough to add depth to events. Perhaps, I’m wrong, though. Maybe it will do well.
126 pound fighters did become draws in boxing.
200k to 300k PPV buy rates Morales, Hamed, Barrera, Pacquiao, Marquez
Outside of BJ Penn, it seems like nobody below welterweight has really become a PPV draw in the UFC. I think they’ll continue to use the lower weights to headline big TV events so they can tout the inclusion of a “title fight,”; they seem to fill that role well so far.
Anybody remember the Johnny Tapia vs. Danny Romero fight on HBO in 1997?
118 pounds pulled over 10 point rating…
“126 pound fighters did become draws in boxing.
200k to 300k PPV buy rates Morales, Hamed, Barrera, Pacquiao, Marquez”
If 200,000 is the standard meant by a PPV draw (which is actually not a bad standard. promoters make out well), then my answer is Yes. I definitely think the 135 and 125’ers and draw over 200,000 buys within the next year or so.
sampson you are a simple minded fool. lets compare a bag of poop to a semi truck full of poop. the bag of poop is fuel tv and the semi truck full of poop of spike. one holds alot more then the other. quite comparing fuel tv numbers to spike. your thinking abilities is lower then crap. also your logic is crap.
Boxing on NBC in a 3 AM timeslot featuring two boxers I’ve never heard of managed 3.9 million viewers.
I don’t see how anyone can say the UFC’s numbers are too great when one of the biggest names in MMA, Rampage, fighting in a primetime slot can’t attract more attention than some Polish boxer with a funny name.
Boxing clearly smashed it’s competition in its own timeslot and actually pulled primetime ratings in a timeslot that averages 500k viewers normally. UFC is struggling to beat re-runs and figure skating leaving fans to have to examine demographics with a magnifying glass to find some kind of moral victory.
If one of the UFC’s top stars can’t outdraw two no name boxers then the UFC’s fan base must have been seriously overestimated.
Gotta love Shamsons trolling. He doesnt give the UFC credit for FX and doesnt even give them ratings based on being on FS1. He assigns FX events to Fuel which is in a fraction of the homes as FS1/Speed. He then forgets the 2-5 million that watch each PPV. Then he assumes because Bellator peaked at 800-900K with their best fighters. That some how they will average they when they have to run 10 events with no names for every event that has a name. Within the next 8 weeks Bellator will be down to 500-600K viewers.
BTw, 125 lb division doesnt have to be a huge draw. IT just has to be good enough to headline and entertain the 200-300K PPV buyers who buy every event. Edgar, Maynard, Aldo, etc dont draw very well. BUt at the same time they dont run anyone off. 125 as much as i dislike it will be one of those fights that people who buy all events wont avoid or complain about. The female division post Rousey will be the same way. But i do believe it is a good idea for the UFC to have title fights on free tv. These small divisions are perfect for it. If one dat one of the fighters turns into a draw like Pacman. You can always move them to PPV. I always though the UFC should create a TV title that is defended only on free tv with the TV champ getting a title shot every so often. It would go a long way to create highly hyped challengers which is almost impossible to come by at the rate they are beaten by the champs. Maybe if the TV champ defended 4 successful defenses he got a title shot at the real champ.
Brain Smasher: I wouldn’t dilute my product with some “TV championships” which sound like something right from the profi-wrestling book.
Another thing is, that even if it exists, 4 defenses are way off. That would mean, that TV champ is at least on a 5-6 winning streak – and good guys in UFC very often gets their title shots a lot sooner than that (I think 2-4 solid wins are most of the time good enough to get a title shot).
But maybe I’m just imagining thing wrong and not understanding completely – so give me a hint. Right now, in MW you have A. Silva as dominant champ. Who would be a TV champ these days or example? Or which planned fight now should be for the TV title?
Other than that: Sampson, you are really overdoing it now. Thing is, UFC is doing just fine (as you wouldn’t acknowledge), and Bellator right now is also doing just fine (and there are others who will disagree with that).
sampson,
“… funny to see MMA fans root against it’s own sport”
nice catch, i see this a lot in UFC fans. they react like Wrestling fans.
hostile to “rival” promotions because they are not really mma fans they are UFC fans. big difference.
very suseptible to these simple promotional strategies
Caidel
That’s my point. I will take a guy a while to get a title shot. The poInt is to create meaningful mega fights. Look at Silva right now. IMO Weidman is next in line and will beat Silva. But not everyone agrees he is next. Most know almost nothing about him. The fight will not sell because even though he is next. It is still way to soon. Even if they fight and Silva wins you have the same problem with the next guy. No credibility, unknown, and won’t sell and will never appeal to mainstream fans.
As much as a tv title sounds tacky it isn’t much different that what is already going on. The UFC buys a promotion and sets up champion vs champion which gets everyone excited. But this rarely happens and takes many years if they get lucky. This speeds that up.
As for which fighter would be in it. It doesn’t matter. They just get a group and separate them from the rest of the fighters. They kind of already are doing this to a small degree as they are putting many of the same guys on each Fox event. But they need a system that allows a fighter to get more wins before being thrown to the wolves. A system would allow them to do this without a backlash they would currently get. Remember Jim Miller winning like 6 meaningless fights in a row? People demanded a title shot when he wasn’t very good. So some claim the UFC is protecting the champ and some claim they are screwing Miller, to me it felt like Miller was getting protected. The UFC is obligated to Put the best in each time. This would allow them a justifiable way to let a guy grow.
The. Every couple years or so, likely just when the champ needs a big opponent, this would produce a mega fight without depending on a rival promotion to go under, someone to get suspended for PE’s, someone to hold out for a year over a contract.
I’m sure there is another way to accomplish this without a title. But they have the fox deal and as soon as someone wins on Fox and gets the slightest boost from that appearance they are thrown to the wolves and no one is yet to care.
LOL Sampson getting schooled up in here
Sampson Simpson on January 28th, 2013 9:40 AM
I bet you it does… funny to see MMA fans root against it’s own sport.
Funny since thats all Simple Simpson does is root against the UFC.
Official numbers are 4.2M viewers with a peak of 5.2M for UFC on FOX 6.
Thanks Jose. Been waiting for those numbers all day. These are great numbers. I feel it would have been even better has the main and co main event switched places. Giving more time to draw in fans with the real Draw on this card which was Rampage. The last Fox event peaked higher and I assume the main event wasn’t getting much word of mouth. But I understand the the UfC has to showcase their belts to give them credibility and im sure they didn’t want to promote Jackson to much with him wanting to leave. Great numbers with very little star power IMO.
Randy Couture signed with Bellator.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh
RATINGS
Couture actually signed a deal with Spike TV. He’ll be a coach on the upcoming Bellator reality show, but he won’t be fighting in Bellator. I find it hard to imagine that he’ll be a big ratings boost in that capacity, but it’s an interesting move and I look forward to seeing more of him.
There’s no chance that Randy ever fights for Bellator because if you recall, he signed a 6 fight, 28 month contract with the UFC after his UFC 102 loss to Big Nog. While the 28 months would’ve gone by by this point, the contract was effectively frozen when Couture announced his retirement post UFC 129, so if he were ever to fight in MMA again, he’d be obligated to Zuffa for two more fights.
Brain Smasher:
UFC on FOX 5: 4.4M Viewers and peaked at 5.7M
UFC on FOX 6: 4.2M Viewers and peaked at 5.2M
UFC on FOX 5: 8-10PM (not counting time going over slot): 4.06M
UFC on FOX 6: 8-10PM (not counting time going over slot): 4.04M
Looks like going over their time slot has helped numbers.
Machiel Van:
Word is the Bellator Reality TV Show will have multiple coaches, not just 2, and they were reaching out to multiple MMA legends, such as Randy. Announcement will be made on Feb 5th.
i was gonna joke that the other coach could have been tito