With Cat Zingano defeating Miesha Tate Saturday night, Dana White announced that the next season of TUF will premiere on Fox Sports 1 during the TUF Finale on FX. A press release later that night confirmed the move and that it would premiere Wednesday, September 4th featuring Zingano and Ronda Rousey as the coaches.
Fox Sports 1 launches in August and will feature a UFC live event the night of the network’s premiere.
Via the UFC/Fox press release:
FOX Sports 1 is available in over 90 million homes, making this the biggest sports cable network launch in history, and one of the largest network launches ever. It boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually. In addition to TUF 18, over the course of the year FS1’s Wednesday night UFC programming includes live fight events; UFC TONIGHT, the weekly authority for UFC news and information; and the best library programs.
When Fox announced the launch of the new network, it announced that FX would no longer air sports although it was never confirmed until Saturday whether TUF would stay on the network as it is part reality show/part sports programming.
In addition to Fox Sports 1, Fox announced the launch of FXX which would replace the Fox Soccer Channel and rebrand catering to the 18-34 year old demographic. The network is said to feature original programming and launch September 2nd.
Payout Perspective:
This was a move that apparently was decided months ago. However, if TUF 18 had stayed on FX , it could have grabbed the mainstream appeal. FS1 will cater to a sports-centric audience so any mainstream Rousey-pull may be negated. Moreover, FS1 will be less than a month old when TUF 18 premieres. Does anyone know what channel it will be on? There may be a confusion on where to find it. But from the FS1 perspective, the series would bolster the start of the network and its likely the plan of Fox to have the UFC only on FS1 (and later FS2) to avoid confusion. Also, TUF’s highest ratings average was 1.2M this past season which was not what everyone hoped. So, a move to FS1 to make way for other FX programming probably made sense.
I think FS1 is going to be great. But moving TUF there im not so sure. I think this TUF could have been the shot in the arm the UFC needed since the Fox deal. I just hope that it isn’t wasted if the Season is lost on a new channel. FX is in the sweet spot of Direct TV channels. Speed and Fuel are currently on the ass end of the dia where few people venture. None of these channels ever have success and Verses was killed as soon as it was moved from being located with ESPN to the 600’s where these are. I cant see them every being a huge success with this channel placement.
UFC on FS1 = Failure
TUF didnt do good on FX because FX isnt a reality show or sports network, it was never the right place for UFC and having Ronda on wouldnt change that.
Plus the 9pm slot wasnt good, they tried that on Spike and moved back after a shit low rated season. FX couldnt give them that slot except on Fri which is a dead night.
I actually think they should have put this TUF on main Fox,
FS1 will be good though, cant wait to have all the UFC on one major sports network especially since I dont have Fuel now.
You’re an idiot if you think FOX thinks of UFC as such a priority to put a regurgitated show such as TUF on the national slot.
Not very smart opinion, thought or conjecture whatsoever.
But NBC will run Strikeforce infomercials and Fox can run UFC primetime? Time slot and day of the week is what counts moron.
This should do well. I have to admit, I had pretty much written TUF off before this last season, but it ended up being pretty enjoyable. At least they’re willing to try an original concept to shake things up.
They have to try something Machiel. Last season was great but it didnt do much to really boost ratings, they did ok ratings but not great.
They went the more sport format but doing that you lose the reality show drama viewers.
I think this season could be the perfect mix, if they cast this season right it could be the best in years, some big name females tried out and some of the best BW prospects in the sport like Josh Hill and Holdsworth tried out for the mens side.
If they put together the right cast, add in Ronda, add in some potential drama in the house, mix in the human stories like they did this past season, getting to know the fighters more, it could be the perfect combo to do big things on FS1.
They had such a good season with TUF 17 they had to try something new to top it. they did lose out on the coaches they wanted, Ronda/tate hate each other and would have produced alot of drama and back and forth on teh show which equals more interest and viewers.