MMA Fighting reports that the $5 bump for UFC 168 is a “one-time thing.” It also is going to stop producing the “Primetime” series for the near future according to the article.
White first addressed the price advance with MMA Junkie stating that the price increase would not be permanent. White stated to MMA Fighting that he did not make the call on the rise in rates. White stated that the PPV price would go back down $5 to its regular $49.99 SD and $54.99 HD for UFC 169.
As for the “Primetime” series, low viewership and high production costs spelled the doom to the 3 part series. Although White did not state that we have seen the last one, it’s likely it will be a while before we see another. Certainly, UFC 168 would have been a prime spot to do a UFC Primetime.
Payout Perspective:
Are we seeing the start of dynamic pricing for UFC events? It’s interesting to note the wide array of opinions on the price increase. Many hate it but others are staunchly supporting it. Obviously, the UFC thinks that 168 will be one of the biggest fight buys for the year and so it is capitalizing on it. Rousey-Tate and Silva-Weidman II are the two big draws here with perhaps the women’s fight the reason to increase the cost. While this may be “one time” for now, we could see a price increase for future “big” cards or “superfights.” Certainly, a Jon Jones-Anderson Silva or the return of GSP would garner some additional consideration to bump up the price.
As for the “indefinite leave” of the Primetime series, it’s too bad that the UFC did not do one last 3 parter for 168 as the aforementioned main and co-main events would have been some interesting television. Nonetheless, it’s apparent that the lack of viewership did not make financial sense to continue to make them as the goal was to convert the viewers into PPV buyers and with ratings doing less than 150,000, there was no reason to continue producing the shows.
Smart move to put Prime Time on hold. Right now the UFC and Fox are trying to build FS1. The Prime Time series is not a show to really grow viewers to UFC or FOX. Right now FS1 is not fully up and running with the number of viewers that warrants a show of that expense.
I think once FS1 has its ratings up across the board and there is some non UFC fans worth pulling in. We will see it back. But lets face it. Just about everyone watching FS1 right now is die hard UFC fans and they are already buying the PPV.
Still not sure why they cant work out a deal to run this Prime Time series on regular FOX.
The end of Zuffa is closer than most realize
Nope.
$5 wont make or break anyone with a job, but then who knows. UFC fights are over priced, there are way to many for the average person to pay every month. Cheaper and better to go to a bar and have some wings and a beer and watch.
$5 wont make or break anyone with a job, but then who knows. UFC fights are over priced, there are way to many for the average person to pay every month. Cheaper and better to go to a bar and have some wings and a beer and watch.
No, Zuffa’s not close to the end. Long term TV contracts guarantee that.
That’s why UFC has been steadily moving away from a PPV model to a free TV model.
Long term TV contracts allow you to survive downturns in interest.
You can look at WWE and the NHL to see how a live events business can survive sharp declines in fan interest with the help of steady TV revenue and live gate revenue.
UFC interest will rise and fall with star personalities. The TV revenue (both domestic and international) is the steady revenue that keeps UFC going.
And UFC has the huge advantage of being able to sell itself across the globe, unlike most sports.
UFC’s model is to be a niche sport — but a niche sport everywhere on the planet. They have a lot of room to grow internationally even though domestically they will likely be flat or declining for many years.
Once DW sees how much 5 bucks turns this PPV into a huge profit, he will permanently raise the price tag for every PPV card.
Those primetime shows were rather boring, same show every time.
I only watched the Jones vs Evans Primetime and besides a little talk about Rashad’s divorce it was very boring. I’m surprised those shows have any audience at all.
If you count for inflation for the last 5 years(when the price was set). Its like they are not raising the price at all.
I doubt that most people will notice when they hit the order button. Sure, some will see it and decide against it, but the extra $5 made off the vast majority will more than make up for it.