The third episode of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia on FS1 scored a record low of a 107,000 viewer average on Fox Sports 2. The overnight ratings reflect the network change due to college basketball on FS1.
Episode 1: 371,000 viewers
Episode 2: 253,000 viewers
Episode 3: 107,000 viewers
(H/t: The MMA Report)
Payout Perspective:
The low ratings reflect the fact that this season is for a very specific, niche audience. Also, there has been little promotion for this season other than the first episode which was preceded by a live UFC Fight Night. This week’s episode was hurt by the switch to FS2 which does not draw as big an audience for UFC programming. Also, FS2 is only in 40 million homes versus FS1’s 90 million homes.
I know that neither UFC or Fox care that much about ratings with this. BUt I still tink moving this wasn’t the best idea. I would have delayed the episode a week and moved it to aother day or time slot. Moving it to FS2 where few people go on their dial and most people don’t even get. Will only cause those 250-370K people who were following the show to be out of the loop. Now more than half the audience that was watching has now missed a entire episode. How many will say forget it or lose interest or not know what is going on when they tune back in? Something like this will probably take another chunk out of the ratings. I look for it to do around 180-220K from here on out.
That’s really low