The Sports Business Journal revealed its annual reader survey on various topics related to sports business. This year included questions about the UFC, WWE and boxing.
In a survey related to over the top networks, readers indicated that the UFC is the “Fight sport” that will see the biggest growth over the next five years. Of the 684 readers that responded, the UFC garnered 72% while boxing drew 17% and the WWE had 11%.
It also asked readers which over-the-top service was their favorite. Of the 818 responses, NFL Now drew the most votes with only 11%, followed by 120 Sports with 9%, WWE Network with 4% and then UFC Fight Pass with just 1%. Notably, 75% of the respondents stated it did not watch any of them.
On an unrelated, yet interesting note on digital league subscriptions, readers found MLB.tv (22% of the 818 respondents) their favorite followed by NFL Sunday Ticket (18%) with NHL GameCenter Live coming in third (14%). This is interesting considering the NFL usually takes tops with its coverage.
Payout Perspective:
SBJ indicates it has a readership of over 54,000 with many business executives in sports reading the trade publication. The UFC is periodically featured in the publication and the UFC and WWE both advertise in it. Obviously, the survey is not based on anything other than the opinions of the readers. Still, it’s an interesting viewpoint on the business from those that do not closely follow the UFC. With the “growth” aspect, it’s clear that the UFC is moving into more global markets and are forging overseas television deals to advance its product. The WWE is already global and it depends on what organization you look at when looking at boxing. Certainly, Top Rank is trying to tap into the Chinese market. As for the over the top networks, it appears that we are still in the “early adopter” stage for the platform. The WWE has gone all in with its network but the UFC seems to be doing much better with Fight Pass despite the perception from the survey.
anti trolls says
Tops? Sal? What your stupid comments?
tops E says
Hahahaha…wow ufc is going to explode!! hahaha..global domination….so the ufc advertise on sports business journal?….ufc marketing money spent on sbj? Lol
saldathief says
Yea! of the 684 reads that responded, by the way thats less then 2% of the readers, 680 of them are Zuffa employees, paying sponsors, and retards like D and Anti that get paid to flood blogs with UFC horse shit!!! bahahahahaha I wouldn’t wipe my ass with this report or even consider it viable or relevant. Nice try zuffa
tops E says
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/11/28/7301705/ufc-russell-peters-ufc-oversaturation-really-hard-to-follow-sport-mma-news
d says
Sal, you’ve never wiped your ass in your life you filthy, Arum paid, welfare to work derelict. You smell like shit and have the intellect of a special needs child.
saldathief says
ha ha D can wipe his ass with all the un sold UFC tickets from all the shit shows that didn’t sell, he can also wipe his ass with the TUF script for 2015 hahahahaha I’m sure there is plenty more things that the UFC has laying around that didn’t sell hahahaha
d says
There goes Sal, rambling on straight from his shit laced wheel chair because no one cleaned up his diapers again. What a gross geriatric.