UFC On Versus Show Ratings Will Indicate Brand Recognition
The UFC on Versus event will be the first time the UFC will air on another cable channel other than Spike TV since that relationship began in 2005. The UFC has all sorts of programming airing on Spike TV. UFC unleashed shows, UFC Countdown shows, Ultimate Fight Nights, and occasionally foreign PPV events. All of these shows have a solid fan base with the live shows averaging around 2 million viewers, but have peaked at close to 5 million viewers with certain events. I know you probably get tired of me harping about brand name recognition and why Strikeforce should concentrate on building theirs up. However, when the UFC on Versus show takes place, we'll get a very good indication of just how good their brand recognition is.
SBN coverage of UFC on Versus: Vera vs. Jones
Versus is the home of the UFC's sister promotion in the WEC, the home for the best lightweight fighters on the planet. However, the WEC shows routinely does shows with around 400,000-500,000 viewers. The WEC promotion peaked at WEC 34, averaging 1.5 million viewers with a main event between then champion Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. However, the promotion hasn't come close to those numbers since then. In fact, unless Faber is on the card while it takes place in Sacramento, the ratings are usually way down.
Enter the UFC.
When the UFC debuts on the Versus network, the ratings for that show will provide a very good snapshot of the promotions fanbase. That fight card is very good on paper, and many fans are looking forward to it so it'll be interesting to see just how many viewers will leave the comfort of Spike TV to watch the UFC on Versus. However, I expect that event to blow anything WEC has put forward out of the water and the #1 reason that will happen can be attritbuted to brand recognition.
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You make some good points. I also think it will help that Comcast is trying to turn vs into an alternate to espn like they did with msnbc to cnn. Plus if the ratings turn out real big (more than faber/pulver) it may help them secure a network deal on their terms. It always helpful to have more proof of how big your brand is when going into network negotiations especially when you are trying to keep the production of the show inhouse instead of pimp it out like SF does woth showtime (and it shows in their terrible production values)
nah
they’ll do well over a million….I mean think about it…if Pulver/Faber did 1.5 million over a year ago….of course a UFC event is going to do more than that….the only drawback is the number of current UFC fans that may not have Versus…
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by Kelvin Hunt on Mar 10, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
it's going to beat those numbers regardless...
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