Is the UFC Going to Take Over EliteXC's CBS Deal?

by Michael Rome on Aug 29, 2008 6:36 PM EDT in MMA News

Respected columnist Michael Pope of the New York Post reports a rumor that CBS and the UFC are now in negotiations to have the UFC take over EliteXC's prime time spot.

Reportedly, the network was shocked by how badly the last fight, called "Unfinished Business," did in the ratings.

Despite a poor showing, CBS apparently does not want to give up on the idea of turning the sometime savage mixed martial arts into primetime fare.

Rumors have also resurfaced that CBS is once again in talks with UFC - the first and better-known of the competing fight leagues - to take over the timeslot.

This is an interesting development. The UFC would never take on the deal EliteXC has, they are holding out for a reason. This is yet another reason EliteXC needs a big number in October.

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Interesting isn't the word.

If this is true, EXC is all but dead unless they pull something awesome on Oct. 4. This should also serve as proof that TV execs have no business pulling the strings of an MMA promotion. If CBS will let the UFC do what they do well, it could be pretty good partnership. I wonder what the odds are the two entities can actually come to an agreement?

by Cannon Jacques on Aug 29, 2008 6:50 PM EDT reply actions

CBS would have to pony up a hell of a lot more money for the UFC.
I would say it would need to be 3/4 million for a strong UFN type show.

It is pretty obvious that Zuffa is willing to wait until they get an offer they are happy with.

I don’t see any real company stepping into Elite’s spot without major compensation.

But, for one million and some ad money, I could see the UFC running strong shows like the overseas ones.

by Lynchman on Aug 29, 2008 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

Hope they keep Gus if this pans through.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Aug 29, 2008 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

Very much agreed.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 29, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d love that as well. The UFC doesn’t need Goldberg and Rogan calling every event.

by Day Man on Aug 30, 2008 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions

They need to keep Rogan.

But his role needs to be color commentary, rather than the authoritative play-by-play man. Goldberg is just awful at the descriptive aspect of the game..all he’s got is his voice, and that semi-involved look he gets while nodding at Joe’s pre-fight breakdowns. His presence is good, but he can’t be the main guy during play-by-play.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions

That would be awesome to show the world some real MMA, not just the crap that Elitexc serves up. Well, not all is crap. Maybe half of it is a good product, but using Fergie against an old man for ratings is just embarassing. It is sad that some will fall for the hype train that is “king of all that is Jurassic with mma”. There are some that really think that Kimbo is an elite fighter because he KO’d Tank Abbott and is now fighting Shamrock. Ignorance is ……..?

by fightfan on Aug 29, 2008 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

Ignorance is....?

money usually…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

CBS should just pay a whole bunch of money to the UFC so I have to stop paying for the damn pay per views.

by Nellieball on Aug 29, 2008 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Remember...

Remember my comment back before the may 31st show? I believe it was called:

“CBS In a Lose Lose situation”

If someone can find it everything I said has pretty ,much come to pass…

The analysis was so good someone on the underground even posted it there and bumped it up a few weeks ago.

by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/5/31/542923/inevitability-works-until#6483889

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Aug 30, 2008 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Much appreciated brother Richard.

And for the lazy here is what I wrote before the May 31st show:

lose-lose for CBS

What all the MMA writers/bloggers fail to understand is that this is a lose-lose situation for CBS…

If the ratings are a success all fox or abc has to do is ink a deal with the UFC and instantly they have the better product. One network with major league baseball another with minor league… who wins?

CBS is taking all the risk and they are positioning another network to reap all to most of the rewards if its a success!

If its not a success they look foolish… even though financially they aren’t risking anything – they are risking their prestige with very little upside as described above.

LOSE-LOSE… I can’t imagine someone at CBS not getting fired because of this. The only way I see them saving their asses is if it turns out to be a success dropping elitexc and picking up the UFC ASAP before another network does – If I were CBS I would already be restarting the negotiations with Dana.

For Elite XC, CBS will deliver nothing in terms of pay per view buys… how do you market a payperview with a show every four months??? no matter how high the rating is – almost impossible… UFC basically has their own channel in spike with weekly content.

And while all the new fans that CBS brings in – hungry for more content channel surfing what will they find mostly? (UFC unleashed, The Ultimate Fighter, UFC fight night replays, WEC)… All while Elite XC is struggling to fund their next show.

And finally every one I have spoken to thinks Kimbo is in the UFC (yeah they are so sure because they saw him on ESPN 360 training to fight UFC – duh). and the ones who know CBS is airing fights on saturday night think its the UFC they are showing! .

(PS. you may publish this on the blog as a separate post as it is the most insightful analysis of this whole CBS deal so far written)