The Ultimate Fighter 10 Featuring Kimbo Slice Delivers Huge Ratings for Spike TV

by Kid Nate on Sep 17, 2009 7:32 PM EDT in News Comment 35 comments

From a Spike TV press release:

While the ratings for most television series erode over time, "The Ultimate Fighter" on Spike TV continues to defy the norm. Illustrating the ever-growing popularity of the UFC and its stable of stars, the premiere of the tenth season of Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" on Wednesday, September 16 (10:00pm-11:00pm ET/PT) was not only the most watched episode in the series history, but also in network history for an original.*

The series, featuring the best up-and-coming mixed martial arts heavyweights, including YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice, garnered 4.1 million viewers, besting the previous "The Ultimate Fighter" high of 2.8 million viewers for the finale of season three in 2006.

...

Overall, the record-breaking Spike TV telecast drew a 5.3 rating (1.5 million) in Men 18-34, a 4.3 in M18-49 (2.4 million), a 2.9 household rating and 4.1 million total viewers.

Full release after the jump.

UFC HEAVYWEIGHTS ARE A RATINGS KNOCKOUT ON SPIKE TV!

RECORD VIEWERSHIP FOR PREMIERE OF

"THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: HEAVYWEIGHTS"

Draws More Young Men Than Anything On Television On

Wednesday, September 16 Including "The Jay Leno Show"

And "America's Got Talent" Season Finale

September 17, 2009, New York, NY - While the ratings for most television series erode over time, "The Ultimate Fighter" on Spike TV continues to defy the norm. Illustrating the ever-growing popularity of the UFC and its stable of stars, the premiere of the tenth season of Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" on Wednesday, September 16 (10:00pm-11:00pm ET/PT) was not only the most watched episode in the series history, but also in network history for an original.*

The series, featuring the best up-and-coming mixed martial arts heavyweights, including YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice, garnered 4.1 million viewers, besting the previous "The Ultimate Fighter" high of 2.8 million viewers for the finale of season three in 2006.

The show debut also garnered 3.2 million Persons 18-49, demonstrating a substantial amount of co-viewing between men and women.

"The intriguing cast of ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights' has true mass appeal, and the numbers show that this sport is not just for a niche audience anymore," said Kevin Kay, Spike TV President.

The Spike TV telecast bested all competition on television in the advertiser-coveted demographics of Men 18-34, M18-49, M18-24, M25-34 including the highly-promoted network originals "The Jay Leno Show," "America's Got Talent" season finale, "Glee," "So You Think You Can Dance" and the premiere of "Beautiful Life."

Overall, the record-breaking Spike TV telecast drew a 5.3 rating (1.5 million) in Men 18-34, a 4.3 in M18-49 (2.4 million), a 2.9 household rating and 4.1 million total viewers.

"The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights" features former UFC light heavyweight champions "Suga" Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as coaches and is the only installment in the show's history to include only the heavyweight weight class (206+ lbs). The cast includes a list of notable athletes with impressive and diverse pedigrees including four former NFL players, UFC veterans, a former IFL heavyweight champ, and a highly-publicized former EliteXC fighter, Kimbo Slice, who gained prominence through his non-sanctioned bouts on YouTube.

*previous record for a Spike TV original episode is 3.4 million for "The Joe Schmo Show" season finale in 2003.

Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.

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I bet these numbers stay high throughout the season as well. Or at least until Kimbo loses.

by steak_knife on Sep 17, 2009 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully the rest of the fights are better than the 1st one.

Miguel Torres- "I'm gonna give him a taste of the East Chicago Waterfall."
Rashad Evans- "That sounds disgusting."

by Deo Wade on Sep 17, 2009 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sometimes the fighting is the least interesting aspect of the show. counter-intuitive but a lot of these guys aren’t quite ready for primetime.

by GregS123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is true

But I’d still like to see some good matches.

Miguel Torres- "I'm gonna give him a taste of the East Chicago Waterfall."
Rashad Evans- "That sounds disgusting."

by Deo Wade on Sep 17, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably not gonna happen, this season will def. be controlled by the dominant wrestlers (aka Rashads ta)

by xbuckeyex05 on Sep 18, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/9/17/1035411/dana-white-tuf-10-premier-did-4-1

UFN did a 1.9.

by Lynchman on Sep 17, 2009 7:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting… who woulda thunk you should use the reality show as a lead in for the fights, not the other way around.

i guess CBS should use the bachelorette 7 as a lead-in to fedor

by GregS123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

bachelorette is so on ABC

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Sep 17, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kudos to Greg for not knowing that, :?(confused smiley) for you.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Sep 17, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

hey man, it was a long boring summer..

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Sep 17, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This makes me think they should start putting UFC unleashed and other stuff immediately after the reality show. Usually they just do a re-run of the same episode, but that would be a great time to introduce the “real” ufc to the people who are only watching it for the reality show.

by Disco1Stu on Sep 17, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

was a great 1st episode

the bloody Abe was cool too. seems like Kimbo is gonna fight next week’s episode.

by 1WAYtiket on Sep 17, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Strange that TUF got better ratings than UFN. I will say this was the KIMBO effect.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 17, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bold assertion.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Sep 17, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probaly true though

Kimbo is ratings gold.

by Captain7 on Sep 17, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well they advertised TUF 3 months non stop.

and i think any real MMA fan that Missed the UFN and watched the TUF is a fucking moron.

by 1WAYtiket on Sep 17, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Thank you for being the arbiter of MMA fandom. I don’t know how the sport has made it this far without you.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 17, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I know quite a few people who watched last night and this was their first time watching TUF and yes it was b/c of Kimbo

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 17, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Im guessing they are not big MMA fans..

because if they are and they missed the UFN….thats sad

by 1WAYtiket on Sep 17, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well there could be different reasons for people missing UFN and only watching TUF, perhaps work or had plans for other events etc… I know that i missed the first part of UFN because i was busy playing tennis at the time. So yea sometimes things can get in the way.

"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage

by TearsofaClown on Sep 17, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about the fact that hardly anyone knew what UFN was?

All people know are three things :

1.) Brock Lesnar

2.) Kimbo

and

3.) UFC

UFN sounds like another upstart promotion trying to fight the UFC juggernaut….

by BNTHIS on Sep 18, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We were talking about real MMA fans, doubtful any real one would not be aware of UFN.

"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage

by TearsofaClown on Sep 18, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never said they wouldn’t be aware since those that browse this blog would undoubtedly find out….whether they want to or not.

But I’m just saying that those fans who just became MMA fans won’t know anything about UFN.

Heck, before I saw it talked about on the front page of this blog, I had no clue UFN existed.

And you know what? I still wouldn’t care regardless about it ‘cause the fighters it consists of or features don’t really interest me. Call me a UFC homer or what-have-you but everything not associated with the UFC brand is considered The Minor Leagues, IMO.

by BNTHIS on Sep 18, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In other words, If I see anything that does not have the initials U.F.C(and instead have something else), I change the channel.

by BNTHIS on Sep 18, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UFN = UFC Fight Night.

It’s just a FREE UFC show, and boy i tell ya it’s some great action with some good mid talent guys and soon to be contenders, if your a UFC fan or MMA then you should have watched it if you had the time.

Also there is no reason not to watch the FREE StrikeForce events either because that’s some good stuff man.

"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage

by TearsofaClown on Sep 18, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UFN = UFC Fight Night.

technically it’s Ultimate Fight Night :P

by orcus on Sep 18, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Technically it’s UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard or UFC Fight Night 19.

"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage

by TearsofaClown on Sep 19, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s interesting that Kimbo still holds so much interest by the public. You can’t blame Dana for seeing the $$$. I’m guessing he’ll most definitely be around to fight in the UFC, regardless of how poorly he does on TUF.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Sep 17, 2009 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there is no need to guess its a certain he will be around to fight in the UFC and more then one fight also.No matter how poorly he does on the show also. I see him fighting atleast 3 times in the UFC and he would have to loose them all bad for Zuffa to let him go.

by Shocbomb on Sep 18, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs