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UFC On Fuel TV Averages 217,000 Viewers

UFC on Fuel TV Poster by Anton Tabuena

The UFC's first full card effort on Fuel TV set a ratings record for the network. The show, which saw a very good main event between Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger, outperformed the previous live airings of UFC undercard fights on Fuel.

Via MMA Fighting:

The UFC's debut event on FUEL TV, UFC on FUEL, averaged 217,000 viewers over the length of the three-hour broadcast, setting a new live-event ratings record for the fledgling network.

Wednesday's numbers mark a 46-percent increase from FUEL TV's previous ratings record of 148,000 viewers, earned by January's UFC on FX 1 preliminary card. UFC on Fox 2's live preliminary card averaged 144,000 viewers.

The "free preview week" for Fuel on many carriers would provide an obvious boost to the numbers, but how big of a boost is up for debate. Many major markets still did not have access to the free preview as it appeared your carrier had to already offer Fuel as part of a higher tier package. Markets such as Chicago's Comcast households did not get the preview as their carrier does not offer Fuel on any package currently offered.

SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV

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Bellator esk numbers

Impressive

Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls

by MattParker117 on Feb 17, 2012 1:41 PM EST reply actions  

and new york city's comcast market

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
Please read my sardonic wit and over-blown sense of self over at headkicklegend.com

by Cory Braiterman on Feb 17, 2012 1:44 PM EST reply actions  

These are great ratings by the way

Over 200k is a success on Fuel. And as the relationship develops the ratings will only grow.

by Matthew Roth on Feb 17, 2012 1:45 PM EST reply actions  

meh

I wonder how it’d be without the free weekend. I won’t hold my breath for the growing success until it’s actually available on more than a tiny fraction of homes

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
Please read my sardonic wit and over-blown sense of self over at headkicklegend.com

by Cory Braiterman on Feb 17, 2012 1:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah,

They worked hard to promote this show, and I don’t think they can do it every time. At the end of the day, unless carriers really get on board, I don’t see it growing that much unless they commit for a looong time. It’s probably worth it for the Fox presence, but still, fighters will probably begin to resent the Fuel cards. Could be a source of conflict or ill-will.

I thought Lay N Pray was a stupid insult until I watched Tyron Woodley fight.

by DankNabbot on Feb 17, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions  

What's the number of households that carries FUEL?

Along with the projected number of households given the FUEL TV preview?

Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters

by SSreporters on Feb 17, 2012 1:51 PM EST reply actions  

36 and 8 million

Are the numbers I’ve seen bandied about.

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by wonderfulspam on Feb 17, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions  

So that's 44 million households

And 217k is .005%.

Compared to FX reaching about 100 mil and getting 1.3 mil on their first Fight Night, so that’s .013%.

Given this is a lesser known channel and wasn’t advertised as much, these numbers aren’t bad.

Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters

by SSreporters on Feb 17, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions  

I saw 20 mil for the first #

70 mil for spike

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
Please read my sardonic wit and over-blown sense of self over at http://www.headkicklegend.com
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by Cory Braiterman on Feb 18, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions  

the trade they gave for the Fox deal...

let’s not act like Zuffa had complete leverage in negotiations with Fox, it was obviously a give and take, and Fox is interested in establishing Fuel TV and grabbing some key demos on a more regular basis with the channel.

UFC got 4 cards a year on Fox and several on FX, eating some ratings on Fuel for cards is part of the deal.

by ChicagoMMAFan on Feb 17, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions  

I wouldn’t really call it there own channel. Its only like 25% UFC, and 75% stuff no one cares about.

by Itsover on Feb 17, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions  

It is only 25%

But the vast majority of that is prime time programming.

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by Chris Hall on Feb 17, 2012 2:42 PM EST via Android app up reply actions  

They might eat it in the ratings now...

But they’re building up “the UFC channel”. The viewership lets them tempt/pressure providers to carry Fuel, they get a home for all their content, and some low pressure cards to build up prospects and experiment with new production ideas…

3 or 4 years down the line I think the Fuel arrangement ends up looking like one of the best parts of their deal.

by Bloody L on Feb 17, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Even markets that offer it on a higher tier didn't offer it

Fuel TV is available the highest tier of my Comcast subscription, and I didn’t get access.

Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!

by Charles Awad on Feb 17, 2012 2:21 PM EST reply actions  

/Minneapolis

Nate (after a spinning elbow by Carlos at 1:58): Fuckin’ dick!

by Charles Awad on Feb 17, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions  

didn't get it in Iowa

and its offered on some higher tier package. Wow 217,000 thats right up there with Family Guy reruns.

by nickrodamous on Feb 17, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Does this count the viewers from canada who watch it on sportsnet? Or just the ones watching on fuel?

You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.

by Tats16 on Feb 17, 2012 2:50 PM EST reply actions  

I really wish I had FuelTV

And yes, I’ve already contacted Comcast multiple times (twice). I still streamed it, and I’m one of the most vocal people bitching about the situation, but I’ve learned to live with it.

I may not personally have FuelTV, but damn it, somebody watched MMA for the first time, and got to watch a great night of fights. So it sure has hell is raising MMA awareness, which I’m all for.

I guess what I’m saying is, I admire her commitment to community service.

by Body Triangle on Feb 17, 2012 3:38 PM EST reply actions  

Peak was 315,000

http://mmajunkie.com/news/27478/ufc-on-fuel-tv-1-ratings-audience-peaks-with-315000-viewers-shatters-records.mma

More people tuned into Ellenberger/Sanchez than every single Bellator Title fight ever and the title fights were avaliable in 65 million more homes.

Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls

by MattParker117 on Feb 17, 2012 7:07 PM EST reply actions  

Just curious...

Does Big MTV ( like dana white says Big Fox) ever promote Bellator since thats the bigger channel in comparison to MTV 2?

by milliondollardreams on Feb 18, 2012 1:13 AM EST reply actions  

Why Do MMA Fans Care About Ratings

I’ve never understood this. Let Fuel, Fox, and Dana White worry about ratings. I don’t. It was a good exciting card, that’s all I care about.

I suppose one could argue that better ratings means more money, which means more top notch athletes get involved in MMA. But really, I don’t think the ratings on Fuel have any impact on anything outside of how much money a few executives make.

Can someone explain this to me?

by BNL on Feb 18, 2012 9:06 AM EST reply actions  

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