Reality Check

by Michael Rome on Apr 11, 2008 2:38 AM EDT in MMA News

After one airing, CBS cancelled its new reality show called "Secret Talents of The Stars" due to poor ratings. It pulled in 4.6 million viewers.

Does anyone think Elite XC is going to beat this number?

I realize the show was on a Wednesday, where ratings expectations are higher, but I have a bad feeling about what it will do to MMA's TV reputation if this whole thing is cancelled after one event. This seems to me to be a case of trying to run before learning to walk, but hopefully I am proven wrong.

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Re: Reality Check

I guess it depends what time it's on.is it going to be graveyard like the nbc one is?

by Airipsus on Apr 11, 2008 2:59 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Reality Check

Nah, it's like Saturday Night Prime Time.

I think if this whole MMA on network tv thing flops the biggest thing that can be learned is "Good Concept, Poor Execution". First off, they chose Elite XC who has a hard time drawing a crowd on Fight Network. Second, they have a show based on good quality fighters with little name recognition (with the exception of Kimbo and Crush/Gina Carano. And third, it's Elite XC. :P

XFL had a primetime slot and was pretty much the same thing (poor execution). And that failed horribly, but people still watch the NFL and will continue to pay $44.99 to watch the UFC once a month.

by Gabber on Apr 11, 2008 8:44 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Reality Check

Very true. I was one of the, probably, 4 people who watched this show because I enjoy George "Sulu" Takei. He got up and sang and had fun. Great. Then they went to the "judges" and the Simon Cowell character took a bigoted shot at George's sexuality and said his singing "sucked", twice. Viciously insulting your guests? Talk about a poorly executed show!

I haven't heard if the commentators will be the same or what the format will be for EliteXC on CBS but I think these will be key. The fights need to be good but the show also has to be tolerable. Too much talking, highlights vs. complete fights, promoting the violence and not the "sport", etc. Any of these things could end the show quickly.

by Match Day 5 on Apr 11, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Reality Check

"First off, they chose Elite XC who has a hard time drawing a crowd on Fight Network."

From MMApayout.com
The Fight Network's broadcast of the event (Le vs Shamrock) in Canada was the most watched program in the network's history.

The Kimbo fight also popped a good number for showtime....

I'm not saying that EXC will do a huge # for CBS but in their limited markets so far they have performed well......someone posted here that they thought EXC would do less than a 1.0, which I think is preposterous.... a test signal is pretty much gonna get at least a 1.0.

by robnashville on Apr 11, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Reality Check

EXC's not much better than a test signal.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Apr 11, 2008 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Reality Check

There is one area in which ratings won't be counted, and that's at the sports bar scenes on a Saturday night. I, for one, know that some of the sports bars in this area grab some huge viewerships during MMA events, and that's a statistic that will be left out of those figures.

by Leland Roling on Apr 11, 2008 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Reality Check

I think the more critical number is how it does in it's own time slot. And besides, I heard NO buzz about this show whereas I'm really starting to hear buzz about Kimbo Slice and the event.

Know hope.

by Luke Thomas on Apr 11, 2008 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Reality Check

You'll have a contingent of fans anxiously awaiting a massive disappointment for Elite's CBS debut. That will then be closely followed by: Kimbo Slice has no ground game and he's not a 'real' MMA fighter.

by MMARoadShow on Apr 12, 2008 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

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