UFC's Television Future

by Michael Rome on May 12, 2008 11:26 PM EDT in News Comment 4 comments

The announcement that Frank Mir and Antonio Nogueira will coach TUF 8 raises further questions about the UFC's television future. Despite ever declining ratings on TV, the UFC is coming off one of its hottest periods ever, with UFC 79, 81, and 83 all doing huge numbers. The second half of the year looks promising too, with Rampage/Forrest, GSP/Fitch, Lesnar/Coleman, more of BJ Penn, Chuck's return, and a possible Chuck/Rampage mega fight in December. However, things can turn cold very fast, and the quickest way south is a disappearing TV presence.

The UFC's viewership numbers of late are actually below the Spike prime time average. I fully expect them to drop a bit more this season, and even more next season, maybe down to the .8 range. The current contract with Spike calls for a new Weekly fights show in 2010, but that may be too late. If ratings keep dropping, they may need to introduce the new show in 2009.

The main point of weekly TV is simply to keep the public aware of what is going on in the UFC, and keep millions of eyes on the hype for upcoming shows. TUF is starting to fail in that regard, and if Dana cannot pull off a network or HBO deal by the end of the year, they are going to need to change the Spike formula. They were bold once a few years ago, and they need to be bold again.

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Re: UFC's Television Future

How about those "new" shows announced at the yac&jay show? I bet "pride of chucky" and "UFCsi" gonna make a killing. lolz!

I don't get to share your views regarding TUF since i only watched the first season (not because i hate it and its lame, but due to the fact that it's not aired on any channel by my cable provider) but judging from what i've read from the sites regarding it, I think they'd better come up with radical changes.. like the one thought of by, I think one of your writers, where there'll be (bi)weekly live fight and sort of a docu on fighter's prep in between weeks..

by Johann on May 13, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: UFC's Television Future

I think they need to do both. I think first Dana needs to close a deal with HBO or one of the major networks, and I think they need to revamp TUF. Theres no point in just transplanting the same tired format to a new channel. It's gotta showcase the best of UFC, and that's not watching fighters train and do pranks; it's the live fights. Still like the March Madness-esque tournament idea a previous poster suggested. Get right to the basics: more fights.

by pud333 on May 13, 2008 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: UFC's Television Future

I'd like to see them parachute eight fighters into established camps - BJ in Hilo, Hendo and Team Quest, etc. - and document the training that they do. Do this simultaneously with a Grand Prix style tournament. That would make for, if I'm not mistaken, 7 fights. Make them full, three round fights. Get lots of time with the other guys in the camps, with the top dogs. Feature their philosophy of fighting, their methods for training. Show what guys go through when they train twice a day, 6 days a week. Give the new guys a chance to actually get GOOD. No more alcohol fueled stupidity, no more meatheads crammed into a house together. Intersperse a "training" episode, with "fight" episodes, which could also feature a fight each with established/undercard-level fighters (likely taken from the other guys already at the camps, as a way of getting the camps to participate). Really play up the differences in training and style, really get inside the heads of the fighters, build up some history around these people. It would also provide the opportunity to feature multiple big name fighters, multiple mid-range guys who are also at the camps, and the noobs. You wouldn't even have to disrupt anyone's regular training; imagine an episode where the new guy is in his coach's corner for a title defence or something, and hearing his reaction to being so close to that kind of action. Anyway, just a thought.