Bellator & SF ratings (shocker)

[Liquidrob]

get the peak numbers for SF

[Warner2BruceTD]

get the peak numbers for SF

Already tried, he doesnt have them. Apparently nobody does yet.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I asked him what they were doing on FSN, and where he thinks they will settle:

I have no idea where they'll settle. FSN numbers were usually around a .25. The Alvarez vs. Huerta number was way up from that.

NBC, which they are no longer on, was doing solid 0.6s every week and that's a network rating.

This is not a positive. If they go up from here steadily, that's a positive, but calling an 0.2 a hit is a real stretch.

Big Dave has spoken, but I still think 200k is a positive on a shit network like MTV2. I dont think they can grow as a company there, but I think the 200k opened some eyes (in fact, I know it did).

The key is where they settle. If they stay at 200k and pop a little higher for big fights, I still say this is a good thing.

[Liquidrob]

can a brotha get a peak number?

[Steel Mamba]

these ratings articles are so frustrating, where the fuck are the peak numbers for Strikeforce?

those would help a lot, this show for Strikeforce did a higher number than Hendo's december show (350k average), plus the average was the same as Fedor vs Werdum, at the SF board we said weeks ago that an average over 400k would be good, thats what it got

The peak could be in the 600k range for all we know, Bellator stropped half way thru it

Also, good job by Bellator, I was thinking 150k would be a good number, this is very good, but the key will be next week with Razor Rob being the only 'name', this week was the debut and there best WW's all in one card

Also, Bellator would kill for SF's TV deal, they get 750k a show and production costs covered, so its silly to think MTV2 is a better deal, Bellator had a good debut on FSN I believe, plus, on a down note, the card didnt 'deliver' for the casuals, much like the SF CBS with all decisions, nothing big came out of this Bellator card

I meant in terms of promotion. MTV did more for one show than SHO has done in the past 3 months for SF. Whatever happens the Bellator name and brand recognition has definitely been elevated as a result. I'm not saying it's anywhere close to SF, but you have to wonder how well they can grow their product unless they get back on CBS.

[Liquidrob]

I meant in terms of promotion. MTV did more for one show than SHO has done in the past 3 months for SF. Whatever happens the Bellator name and brand recognition has definitely been elevated as a result. I'm not saying it's anywhere close to SF, but you have to wonder how well they can grow their product unless they get back on CBS.

Bellator had more viewers on there old network

Strikeforce just did more viewers than they ever had before on Showtime last month, plus the Hendo vs Feijao is higher than there average, to say they're not grower is wrong

[EmpireWF]

Bellator had more viewers on there old network

Strikeforce just did more viewers than they ever had before on Showtime last month, plus the Hendo vs Feijao is higher than there average, to say they're not grower is wrong

I read last week's number was slightly below the 2010 average. It's nothing significant because they had no draws on the show and almost zero hype leading up to it.

April should definitely do bigger with Nick Diaz on top (perhaps 600k-700k) and the double title fights and everything else they have going on. Depending on the card (ie. a surprise Herscel return), I expect May to dip back down to the average. Then the big June card, that will be interesting to see and the impact the GP minus Fedor has.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Hendo/Feijao did an identical rating to Hendo's last Showtime fight. It was more total viewers because the Showtime universe has expanded.

[Liquidrob]

Hendo/Feijao did an identical rating to Hendo's last Showtime fight. It was more total viewers because the Showtime universe has expanded.

negative spin, Strikeforce/MMA is one of the reasons for growth, it's only been December to March

STRIKEFORCE TAKING OVER

[EmpireWF]

STRIKEFORCE TAKING OVER

....taking what?

[Steel Mamba]

Good article from MMAPayout:

* Because Spike TV is part of the MTV family of networks, the Bellator shows was heavily promoted on Spike TV leading up to the show on Saturday night. Bellator’s featherweight champion Joe Warren even made a guest appearance on Spike’s TNA pro-wrestling show to push the event. The cross-promotion between Spike and MTV 2 only adds more fuel to the idea that Bellator is Viacom’s insurance policy in case the UFC and Spike TV are not able to come to an agreement, since their current TV deals runs out at the end of the year. Bellator has always made TV deals with the bigger picture in mind. They signed with ESPN Deportes hoping to eventually move to ESPN 2, signed with FSN and paid NBC for a late time slot hoping to put them in a position to sign with Fuel TV, FX, or Fox, and it looks now they are with MTV 2 hoping they could eventually land on Spike TV or any other network under Viacom’s wings.

Bellator was featured on WSJ.com and had a billboard on Times Square leading up to the debut this past Saturday night, which along with the promotion on Spike TV, shows that they had a strong synergy with its partners to promote the upcoming season on MTV 2. Next week’s show will be an important one for the promotion as they will air without any competition from the UFC or Strikeforce, so getting a good number is crucial. After next weekend, there will be a great number of UFC, Strikeforce, and March Madness events that will take eyeballs away from the promotion.

Bellator 35 MTV 2 Debut: Payout Perspective : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA

MTV is definitely behind building the Bellator brand and they have the muscle to do so, you just have to give it some time. SHO might cover the production for SF, but nothing beats promotion, I just don't see SF growing their numbers, posting the same numbers as before with a terrible gate isn't growing. That is unless CBS comes back into the picture.

[Warner2BruceTD]

That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, Bellator didnt get on ESPN2 or FX. And if UFC stays on Spike, Bellator wont get off of MTV2, and it will likely be a death sentance. High risk, high reward.

The Showtime deal is good, and they have grown. Its like anything else, its stars that matter, and Hendo is NOT a drawing card star. The live gate in Columbus was less than the WEC did, and he did the exact same rating as the Babalu fight, despite following up the great Fedor rating.

I'd rather be on Showtime, peaking at upwards of 1M and averaging in the 400-500k range, with CBS as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, than be on MTV2, peaking with 200k (because its sure to go down from here), with Spike as the longshot final destination.

Showtime > MTV2, CBS > Spike

And if/when UFC leaves Spike, it would be for a much higher profile spot. And since UFC has the stars, its not as if Bellator would just hop over to Spike and automatically assume the UFC numbers. People will follow the stars.

The rest of 2011 will be very interesting in this regard.

[EmpireWF]

As to what was available to Bellator if FX was not an option, MTV 2 had to have been the best.

No doubt the biggest story of the year could be the UFC leaving Spike, if that in fact happens. Whether it would be ESPN (I have a hard time with that) or a combination of network TV and a cable home (Not sure about that either)....unless Spike changes their "for men" style, they will want something to fill the big void if UFC leaves.

Obviously, if Bellator can be in play in that situation, they wouldn't fill it right away and probably not even close for as long as it would last. However, you need good TV to create stars and I would bet Bellator could turn Alvarez, Lombard, Askren, Warren (if he's not in the Olympics) into relatively big stars as far as they're concerned. Not saying they'd be doing 5.0 ratings or anything like that...but it's a nice platform to have.

Why would UFC leave Spike though? At the end of the day, they get everything they want from Spike.

[Steel Mamba]

If Hendo isn't a draw then SF is in a lot of trouble. First off you don't give this guy such a huge contract if he's not, or you don't expect him to draw. Also, the UFC was able to turn 4mil viewers with him on Spike along with successful PPVs.

& we don't know where these MTV2 numbers will peak at, how can you make such a broad assumption off of one show? Talent does not sale, what sales is perception. If that's not the case then explain to me how guys like Diego Sanchez can draw more than the likes of Fedor?

[Warner2BruceTD]

UFC would leave Spike in a nanosecond if they could get on, say, ESPN, while still retaining production control.

I would not give up production control under almost any circumstance if I was Zuffa. Its the smartest thing they have ever done in rejecting deals because of it.

USA, TBS, FX, all better places to be than Spike.