Pac/Marquez PPV buys vs Last 5 UFC's buys

[BigBucs]

You sir, support my theory that most people who illegally stream would not buy the PPV's anyway.

This is why I think cutting prices under the current model would not result in enough increased buys to mitigate the losses.

I pirate but prefer to watch boxing PPVs in clean HD even though I know a HD rip will be up a few hours after the broadcast.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I will still watch the choppy free stream vs paying for a clear one.

and honestly even with my 10 year old computer, I can find streams that are not all that bad.

I pirate but prefer to watch boxing PPVs in clean HD even though I know a HD rip will be up a few hours after the broadcast.

I pirate the events I would never pay for and don't really need to see very badly. This would include all boxing, almost all wrestling, and certain UFC's.

If it's something I really want to see and would be pissed if the stream dropped, I just buy it.

Let me ask you guys this (and this goes for anyone else who pirates)...if HBO Boxing or UFC or whoever was selling PPV's you wanted to see and offered them on a clean, reliable, HD quality stream for half the price or less, would that entice you to pay more often instead or pirate? Let's say it cost $20.

[1ke]

I pirate the events I would never pay for and don't really need to see very badly. This would include all boxing, almost all wrestling, and certain UFC's.

If it's something I really want to see and would be pissed if the stream dropped, I just buy it.

Let me ask you guys this (and this goes for anyone else who pirates)...if HBO Boxing or UFC or whoever was selling PPV's you wanted to see and offered them on a clean, reliable, HD quality stream for half the price or less, would that entice you to pay more often instead or pirate? Let's say it cost $20.

I would say I stream about 80% of all events. The other 20% is split between buying the fights(5%) and going to BW's to watch fights(15%) they have for free, even though im still payin for wings and shit.

So if that were the case, I would definitely consider getting the fights for 20 bucks.

Keep in mind this is comng from a casual UFC fan.

[calgaryballer]

I pirate the events I would never pay for and don't really need to see very badly. This would include all boxing, almost all wrestling, and certain UFC's.

If it's something I really want to see and would be pissed if the stream dropped, I just buy it.

Let me ask you guys this (and this goes for anyone else who pirates)...if HBO Boxing or UFC or whoever was selling PPV's you wanted to see and offered them on a clean, reliable, HD quality stream for half the price or less, would that entice you to pay more often instead or pirate? Let's say it cost $20.

Yes. At $15-20 I will buy just about anything. I don't have cable, but subscribe to Setanta-I ($14.99 a month) because I know I will always have a reliable stream for soccer and rugby. If the UFC were to offer their events at that price point as well, and eliminate my fears of Justin.tv crapping out just as BJ Penn walks down the ramp, I'd do it in a heartbeat. For those events were it's not big enough for me to be able to draw a crowd (I am the only one of my group that REALLY likes MMA, so it has to be a Lesnar/GSP/Anderson fight for them to get interested), it would be a life saver.

I've been saying this forever about every league. I've submitted user articles to Techdirt with the same thesis. My cable bill used to be $80 or so just for channels. I would gladly spend that same $80 per month on NHL/NBA/NFL/UFC/Soccer league passes (read, every game) because I can get all my 'traditional' programming via other sources. Live sports is the only thing I lost by cutting the cord to cable

[SHOGUN]

I'd drop $20 for UFC events, especially if there are two undercard guys I really like (Stun Gun, Barboza, etc.) and I'm meh on the main event.

I'd easily pay $30 for ROH, NJPW and Dragon Gate PPVs with stable HD streams. GFL streams usually get choppy on me in the second half of cards.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'd drop $20 for UFC events, especially if there are two undercard guys I really like (Stun Gun, Barboza, etc.) and I'm meh on the main event.

I'd easily pay $30 for ROH, NJPW and Dragon Gate PPVs with stable HD streams. GFL streams usually get choppy on me in the second half of cards.

GFL sucks for me, too. Both times I used it I had issues.

I will say that the WWN stream that I watched DGUSA on last weekend was perfect.

The good thing about the Japanese stuff is we are getting it faster than ever. The PPV's are usually floating around the net by the next day for download, and the downloads are low grade HD quality which is pretty amazing. Then a day later its up on YouTube.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Making PPV's cheaper with the current model will not make more money. For example, if you price the PPV's at half the current cost, you would need to double the buys just to break even, and that isn't happening.

However, if you stream the PPV's via the internet on UFC.tv, you can charge a lower price (let's say, for example, whatever your current take is after the cable/sat split...let's assume half even though its closer to 40-45%, so $30), increase buys 10-20% based on that lower price point, and make MORE money because you are keeping the entire rake because there is no middle man.

This is why PPV will eventually will go away. As internet speeds constantly improve, old generations die off, and people who grew up with and embrace internet viewing become the target market (and pretty much are already), that perfect storm will allow UFC/HBO/McMahon to cut out the middle man, slash prices, and make more money.

Gotcha...that makes plenty of sense.



As to what would entice me ? The 20-30$ is all I would need. Provided the quality is HD , stream is steady , and I have a way of pausing that shit when I go take a piss.

My addiction to convenient DVRing and to HQ video keeps me paying for service. IMO if 3D takes off (which it looks like it wont) then this model may be postponed for awhile. There is currently nothing but delivery issues keeping this from happening. There is a HUGE hole between your pc and the TV. The avg home does not have an XBL,AppleTV,Roku,or some other streaming solution. But like you said the growth of 'Net enabled TVs will cut off the need for that.

I think it is highly likely. But not inevitable. Old guard , old money , plus actual tech hurdles may keep this at bay for awhile.

[Cornelius]

There is no way they will ever stream UFC or any PPV events for $20. UFC.com streams fights now for $50. Is there a middle man there? Also, how does net neutrality fit into your sweet straight to internet plan, W2B? Wouldn't that jack the price of everything straight up and essentially create another PPV sort of scenario?

[Warner2BruceTD]

There is no way they will ever stream UFC or any PPV events for $20. UFC.com streams fights now for $50. Is there a middle man there? Also, how does net neutrality fit into your sweet straight to internet plan, W2B? Wouldn't that jack the price of everything straight up and essentially create another PPV sort of scenario?

UFC (and WWE, for that matter) charge the same amount as cab/sat for their live streams in large part as to not undercut their PPV partners. They are in bed with these people right now and have to play nice.

And I have no idea what the price points will look like (I just threw $20 out there as an example), but there is no question they will lower the cost when (not if) this takes hold. They can expand the universe while at the same time making more money.