Bellator 95 draws 901k, peaks over a 1 million

[Liquidrob]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-95-Draws-901000-Viewers-in-Season-8-Finale-on-Spike-TV-51495

BELLATOR 95 DRAWS 901,000 VIEWERS IN SEASON 8 FINALE ON SPIKE TV

BY MIKE WHITMAN
APR 5, 2013

Bellator’s eighth-season finale drew 901,000 viewers for its Thursday-night broadcast on Spike TV, tying the promotion’s second-largest audience ever.

Only the Season 8 premiere, which netted 938,000 viewers, outperformed Bellator 95, which took place at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., and saw Pat Curran swiftly submit Shahbulat Shamhalaev in the evening’s featherweight title headliner.

Sherdog.com confirmed the figure Friday with an industry source, who verified that the broadcast peaked with 1.05 million viewers between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m ET. The card also earned ratings of 0.7 and 0.64 in the male 18-49 and 18-34 demographics. An immediate replay of the program garnered an additional 328,000 viewers, resulting in a cumulative viewership of 1.23 million during the four-hour block.

In addition to Curran’s successful title defense, the televised portion of the card also saw two tournament winners crowned, as middleweight Doug Marshall knocked out Brett Cooper and featherweight Magomedrasul Khasbulaev outpointed Mike Richman. Immediately prior, former lightweight title contender Rick Hawn opened the broadcast with a second-round knockout of ex-UFC talent Karo Parisyan.

[SHOGUN]

Their first season on SPIKE has to be considered a success, no?

I look forward to seeing if they parlay that success to more viewers with the summer series.

[EmpireWF]

Their first season on SPIKE has to be considered a success, no?

No doubt, don't know the specifics but I'd guess they did well as far as maintaining the audience after three months.

We'll see how 2 months off plays in June and also, their reality series with Randy, Frank and others will be starting at about the same time.

[Liquidrob]

I would deem it a success, too me this was a trial run thoigh, a feeling out season, no real promotion behind it, just a season of fights and starting to build an audience

It will all depend on the reality show, if its a hit it can drive more viewers to the fight cards, they have to eventually get there own night and not have the safety of thr TNA lead in, if they can have Fight Master, MMA rescue, Bellator 360 all going and getting viewers then Bellator cards can do well on there own night and a 8 or 9 time slot

I think the issue will be what night