Bellator 39 and Strikeforce Challengers ratings

[Liquidrob]

Bellator 39 ratings up slightly, first run nets 174,000 viewers on MTV2 | MMAjunkie.com


Bellator 39 ratings up slightly, first run nets 174,000 viewers on MTV2
by Dann Stupp on Apr 05, 2011 at 12:15 pm ET

After a season-low figure a week earlier with Bellator 38, ratings for this past weekend's Bellator 39 event were up slightly.

The April 2 broadcast drew 174,000 viewers on MTV2, MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com
) today confirmed with an industry source.

That's a 17 percent increase compared to the 150,000 viewers who tuned in for Bellator 38, which was the lowest-attended broadcast of the organization's current 12-week season.

Bellator 39, which faced competition from CBS' live coverage of the NCAA Final Four men's basketball games, took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. In addition to tourney-semifinal fights in the welterweight and lightweight divisions, the event featured a headliner between lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and season-three tourney winner Pat Curran.

In addition to the 174,000 viewers who tuned in for the first Bellator 39 run at 9 p.m. ET/PT, MTV2 drew 89,000 viewers for the 11 p.m. replay.

MTV2, which is airing its first 12-week season of Bellator, caters mostly to a young-male demographic. Bellator events previously aired on ESPN Deportes and then FOX Sports Net affiliates.

The first-run season-four ratings include:
Bellator 35 ratings: 200,000 viewers
Bellator 36 ratings: 230,000
Bellator 37 ratings: 173,000
Bellator 38 ratings: 150,000
Bellator 39 ratings: 174,000

Strikeforce Challengers 15 ratings prove solid, 214,00 viewers tune in to Showtime | MMAjunkie.com


Strikeforce Challengers 15 ratings prove solid, 214,00 viewers tune in to Showtime
by Dann Stupp on Apr 05, 2011 at 1:00 pm ET

Despite few big names, this past weekend's Strikeforce Challengers 15 event drew a respectable 0.69 household rating and an average audience of 214,000 viewers on Showtime.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com
) today confirmed the figures with an industry source.

Strikeforce Challengers 15 took place this past Friday, April 1, at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif. Lightweights Justin Wilcox and Rodrigo Damm headlined the show.

In addition to that bout, Strikeforce Challengers 15 featured Lorenz Larkin vs. Scott Lighty and James Terry vs. Josh Thornburg. Additionally, the Douglas brothers were in action with David facing Caros Fodor and Damion taking on Wayne Phillips.

The Strikeforce Challengers series is geared toward showcasing up-and-coming fighters and competitors looking to get back to the organization's "Arena Series" shows. Notables such as Miesha Tate, Tyron Woodley, Shane Del Rosario, Sarah Kaufman and others all have Challengers experience.

The average audience size for Strikeforce Challengers shows since 2010 include:

Strikeforce Challengers 7: 316,000 viewers*
Strikeforce Challengers 8: 249,000
Strikeforce Challengers 10: 237,000
Strikeforce Challengers 13: 223,000*
Strikeforce Challengers 15: 214,000
Strikeforce Challengers 12: 210,000
Strikeforce Challengers 14: 200,000
Strikeforce Challengers 9: 197,000
Strikeforce Challengers 6: 189,000
Strikeforce Challengers 11: 178,000

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I think Bellator has found the right station. When it was with FSN and other sports related networks...meh. Have it on MTV2, where its getting that young male demo that is loyal as an audience...not bad.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

This was the first week I would call it a bad number. No MMA comp, regular timeslot, and waaay down from the 200+ they were doing early.

They shouldn't move the timeslot for UFC, I've said that from the beggining. Consistancy is more important than trying to squeeze a few extra viewers. You end up shooting yourself in the foot longterm because of the "creature of habit" theory. Might as well have stayed on FSN if you were going to keep moving the times around, because more people watch FSN by a wide wide margain.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Unless you're a baseball fan FSN has 0 programming. MTV is still the best option for them considering the demographic that they're after, and the type of push that they're getting from Viacom. They're doing so much more to build Bellator than what FSN is willing to do. So, all considered the numbers aren't bad. They're pulling these ratings with an unestablished brand and a bunch of fighters no one knows, as time progresses the ratings will improve.

It's pretty unrealistic to expect anything better. Are they supposed to do 500k with the roster they have with minimal brand recognition? They have to establish their selves first and that's going to take time, but no other partner can help them better than Viacom can.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

There is a huge difference between MTV & MTV2. And I don't see this supposed push from Viacom you are talking about.

The bottom line is the number has dropped steadily since Week 3, and has settled below 200k. on a network that virtually nobody watches. More people watch FSN, and all of those people are sports fans, so if they were going to screw with the timeslot every week (which was the main drawback of FSN) they should have just stayed.

You can't make stars or your brand doing 170k on MTV2, so they are going nowhere with this deal. If it wasn't shitty MTV2, they'd be pulled off the air already on a decent basic cable channel.

 

[Steel Mamba]

You can't watch MTV or MTV2 without a Bellator ad popping up, constantly. Didn't they also have a billboard in Times Square and an article in the WSJ for their first event? They're getting way more publicity than they ever did on FSN. FSN is shit, they were out of sight and out of mind on that network. Viacom has a better foothold on the 18-35 dem than FSN does. Also, like I mentioned before you're only looking at the present instead of looking at the big picture. You can't accurately judge any business by only looking at the present, especially when talking about a new brand.

As far as switching time slots, it's definitely not ideal, but you can't build stars when your audience is watching the competition. Other orgs tried to go head to head with the UFC and failed.

 

[Liquidrob]

I love Bellator and always said they have the best sporting model in all of MMA, it is credible, but they are going no where fast on MTV2

Strikeforce has/had a better deal with more ability to have casuals watch than MTV2, I don't know whats out thetre for them in the future if they survive, but it doesnt look good, non zuffa shows will die without an awesome TV deal which isnt out there, they need a HBO or something, but with a season format HBO would never show bellator every week on a saturday, they need to move to friday anyway, saturday was a bad decision

all the great TV deals would be with networks wanting to work with the UFC, not the bellators of the world until they can prove to get ratings which they cant

 

[Liquidrob]

eddie alvarez is there biggest 'name' and highest ranked fighter who they always push and they got 175,000 viewers on MTV2, a show on Showtime headlined by Justin Wilcox averaged 215,000

also another thought, Bellator has had everything go right for them with the fights compared to strikeforce

Fedor losing 2 in a row, Hendo losing to Shields, a brawl on national TV after 3 boring decision fights, delayed talks with M-1, you name it, they were not lucky

Bellator had pretty much all the guys want to win, win, besides huerta who ended up fighting Alvarez anyway, some crazy finishes (inverted triangles, KO knees, etc...) it just doesnt look good on MTV2 to draw MMA fans that are not hardcore, they will die on MTV2 if they stay there

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You can't watch MTV or MTV2 without a Bellator ad popping up, constantly. Didn't they also have a billboard in Times Square and an article in the WSJ for their first event? They're getting way more publicity than they ever did on FSN.

All of this supposed publicity hasnt meant a thing, considering they are now at levels lower than what they were at on FSN.

As far as switching time slots, it's definitely not ideal, but you can't build stars when your audience is watching the competition. Other orgs tried to go head to head with the UFC and failed.

You can't build stars on MTV2, period. Nobody is watching that network, so nobody is watching Bellator. M-1 drew a similar number with ZERO pub, on a pay network with a fraction of the viewer universe. Connect the dots. People watch Strikeforce, people watch boxing, people watch Shameless, people watch Dexter, etc. You don't even have a chance on MTV2.

Look, FSN wasnt a good place to be, either. Just ask PRIDE, IFL, Real Pro Wrestling, etc. But being on MTV2 is nothing more then treading water inhopes you land on a real network before you run out of money and close up shop. Rebney knows that long term, MTV2 is a death sentance.

 

[Liquidrob]

exactly, M-1 drew a solid number with zero pub, less than challengers get which is next to nothing

like warner said when this was announced, MTV2 IS NOTHING, SHOWS GO TO DIE ON THAT NETWORK

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Also, the first couple of weeks, the combined number was around 400k for the first run + replay. This week, the replay did 89k, and the combined number was around 260k. Yes, I know that this week had no UFC or SF, but still, neither did Week 2 and the replay matched the first run. Where did the other 140k go?

The replay numbers were always suspicious to me. Remember when Strikeforce was on NBC at like 3am? They were doing MONSTER numbers, bigger than anything ever in that time period. NBC did some research, and determined that it was actually people who fell asleep watching Saturday Night Love and Poker After Dark (which is a big ratings winner), so the TV was just left on for Strikeforce.

I think something similar is happening here with the Bellator replays (and to some degree, the first run). Let me explain.

I think their are 13 year old boys who come home, go to their room, put on MTV2 as their "backround noise" (like adult men do with ESPN when nothing is on, or they are doing something else), and just leave the channel on. This would explain why the replay number has matched (and was even higher one week) the first run, which is unheard of in TV. Just like Strikeforce at 3am, I think half of the "viewers" arent even watching. There is no other viable explainantion.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The more I think about this, the more I think i'm right.

The average prime time number for MTV2 is around 90k. This week, with no SF or UFC, which enabled everyone who wanted to watch to watch live, the replay did 89k. That's just regular MTV2 viewers leaving the fucking channel on! You could reasonably say that 90k of the Bellator "viewers" arent even watching.

 

[Liquidrob]

people (some here and other sites) always ripped on me when I said the Showtime deal with Strikeforce was a great deal, well, great for a non UFC show, it is still the best TV deal a non UFC show has ever got

Why? because they actually paid them good money, handled all production costs, etc...it's just almost impossible for a non UFC branded show to suceed, WEC didnt even do well with Zuffa backing, it just didnt have the UFC name

Right now, no current MMA promotion will make it big with the current deals in place, Strikeforce had the best chance, but pretty much everything they needed to suceed went wrong, like I said before, they didnt get lucky like the UFC did

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

There is a huge difference between MTV & MTV2. And I don't see this supposed push from Viacom you are talking about.

The bottom line is the number has dropped steadily since Week 3, and has settled below 200k. on a network that virtually nobody watches. More people watch FSN, and all of those people are sports fans, so if they were going to screw with the timeslot every week (which was the main drawback of FSN) they should have just stayed.

You can't make stars or your brand doing 170k on MTV2, so they are going nowhere with this deal. If it wasn't shitty MTV2, they'd be pulled off the air already on a decent basic cable channel.

You can't go to FSN. FSN has more viewers, but you have to realize there are an inordinate amount of channels that "FSN" falls under and its all regional.

I think MTV2 is a start...then eventually MTV. Then, who knows?

 

[Liquidrob]

I think Warners and my point is that MTV2 will do nothing to grow Bellator, they just had their 5th show with there biggest star, rankings and hardcore wise, none of there other champs even get mentions in the rankings, Eddie is it and it averaged 174,000 viewers

M-1 with no name, no hype, no promotion on a pay station averaged more, that just shows what MTV2 is for MMA, nothing

You think they will get moved up to MTV2 with 150k to 200k shows?

Hopefully it picks up, but withe no big names or 'gimmicks' and the MMA media not helping at all I dont see it getting any better

 

[Steel Mamba]

How the heck do you guys keep saying that M-1 had no promo, when SF and SHO have been plugging the event for awhile now. They pretty much just piggybacked off the success and recognition of SF.
Bellator doesn't have that luxury.

Still, you can't argue with the pub Bellator has gotten under Viacom, no other network has, or would have pushed their org the way they have. That ALONE makes it a damn good deal for them. Whether or not it's beneficial for them to be there long-term is another story, but without a doubt being on MTV2 is the best thing that has ever happened to Bellator at this point.

 

[Steel Mamba]

& don't forget that a lot of those numbers are up against March Madness as well.

 

[Liquidrob]

They Were the only MMA show on saturday night with there biggest and highest ranked fighter and it did nothing, MTV2 is nothing for mma and bellator

 

[Steel Mamba]

Far more people recognize Bellator now than they did before the MTV2 deal. All of this free pub will pay off in the long run. Translating that into viewers is something else entirely, IMO they run the shows too often. But, the bottom line is this - the most important thing is brand recognition. Without it the network you're on doesn't mean squat. With it, you can go on any network you want and pull good numbers. Who cared about Ion until the UFC came to town? Who cared about TruTV before March Madness started?

But, again step one is building the brand and that's exactly what MTV2 is doing for them. When you look at the push they're receiving you can't say that MTV2 means nothing for MMA, when no other network was willing to push Bellator this aggressively. Forget about the numbers for a second and look at the big picture.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I would argue that MTV2 has failed in "building the brand". They are now at levels lower than FSN. What exactly are they building?

MTV2's prime time base is 90k, they would get that airing test pattern. That means roughly 100k (or less lately) are tuning in specifically to watch Bellator. This weeks replay number of 89k proves that. None of the MMA fans showed up for the replay, because there was no UFC or SF, so they watched live. When they turned it off, the same 90k that always watch MTV2 stayed. Let's not forget, this was in theory their strongest lineup with Alvarez and (to a much lesser extent) the debut of Saunders.

The show isn't driving viewers, in fact it is losing viewers. Even if this supposed Viacom media blitz you claim is happening (I don't seee it), it isn't working. People checked it out the first two weeks, and haven't bothered to come back. And its not like doing 200k is something phenominal, it was just good by their crappy standards, which as I said from Day 1, even exceeding MTV2 low standards by 100% (which they have done some weeks) would still ultimately = failure, because the base was so low that it still means nobody is watching.

There is nothing to gain from being on MTV2 except staying afloat and praying a real network takes a chance on you. That's it.