UFC on Fuel does 217k Viewers (Spike Does 694k with Reruns)

[EmpireWF]

The first live UFC on Fuel show did 217,000 viewers, the highest ever for the network. Plus, it was a free preview week on several providers. It's a 46% increase from their normal numbers.

Spike TV counter-programmed with a Diego Sanchez marathon and did 694,000 during the same time slot.

Fule is in 35 million holmes with Spike in 99 million.

http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012...-record-217000-viewers-ellenberger-vs-sanchez

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I wish there was a way to see how many of the viewers who watched taped fights on Spike also have Versus available to them.

Both here in the chatbox, and over on the Meltzer board, I saw people who at least follow MMA to some degree surprised that there were live fights on, and were frantically asking "what channel?!?" The guys asking here were casuals, so I can understand that, but when you have people who PAY to read insider MMA news, and they don't even know there is a show, then either FOX/UFC need to kick up the promotion, or people really are as clueless as I always say they are.

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

i myself dont have Fuel

weak

 

[RyanLeaf16]

I have FUEL and watched. I was pretty stoked on Wednesday at work knowing I would have something to watch that night.

It really comes down to access though. In comparison to the reach each network has and the number of viewers, it was a wash. Pretty even overall.

 

[Liquidrob]

sweet bellator numbers

 

[Jmiles]

I wish there was a way to see how many of the viewers who watched taped fights on Spike also have Versus available to them.

Both here in the chatbox, and over on the Meltzer board, I saw people who at least follow MMA to some degree surprised that there were live fights on, and were frantically asking "what channel?!?" The guys asking here were casuals, so I can understand that, but when you have people who PAY to read insider MMA news, and they don't even know there is a show, then either FOX/UFC need to kick up the promotion, or people really are as clueless as I always say they are.

Or those guys who pay to read need to start fucking reading:brianwilson:

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

The fuck is "fuel".

Heard that a few times. Few things more annoying than trying to find a channel in the 600s.
Missed it live had to APP search it to find a replay.

 

[EmpireWF]

The fuck is "fuel".

Heard that a few times. Few things more annoying than trying to find a channel in the 600s.
Missed it live had to APP search it to find a replay.

Fuel TV is one of those Fox owned networks in the sports package for most cable providers (or satellite too). It's essentially the UFC network now because they air so much MMA programming.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Not a fair comparison, what did the first shows on Spike do? UFC is going to build this network, eventually customers will demand Fuel be included in their TV package, the viewership and knowledge of the new network deals will grow over time and the ratings will slowly increase. Right now you're dealing with Spike TV being entrenched in everyone's mind as the main source to watch the UFC. That's not going to change overnight.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

There is no way to analyze the Fuel numbes so far as anything but a massive success. The show broke all records on the network across the board.

The prelims a few weeks ago werent as strong, and the news show is tanking badly, but the fights last week killed it by any measure.

 

[s@ppisgod]

The problem is that Fuel is basically the home of the UFC now. They're replaying old PPVs and having post-PPV shows and breakdowns and specials like this. But you need to advertise it like crazy, and they're not advertising at all. The only reason I even stumbled upon Fuel is because it's between ESPN Classic and the NHL/NFL Networks on my cable. They had a replay of Bones Jones/Rampage on and I started watching it. Then they advertised for last Wednesday's show during one of the breaks. So unless you're WATCHING Fuel, you'd have no idea that there's going to be a fight night ON FUEL. And it still broke records for them. Imagine if they actually get the word out.....

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The problem is that Fuel is basically the home of the UFC now. They're replaying old PPVs and having post-PPV shows and breakdowns and specials like this. But you need to advertise it like crazy, and they're not advertising at all. The only reason I even stumbled upon Fuel is because it's between ESPN Classic and the NHL/NFL Networks on my cable. They had a replay of Bones Jones/Rampage on and I started watching it. Then they advertised for last Wednesday's show during one of the breaks. So unless you're WATCHING Fuel, you'd have no idea that there's going to be a fight night ON FUEL. And it still broke records for them. Imagine if they actually get the word out.....

Exactly.

The only promotion I saw for the show anywhere, was Dana's twitter.

 

[Liquidrob]

The 'core MMA fanbase' knows it's on Fuel, getting 217k is really nothing, sites like the UG, Sherdog, BE, Junkie, etc...all have ads for it

Its a 'success' for Fuel, not for the UFC, 217k is bellator like, yes, I know the number of homes and blah, blah, blah, but this is the UFC, with many many followers, it's not like this is some start up that doesnt have a built in audience for the last whatever number of years

 

[Liquidrob]

hopefully the spike numbers stay in that range for when they can stat showing Bellator

 

[EmpireWF]

Its a 'success' for Fuel, not for the UFC, 217k is bellator like, yes, I know the number of homes and blah, blah, blah, but this is the UFC, with many many followers, it's not like this is some start up that doesnt have a built in audience for the last whatever number of years

Any company just starting out on a network with absolutely no built in audience is going to take a hit early on. If UFC is still doing these kinds of numbers in 2013, it's concerning.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

But rob, most of that built in audience doesn't get the channel.

How many viewers do you expect them to get with a universe of 35 million? Only 10% of the country gets the channel, man. Think of all the CrimsonGhosts who would have watched, but couldnt.

You cant say the Bellator numbers are good (and they have been) without saying the Fuel number was great. If you want to make fun of UFC, rip the Fuel prelims from the FX card, that had like 60k watching the Lavar Johnson opener. Or the MMA Tonight or whatever its called, literally nobody is watching.

 

[Liquidrob]

The Bellator numbers on MTV are not really good, I dont think I ever said they were, 200k on cable isnt good, but Bellator with no name to it gets 200k, the UFC is THE UFC, I know it's Fuel, but it's the UFC, the big bad wolf

They have sites slobbing them like crazy, MMA fans have been checking if they have Fuel for months now

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The Bellator numbers on MTV are not really good, I dont think I ever said they were, 200k on cable isnt good, but Bellator with no name to it gets 200k, the UFC is THE UFC, I know it's Fuel, but it's the UFC, the big bad wolf

They have sites slobbing them like crazy, MMA fans have been checking if they have Fuel for months now

C'mon rob, don't downplay the Bellator numbers now. Nobody expected them to do as well as they have on such a shit network. They aren't great numbers, but I would definitely call them 'good', especially when they peak around 300k which nobody on earth thought they could ever touch.

Bellator broke records on MTV2, UFC is smashing records on Fuel, both have bee successful. The UFC number is more impressive when you consider the viewing universe and the Fuel baseline numbers, but MTV2 has to be pleased with what Bellator has done.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I see what you are saying though, it's the UFC, they should be able to draw anywhere, but in reality it just doesnt work like that. The message board crowd does not drive the number, you know that, it's people like Shag & Shayn who were in the chatbox saying they had no idea Fuel even aired UFC. It's the casual fans like that who UFC/FOX has clearly not reached for the B & C shows, and they still put up record numbers for the network.

 

[Liquidrob]

I dont think I ever went overbaord on the bellator numbers, I made a couple 'this doesnt look good' threada about the,, they can not survive doing 200 to 300k in this market, they need spike or bust at the time which they did

'Smashing' Fuel records is just silly at this point and just a buzzword, like I said, its the UFC, they should do well anywhere, the message board crowd doesnt drive stuff, but thats who is watching on Fuel, every website is UFC crazy and puts it everywhere

Also, the casual fan that the UFC 'reached' is pretty much the same casual fan amount that watched Kimbo and Strikeforce on CBS with Fedor, the UFC hasnt blown the doors off it even with the UFC name