UFC on Fuel TV Poster by Anton Tabuena
The UFC's first full card effort on Fuel TV set a ratings record for the network. The show, which saw a very good main event between Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger, outperformed the previous live airings of UFC undercard fights on Fuel.
The UFC's debut event on FUEL TV, UFC on FUEL, averaged 217,000 viewers over the length of the three-hour broadcast, setting a new live-event ratings record for the fledgling network.
Wednesday's numbers mark a 46-percent increase from FUEL TV's previous ratings record of 148,000 viewers, earned by January's UFC on FX 1 preliminary card. UFC on Fox 2's live preliminary card averaged 144,000 viewers.
The "free preview week" for Fuel on many carriers would provide an obvious boost to the numbers, but how big of a boost is up for debate. Many major markets still did not have access to the free preview as it appeared your carrier had to already offer Fuel as part of a higher tier package. Markets such as Chicago's Comcast households did not get the preview as their carrier does not offer Fuel on any package currently offered.
0 recs | 26 comments
Bellator esk numbers
Impressive
MattParker117 - February 17, 2012
and new york city's comcast market
Cory Braiterman - February 17, 2012
These are great ratings by the way
Over 200k is a success on Fuel. And as the relationship develops the ratings will only grow.
Matthew Roth - February 17, 2012
meh
I wonder how it’d be without the free weekend. I won’t hold my breath for the growing success until it’s actually available on more than a tiny fraction of homes
Cory Braiterman - February 17, 2012
Yeah,
They worked hard to promote this show, and I don’t think they can do it every time. At the end of the day, unless carriers really get on board, I don’t see it growing that much unless they commit for a looong time. It’s probably worth it for the Fox presence, but still, fighters will probably begin to resent the Fuel cards. Could be a source of conflict or ill-will.
DankNabbot - February 17, 2012
What's the number of households that carries FUEL?
Along with the projected number of households given the FUEL TV preview?
SSreporters - February 17, 2012
36 and 8 million
Are the numbers I’ve seen bandied about.
wonderfulspam - February 17, 2012
So that's 44 million households
And 217k is .005%.
Compared to FX reaching about 100 mil and getting 1.3 mil on their first Fight Night, so that’s .013%.
Given this is a lesser known channel and wasn’t advertised as much, these numbers aren’t bad.
SSreporters - February 17, 2012
I saw 20 mil for the first #
70 mil for spike
Cory Braiterman - February 18, 2012
the trade they gave for the Fox deal...
let’s not act like Zuffa had complete leverage in negotiations with Fox, it was obviously a give and take, and Fox is interested in establishing Fuel TV and grabbing some key demos on a more regular basis with the channel.
UFC got 4 cards a year on Fox and several on FX, eating some ratings on Fuel for cards is part of the deal.
ChicagoMMAFan - February 17, 2012
They als essentially got their own channel on the network.
Fuel is airing 2200 hours of UFC programming this year.
Matthew Roth - February 17, 2012
I wouldn’t really call it there own channel. Its only like 25% UFC, and 75% stuff no one cares about.
Itsover - February 17, 2012
It is only 25%
But the vast majority of that is prime time programming.
Chris Hall - February 17, 2012 via Android app
They might eat it in the ratings now...
But they’re building up “the UFC channel”. The viewership lets them tempt/pressure providers to carry Fuel, they get a home for all their content, and some low pressure cards to build up prospects and experiment with new production ideas…
3 or 4 years down the line I think the Fuel arrangement ends up looking like one of the best parts of their deal.
Bloody L - February 17, 2012
watch out Strikeforce Challengers!
ekc - February 17, 2012
Even markets that offer it on a higher tier didn't offer it
Fuel TV is available the highest tier of my Comcast subscription, and I didn’t get access.
Charles Awad - February 17, 2012
/Minneapolis
Charles Awad - February 17, 2012
I didn't get it with DirecTV and they offer fuel on the next tier up
HaterSlayer - February 17, 2012
didn't get it in Iowa
and its offered on some higher tier package. Wow 217,000 thats right up there with Family Guy reruns.
nickrodamous - February 17, 2012
Does this count the viewers from canada who watch it on sportsnet? Or just the ones watching on fuel?
Tats16 - February 17, 2012
just Fuel TV
Nate Wilcox - February 17, 2012
I really wish I had FuelTV
And yes, I’ve already contacted Comcast multiple times (twice). I still streamed it, and I’m one of the most vocal people bitching about the situation, but I’ve learned to live with it.
I may not personally have FuelTV, but damn it, somebody watched MMA for the first time, and got to watch a great night of fights. So it sure has hell is raising MMA awareness, which I’m all for.
I guess what I’m saying is, I admire her commitment to community service.
Body Triangle - February 17, 2012
Anyone who knows clone high is okay by me.
Matthew Roth - February 17, 2012
Peak was 315,000
http://mmajunkie.com/news/27478/ufc-on-fuel-tv-1-ratings-audience-peaks-with-315000-viewers-shatters-records.mma
More people tuned into Ellenberger/Sanchez than every single Bellator Title fight ever and the title fights were avaliable in 65 million more homes.
MattParker117 - February 17, 2012
Just curious...
Does Big MTV ( like dana white says Big Fox) ever promote Bellator since thats the bigger channel in comparison to MTV 2?
milliondollardreams - February 18, 2012
Why Do MMA Fans Care About Ratings
I’ve never understood this. Let Fuel, Fox, and Dana White worry about ratings. I don’t. It was a good exciting card, that’s all I care about.
I suppose one could argue that better ratings means more money, which means more top notch athletes get involved in MMA. But really, I don’t think the ratings on Fuel have any impact on anything outside of how much money a few executives make.
Can someone explain this to me?
BNL - February 18, 2012
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