News Netflix co-CEO casts doubt on interest in UFC after revealing streamer staying focused on ‘big, breakthrough events’

[El Fernas]

Its all connected but during this weekend a couple of UFC fighters and Dana White were attending wrestlemania and getting shown on screen/broadcast, if someone was put on screen looked like Netflix was promoting a new show or a big celebrity, so...

 

[DecisionSplit]

Its all connected but during this weekend a couple of UFC fighters and Dana White were attending wrestlemania and getting shown on screen/broadcast, if someone was put on screen looked like Netflix was promoting a new show or a big celebrity, so...

Yes it also coincides with rumors that some WWE and UFC stars were asked about potentially cross promoting events. Meaning that some UFC stars would be appearing on WWE's Netflix show and WWE would send some of their guys into something like UFC Embedded or whatever. So if UFC goes to Netflix expect to see giant Twitter spam messages of WWE fighters during even more matches.

I just shudder to think of how UFC will blow its next media deal in terms of what fans want. Either with continued PPV models. Or increasing the amount of commercials where UFC events are now another hour or two longer. They want $1 billion per year for UFC events and there's no way that they have enough viewers and PPV numbers to justify that.

 

[Neck&Neck]

It's 2025.

Can't they just make their own platform at this point? Would it really cost that much?

ZUFFAflix

 

[DougieJones]

It would be so fucking funny if they ended up back on FOX Sports lol

 

[MerAndre DvalishFili]

Anywhere but ESPN

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

Lol @ Taylor/Serrano being a "big breakthrough event"

Also laughed at “big, breakthrough events” in the past have included the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson that ended up producing more than 235 million watch hours, which actually crushed a pair of NFL games shown on Christmas Day this past year"

They're somehow surprised that two world famous people fighting each other got more views on a global streaming service than American football games...

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It's probably not the best negotiation tactic to say "we'd absolutely love to have UFC, we're desperate for it"

 

[El Fernas]

Yes it also coincides with rumors that some WWE and UFC stars were asked about potentially cross promoting events. Meaning that some UFC stars would be appearing on WWE's Netflix show and WWE would send some of their guys into something like UFC Embedded or whatever. So if UFC goes to Netflix expect to see giant Twitter spam messages of WWE fighters during even more matches.

I just shudder to think of how UFC will blow its next media deal in terms of what fans want. Either with continued PPV models. Or increasing the amount of commercials where UFC events are now another hour or two longer. They want $1 billion per year for UFC events and there's no way that they have enough viewers and PPV numbers to justify that.

I noticed some advertising during the Netflix Wrestlemania thing, do they still do PPV's somewhere? The UFC is already on PPV and still very much filled with advertisers, i wouldnt mind watching on Netflix, in Mexico they are on cable TV and not on PPV.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

Am I really here first to say the UFC is dying? Truly honored

This unique take is huge if true

 

[usernamee]

UFC needs to be on after midnight on dodgy porn channels broken up by nothing but vaseline commercials

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

UFC was at its best when it was on Spike, man those UFC Fight Night events were so good, really good cards, would wipe the floor with a lot of UFC PPV cards today, and the events flowed so well, Spike did much less ad breaks and constant talking than Fox and ESPN does.

I recorded a few on those events on DVD, I watch them from time too time, the Spike promos were really good, intense and too the point, and there was just much less talking, much less analysis and MMA so called experts and fighters given their opinions. And of course no Tweets on the screen during the fights from Twitter/X , It was just straight into the fights after a few angry words from each fighter which lasted 8 seconds. The events just flowed much better

 

[Big Al's Texas BBQ]

It's 2025.

Can't they just make their own platform at this point? Would it really cost that much?

Fight pass?

 

[flektarn]

It's 2025.

Can't they just make their own platform at this point? Would it really cost that much?

yea but only fans have fight pass. They want to be on a platform that casuals browse so maybe they'll see the UFC and tune in.

 

[BFoe]

You mean something where they could broadcast all their events? And maybe it would also have a library that users could watch any old events/fights that they wanted, all for the monthly price of $10.99, and more if you want to get the PPV?

They could call this platform . . . Fight Pass.

This is what I’ve always thought too. Like, why not make Fight Pass an all inclusive thing like the WWE Network was? I assume one reason is that they still want a broadcast partner for the free Fight Night cards, and then that partner probably wants the PPVs exclusive to their service or whatever. And maybe there’s concerns as to whether FP has the bandwidth for a big PPV audience? But the UFC is like a gazillion dollar company, it would seem very doable.

 

[Kinniku]

Netflix may want the PPVs but not the Fight Nights / Apex cards. I don't think they will reach an agreement.

 

[markys00]

UFC is going to Disney+

I mean, that's the same company they're on right now

 

[HHJ]

UFC needs to be on after midnight on dodgy porn channels broken up by nothing but vaseline commercials

I'd agree but I'm old.

So maybe regular time but still on dodgy porn channels.

 

[Neck&Neck]

They have WWE and it’s crushing apparently
They don’t need the TKO D league UFC

 

[Streeter]

Netflix: Dana were interested but....... ummmmmmm. You need to make better cards to be worth it. No more Aussie/Canada level cards .

Dana:

 

[DecisionSplit]

They have WWE and it’s crushing apparently
They don’t need the TKO D league UFC

Wrong. WWE on Netflix viewership is down considerably. They are down close to 40% in terms of U.S. viewers alone. And Americans are the top draw for advertiser dollars. It's a disastrous move so far. People are also constantly reporting technical errors with their streams.

If Vince McMahon were still running the company the media would be shitting all over the Netflix deal.