What we now know about the Fox deal

[mma midwest fan]

Pros-
-Increased MMA broadcasts

-Has led to former and current MMA stars getting broadcast experience

-Gets the UFC on a more steady and fixed revenue model versus the volatile world of ppv

-Credibility helps the UFC land TV deals in new parts of the world

Cons
-It hasn't brought in a significant new audience for the UFC

-It hasn't led to a substantial increase in PPV buys

-It hasn't done anything to grow TUF - TUF's heyday was still on Spike (but it would've probably declined on Spike, too - TUF is played out.)

-More "free" cards equals more cards with watered down star power

 

[The Real Pedro]

I generally agree with your list, but I'm a bit uncertain about PPV numbers being down. Are they? I know each individual card is pulling much lower numbers, but I'm sure the UFC is more concerned about annual revenue and ten mediocre cards still may gross more than five awesome cards.

 

[Barret]

I bet Fox is regretting the decision after pushing so hard in trying to shove UFC into the casuals. It just hasn't work out the way they wanted it to.

I mean they are getting ratings in comparison to weekdays old reruns of Simpsons and Family Guy toons, and that is not saying much. I'm just saying.

 

[wellsdj1]

Not a fan to be honest. Biggest issue is it waters down the PPV product with less star power. If I'm paying $60 for a PPV I would like all 5 fights on the PPV to be stars. Too many PPV's now where I only care about the main and co main event. I have to say UFC 170-172 do look good right now.

 

[TFanatic]

I bet Fox is regretting the decision after pushing so hard in trying to shove UFC into the casuals. It just hasn't work out the way they wanted it to.

I mean they are getting ratings in comparison to weekdays old reruns of Simpsons and Family Guy toons, and that is not saying much. I'm just saying.

Considering the UFC is the only thing drawing numbers on FS1, I doubt Fox regrets the deal at all.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

If I'm paying $60 for a PPV I would like all 5 fights on the PPV to be stars.

How many "stars" do you think the UFC has?

 

[mma midwest fan]

I generally agree with your list, but I'm a bit uncertain about PPV numbers being down. Are they? I know each individual card is pulling much lower numbers, but I'm sure the UFC is more concerned about annual revenue and ten mediocre cards still may gross more than five awesome cards.

We don't ever know the ppv buys for certain, but when they are good, Dana and company usually allude to that without giving specifics. That hasn't happened as much over the last year or two.

 

[wellsdj1]

I bet Fox is regretting the decision after pushing so hard in trying to shove UFC into the casuals. It just hasn't work out the way they wanted it to.

I mean they are getting ratings in comparison to weekdays old reruns of Simpsons and Family Guy toons, and that is not saying much. I'm just saying.

I'm guessing Fox is fine with the UFC deal. Probably used the UFC to get people to watch FS1 and 2. Also what they paid for the UFC was really small compared to what they pay for the nfl . I could be wrong just my opinion.

 

[mma midwest fan]

Their costs for these watered down cards must be low though. I mean, I don't think most guys make more than 50K with a win bonus on some of these cards. So maybe they are making it up in volume. Who knows. I want to see their balance sheet, lol.

 

[wellsdj1]

How many "stars" do you think the UFC has?

Not many. I guess I should say recognizable named fighters. Now they are down one with Thiago silva but rumble johnson is back at least. I admit it's my fault for not reaserching all the new fighters. The cards in brazil majority of fighters I've never even heard of.

 

[roggg]

Some good points, but I wouldn't conclude that it hasn't brought in new viewers. The Fox shows are pulling 2-5 million viewers which is 5-10 times the viewership the same cards on PPV were likely to do.

I'm not saying either Fox or the UFC are happy with those numbers, or that they are "good". Just that it probably is bringing in new fight fans.

 

[fiercedragon]

it made cards waaaay harder to find. now you have the stupid fight pass where you can't even watch live cards on your big screen unless you're connected to the internet. just a HUGE fail by Zuffa...

 

[Tigerknee]

I bet Fox is regretting the decision after pushing so hard in trying to shove UFC into the casuals. It just hasn't work out the way they wanted it to.

I mean they are getting ratings in comparison to weekdays old reruns of Simpsons and Family Guy toons, and that is not saying much. I'm just saying.

push on to casuals by putting ufc on fox 1? a channel you have to pay extra for

 

[CouchPro**]

It's nice to hear 'some' (minimal) UFC talk on Fox Sports News in the mornings. It's a good change from the normal, bigger sports beat in the ground all day.

BUT it's painful to watch. They only ask fighters questions about the UFC, not many aimed at the sports analyst . And they don't ask fighters any questions about other sports. Very much like they're scared a fighter would sound like an idiot trying to break down a football game.

So it's very 3rd-wheel anytime the octagon talk comes up for 4 minutes.

 

[cumafish]

Personally I hate the whole FS1/FS2 part since I don't get either in my Dishnet plan.
I am not willing to upgrade to a costlier plan or do the Fight Pass either.
Generally the cards on TV that aren't on Fox tend to be 1, maybe 2 good fights and the rest are not even Facebook quality.
Overall the product in general has been watered down for the last 2 years at least. I buy far fewer PPV's since they are not as high quality as they used to be.
The truth for me at least is that the UFC just doesn't have enough "talent" to put on as many shows as they do each year.

 

[DickNiaz1]

1. The UFC sold the most PPV's in the history of MMA in 2013 and they will sell more in 2014 due to having more cards.

2. There is a huge demographic that has been exposed to MMA due to the fox deal (most people don't ever watch Spike) and the way people view MMA has completely changed. People used to look down on you for liking cage fighting as though it was the same as pro wrestling. Now most people know the term MMA and recognize it as a real sport. Fox took the UFC mainstream.

Lots of posters want to pretend the UFC is somehow not doing well when they're doing better than ever by a huge margin.

 

[TFanatic]

1. The UFC sold the most PPV's in the history of MMA in 2013 and they will sell more in 2014 due to having more cards.

2. There is a huge demographic that has been exposed to MMA due to the fox deal (most people don't ever watch Spike) and the way people view MMA has completely changed. People used to look down on you for liking cage fighting as though it was the same as pro wrestling. Now most people know the term MMA and recognize it as a real sport. Fox took the UFC mainstream.

Lots of posters want to pretend the UFC is somehow not doing well when they're doing better than ever by a huge margin.

This guy gets it.

 

[wellsdj1]

1. The UFC sold the most PPV's in the history of MMA in 2013 and they will sell more in 2014 due to having more cards.

2. There is a huge demographic that has been exposed to MMA due to the fox deal (most people don't ever watch Spike) and the way people view MMA has completely changed. People used to look down on you for liking cage fighting as though it was the same as pro wrestling. Now most people know the term MMA and recognize it as a real sport. Fox took the UFC mainstream.

Lots of posters want to pretend the UFC is somehow not doing well when they're doing better than ever by a huge margin.

Wait a minute how many PPV's are the UFC planing to have this year to sell more than 2013?

 

[_Keyser_Soze_]

Considering the UFC is the only thing drawing numbers on FS1, I doubt Fox regrets the deal at all.

^This. Times a thousand.

Fox needed programming for their FS1 platform, and the UFC provides that in spades. While the numbers for the shows on FOX haven't increased as much as many thought they would - I bet that Fox is still pleased with the deal.

 

[titanium rod]

Three things:

1. The FOX deal will pay off in the long run. If for no other reason, it has definitively made MMA a mainstream sport.
2. The Fight Pass is a dumb idea. Too expensive for what you get.
3. If the UFC really wants to grow viewership, instead of fight pass, put their entire catalog of past fights on Netflix or Hulu. That's the future. I think A LOT more people would see MMA and get hooked.