UFC on the decline ....

[gmflex]

Quote:
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that buyrates for the latest UFC PPV in Sydney, Australia are trending very low.

Updated trending data and other PPV info we’ve been able to get for UFC 110 isn’t looking good. It looks to have finished well behind UFC 108 and UFC 109. I don’t have a number of buys, but based on trending data which has historically been pretty accurate, it could be in the 215,000 to 240,000 range, basically along the lines of the tape-delayed foreign shows. This was foreign, but wasn’t tape delayed. One cable industry source gave an estimate of 215,000.

Payout Perspective:

We’ve talked a lot about the role that momentum plays in motivating purchasing behavior, and three lacklustre PPVs in a row have clearly hurt the UFC’s base. Should anyone be worried? Yes and no.

This is really the last lingering effect from the cursed back-half of 2009 when just about every major UFC star had some sort of injury; and, with a line-up in the next three months that’s going to feature four title fights, the UFC should be able to gather some momentum heading into the summer.

However, who’s to say what sort of impact this latest trend of poor PPV showings will have on UFC 111. The UFC isn’t necessarily out of the woods yet, especially considering the potential impact a strong or poor showing at UFC 111 could have for the rest of the summer. That’s why creating a Primetime show and spending a more than usual on advertising for this event is so important.

Note: Meltzer doesn’t have hard numbers, yet. These are just trending estimates that usually increase by10-15% over time. We’ve been loathe to post them in the past just because they do change. Readers are starving for this information and this is the best we’ve got right now, but we will update if/when official numbers come along.
 
 

[*ChuteBoxe*]

Dana said he won't lower prices, "if you don't like it, don't buy it".  People are listening   That's because these numbers are probably inflated too.

UFC 108 300,000 buys-51% decrease
UFC 109 275,000 buys -55% decrease
UFC 110 240,000 buys-62% decrease

[gmflex]

 

bump for the UFC guy's 

[WeightPSHR]

bump for the UFC guy's 

I appreciate your efforts though

http://mmapayout.com/2010/03/ufc-primetime-st-pierre-vs-hardy-does-1-million-viewers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Payout+%28Payout%29

UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Hardy Does 1 Million Viewers

March 11, 2010

MMAPayout.com has learned that last night’s debut episode of UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Hardy was the most watched episode in the history of the series drawing an average audience of 1 million people. Not surprisingly, the program scored well in the male 18-34 and 18-49 demos with a 1.1 and 1.0, respectively.

Payout Perspective:

If these levels of interest convert on the same scale as they did for UFC 94, we’re easily looking at the highest grossing PPV offering since UFC 101 – somewhere in the range of 700,000 – 850,000.

Granted, the context isn’t exactly the same this time around – the UFC has less momentum, now, than it did in January 2009 – but this card will also benefit from a second title fight and an additional UFC Countdown (independent of this Primetime series). Moreover, I think we’d all agree that GSP’s popularity has grown since then.

…..

While the most recent numbers have been poor, it’s important to emphasize that these ratings and buyrates are only short term indicators of success. They are inherently volatile and sometimes tend to reflect external factors that will have little bearing on the long-term success of the business.

The UFC has signed numerous international television deals in the last few months and will take its show to several new markets this year. Expansion often comes at the price of short-term revenue/sales; that’s just the nature of the trade-off.

However, like we’ve been preaching, the coming months are absolutely something to write home about as an MMA fan. So, get excited and tell all of your friends.

[Brixtonbulldog]

I can't speak for the rest of the audience but I know I don't even bother watching anymore.

I remember late 90's and early 00's I used to love UFC.  Vitor Belfort was one of my favorite fighters and Tito was just coming up the ranks.  Not many people knew about it and few had ever seen it.  It inspired me to start training.  Although I never wanted to compete I loved the idea of learning how to do the stuff these guys could do.

But thanks to  the 'reality' TV show, the commercialization, the show business side of events, the over-confident and over-rated fight cards, but mostly every loser walking around with a Tapout or Affliction shirt, I now want to barf every time someone mentions ultimate fighting.

Just the other day I went to the gun range with my neighbor.  The 5 foot nothing, 20 year old behind the counter had his 'no one knows how to fight but me' attitude to compliment a shaved head and severe case of ILS.  Disgusting.  Even Kimbo couldn't make the sport look that bad.  The fans are ten times worse now.

[WeightPSHR]

I can't speak for the rest of the audience but I know I don't even bother watching anymore.

I remember late 90's and early 00's I used to love UFC.  Vitor Belfort was one of my favorite fighters and Tito was just coming up the ranks.  Not many people knew about it and few had ever seen it.  It inspired me to start training.  Although I never wanted to compete I loved the idea of learning how to do the stuff these guys could do.

But thanks to  the 'reality' TV show, the commercialization, the show business side of events, the over-confident and over-rated fight cards, but mostly every loser walking around with a Tapout or Affliction shirt, I now want to barf every time someone mentions ultimate fighting.

Just the other day I went to the gun range with my neighbor.  The 5 foot nothing, 20 year old behind the counter had his 'no one knows how to fight but me' attitude to compliment a shaved head and severe case of ILS.  Disgusting.  Even Kimbo couldn't make the sport look that bad.  The fans are ten times worse now.

I do agree to a certain extent. With popularity came LOTS of changes. Both good and bad.

MMA is an entirely different sport than it once was. With sanctioning in so many states, MMA became a tamer sport.

[K-1]

I can't speak for the rest of the audience but I know I don't even bother watching anymore.

I remember late 90's and early 00's I used to love UFC.  Vitor Belfort was one of my favorite fighters and Tito was just coming up the ranks.  Not many people knew about it and few had ever seen it.  It inspired me to start training.  Although I never wanted to compete I loved the idea of learning how to do the stuff these guys could do.

But thanks to  the 'reality' TV show, the commercialization, the show business side of events, the over-confident and over-rated fight cards, but mostly every loser walking around with a Tapout or Affliction shirt, I now want to barf every time someone mentions ultimate fighting.

Just the other day I went to the gun range with my neighbor.  The 5 foot nothing, 20 year old behind the counter had his 'no one knows how to fight but me' attitude to compliment a shaved head and severe case of ILS.  Disgusting.  Even Kimbo couldn't make the sport look that bad.  The fans are ten times worse now.

you're a purist such as myself and many others. that is why we struggle with the show side of this....the way UFC is geared towards a certain demograph ....and also the way that demograph tries to sell the UFC as being such when it's "not all that" in our views.

It's to the point where you are a "hugger" or a "purist" .....Dana doesn't care about the purist opinion and could care less if they (us) watch his programs imo. This is all fine. It's his show. I just not going to crown them that's all. 

[Petrucci]

I can't speak for the rest of the audience but I know I don't even bother watching anymore.

I remember late 90's and early 00's I used to love UFC.  Vitor Belfort was one of my favorite fighters and Tito was just coming up the ranks.  Not many people knew about it and few had ever seen it.  It inspired me to start training.  Although I never wanted to compete I loved the idea of learning how to do the stuff these guys could do.

But thanks to  the 'reality' TV show, the commercialization, the show business side of events, the over-confident and over-rated fight cards, but mostly every loser walking around with a Tapout or Affliction shirt, I now want to barf every time someone mentions ultimate fighting.

Just the other day I went to the gun range with my neighbor.  The 5 foot nothing, 20 year old behind the counter had his 'no one knows how to fight but me' attitude to compliment a shaved head and severe case of ILS.  Disgusting.  Even Kimbo couldn't make the sport look that bad.  The fans are ten times worse now.

i agree completely with you...at least  some yerars before you had the pride competition...for me the sport changed, and for worse


i

[WeightPSHR]

I really don't think the UFC is blaming themselves for anything.What would they be blaming themselves for...the poularity of the  sport or the money they make? The UFC has changed the sport, some good, some bad. But lets be frank here...there would be NO MMA period in the USA without the UFC. You got to look at the big picture.

[Hedgehog]

I do agree to a certain extent. With popularity came LOTS of changes. Both good and bad.

MMA is an entirely different sport than it once was. With sanctioning in so many states, MMA became a tamer sport.

The future money is not in the PPV IMO.

Look at the Super Bowl or the NBA finals.

Or any other major sport event.

They're not PPV.

Some of the coverage is PPV, yes.

But there is the ad-paid broadcast.

That's how UFC and other MMA businesses will and should prosper.

And my guess is that they're continuing to make very good money from online subscriptions et al.

[WeightPSHR]

The future money is not in the PPV IMO.

Look at the Super Bowl or the NBA finals.

Or any other major sport event.

They're not PPV.

Some of the coverage is PPV, yes.

But there is the ad-paid broadcast.

That's how UFC and other MMA businesses will and should prosper.

And my guess is that they're continuing to make very good money from online subscriptions et al.

I do think that the UFC does needs more Free shows and a major network deal to be mainstream, but they also have to build a brand that shows it's stability and profitability before they can start making big money on ad-paid broadcasts and eliminate PPV's.

So far it seems as though they know what they are doing. Just in the last year or two ESPN, YAHOO Sports, and other new outlets have been covering MMA. This is just the beginning. The UFC is pushing the envelope, but also being smart about not pushing it too far and being greedy.

Even fighter pay and sponsorship is growing.
 

[gmflex]

 

As you can see the UFC is not doing so well..
Also for all the UFC guy's  
The Feritta brother's own the UFC..
not the other way around.. the zuffa brother's are not doing well
financially.. read below  

Quote:
In 2009 the UFC averaged 620,000 buys per ppv event. If we look at the percentage each event was above or below that average we can definitely see a downward trend from 100.
UFC 100 1,600,000 + 245%
UFC 101 850,000 + 29%
UFC 102 435,000 -30%
UFC 103 375,000 -40%
UFC 104 500,000 -20%
UFC 106 375,000 -40%
UFC 107 620,000 +/- 0
UFC 108 300,000 -51%
UFC 109 275,000 -55%
UFC 110 240,000 -62%

Wow. Is the UFC in a downward spiral. But here is the other interesting thing we should look at when discussing 2009 ppv buys:
Average with title on line 820,000
Average with non-title main event 370,000

Since 100 there (have) been 3 cards with title defenses (101, 104, and 107) and 6 ppv cards without titles on the line. Lesson to learn? Those belts really matter.  

Because of their commitment to international expansion and their failure to lock down a deal with HBO in 2007, the UFC has had too many events and not enough television venues. Pay cable would have been an elegant solution to bringing American fans the European/Australian events. As it is, they're kind of dumped onto the American PPV market in the late afternoon or on Spike TV via tape delay. Neither is an ideal situation.

But many of the flop events of 2009/2010 were NOT international events: 102, 103, 106, 108 and 109 were just flat out duds. Much of that had to do with bad luck and injuries. But the refusal to cancel any of those events in the face of so many fluke fighter cancellations reflects a kind of hubris and inertia that is cause for concern.

The UFC has definitely lost the upward momentum that it had coming out of UFC 100 that carried over to UFC 101.

Another topic that hasn't been brought up much, is the ongoing financial difficulties of Station Casinos, the foundation of the Fertitta family empire. They just reached terms with their creditors this week, allowing them to retain control of the casinos despite owing more than $2.4 billion.

The Las Vegas Sun reported earlier this week that part of that deal included a major payment from the Fertittas:

The Fertittas would make a substantial, but undisclosed, equity investment and the current management team led by Chairman and Chief Executive Frank Fertitta III would continue to lead the company.

MMA Payout noted that and connected some dots:

Note the "substantial, but undisclosed, equity investment" that the Fertittas will have to make in order to retain control of the company. The cash from the 10% sale of Zuffa LLC. to Flash Entertainment in Abu Dhabi might come in handy.  

In today's volatile no-you-own-it-now-you-don't business climate, MMA fans shouldn't be too sanguine about the continued success of the UFC. Things just get harder as the stakes get higher

[WeightPSHR]

As you can see the UFC is not doing so well..
Also for all the UFC guy's  
The Feritta brother's own the UFC..
not the other way around.. the zuffa brother's are not doing well
financially.. read below  

Quote:
In 2009 the UFC averaged 620,000 buys per ppv event. If we look at the percentage each event was above or below that average we can definitely see a downward trend from 100.
UFC 100 1,600,000 + 245%
UFC 101 850,000 + 29%
UFC 102 435,000 -30%
UFC 103 375,000 -40%
UFC 104 500,000 -20%
UFC 106 375,000 -40%
UFC 107 620,000 +/- 0
UFC 108 300,000 -51%
UFC 109 275,000 -55%
UFC 110 240,000 -62%

Wow. Is the UFC in a downward spiral. But here is the other interesting thing we should look at when discussing 2009 ppv buys:
Average with title on line 820,000
Average with non-title main event 370,000

Since 100 there (have) been 3 cards with title defenses (101, 104, and 107) and 6 ppv cards without titles on the line. Lesson to learn? Those belts really matter.  

Because of their commitment to international expansion and their failure to lock down a deal with HBO in 2007, the UFC has had too many events and not enough television venues. Pay cable would have been an elegant solution to bringing American fans the European/Australian events. As it is, they're kind of dumped onto the American PPV market in the late afternoon or on Spike TV via tape delay. Neither is an ideal situation.

But many of the flop events of 2009/2010 were NOT international events: 102, 103, 106, 108 and 109 were just flat out duds. Much of that had to do with bad luck and injuries. But the refusal to cancel any of those events in the face of so many fluke fighter cancellations reflects a kind of hubris and inertia that is cause for concern.

The UFC has definitely lost the upward momentum that it had coming out of UFC 100 that carried over to UFC 101.

Another topic that hasn't been brought up much, is the ongoing financial difficulties of Station Casinos, the foundation of the Fertitta family empire. They just reached terms with their creditors this week, allowing them to retain control of the casinos despite owing more than $2.4 billion.

The Las Vegas Sun reported earlier this week that part of that deal included a major payment from the Fertittas:

The Fertittas would make a substantial, but undisclosed, equity investment and the current management team led by Chairman and Chief Executive Frank Fertitta III would continue to lead the company.

MMA Payout noted that and connected some dots:

Note the "substantial, but undisclosed, equity investment" that the Fertittas will have to make in order to retain control of the company. The cash from the 10% sale of Zuffa LLC. to Flash Entertainment in Abu Dhabi might come in handy.  

In today's volatile no-you-own-it-now-you-don't business climate, MMA fans shouldn't be too sanguine about the continued success of the UFC. Things just get harder as the stakes get higher

So do you think that the UFC is folding?
What org do you think is doing to come out on top?

[MindSpin]

In spite of the shitty economy, and a business that relies on expensive PPVs, the UFC is doing just fine, and MMA is more popular than it was when all we had was Pride.  No business grows at a 45 degree angle, specially during this economy.  Are there things the UFC could do to improve their product?  Of Course.  But there is no denying that out of everything out there, they are the best option.

[Eric15210]

Last couple events were horrible and not worth buying

[MindSpin]

I think they're doing too many shows...

[gmflex]

So do you think that the UFC is folding?
What org do you think is doing to come out on top?

don't be amazed if they wind up selling it..

they owe 2.4 billion to creditor's..

they already sold 10% to the prince of Abu-Dabhi due to cash flow needs... look at the article above...

look what happened to Pride 
same problem...
they ran out of money...


It's not as good as you make it sound for the UFC WeightPshr

 

[MindSpin]

Last time I checked, the UFC was a private company.  How do you know how much their liabilities are?

[WeightPSHR]

don't be amazed if they wind up selling it..

they owe 2.4 billion to creditor's..

they already sold 10% to the prince of Abu-Dabhi due to cash flow needs... look at the article above...

look what happened to Pride 
same problem...
they ran out of money...


It's not as good as you make it sound for the UFC WeightPshr

 

Station casino's debt has nothing to do with the debt of the UFC. Nice try. Different business. Because one is hurting you can't necessarily go after the other if they are legally protected. Look up LLC and INC. Educate yourself before you make blatant false remarks.
Pride had more problems than just money....we all know that.

The UFC's not going anywhere....better learn to coexist with the nuthuggers

[gmflex]

read the article above...

The Ferrita's owe creditors the sum of 2.4 billion...

the Casino are the family business.. not the UFC... don't be amazed they continue to sell more of it where they become the minority owners...

they sold 10% of the ufc already to pay creditors ..

read the article...above

FYI: it came out on US Today a couple of weeks ago.. about the financial suitation the Feritta's
were against creditors... once you borrow money from banks etc... it becomes public information... read the article above..

[gmflex]

Station casino's debt has nothing to do with the debt of the UFC. Nice try. Different business. Because one is hurting you can't necessarily go after the other if they are legally protected. Look up LLC and INC. Educate yourself before you make blatant false remarks.
Pride had more problems than just money....we all know that.

The UFC's not going anywhere....better learn to coexist with the nuthuggers

when you owe that much...

you don't think the Ferrita's would sell the UFC??...

They own the UFC ... you still don't get it  
they already sold 10%

You are a true UFC guy....

[WeightPSHR]

when you owe that much...

you don't think the Ferrita's would sell the UFC??...

They own the UFC ... you still don't get it  
they already sold 10%

You are a true UFC guy....

You ever think that they sold 10% to expand?


Keep trying....

[gmflex]

You ever think that they sold 10% to expand?


Keep trying....

$2.4 billion... the Feritta"s owe to creditor's...
sure they sold to expand  
 

Feritta's = they own the ufc.....

[monopoly19]

I think they're doing too many shows...

I agree with you. It seems like they have one a month. Not enough time IMO to build up good fights. I'd prefer one great card per quarter.

[MindSpin]

They're actually doing as many as three per month...over saturation.  I say quality not quantity.