FUEL TV's New Year's Day UFC marathon 'scores a ratings KO'
by Kevin Haggerty on Jan 5, 2012 8:00 PM EST
in UFC Ratings
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You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Luckily, for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the first impression of its new television partnership with FUEL TV (via FOX) was a good one.
And then some.
In August 2011, the UFC signed a seven-year deal with FOX, making it the flagship network of the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, which went into full effect on Jan. 1, 2012. The very first "unofficial" sampling of what this marriage would look like came on Nov. 12, 2011, when Junior dos Santos defeated then-heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX 1 in Anaheim, California.
Though FUEL TV played a minor role in the UFC on FOX 1 build-up, the network featured 24 hours of action-packed UFC programming to kick off the New Year. So, just how well did the UFC on FUEL TV marathon do from a numbers perspective?
Check out the ratings after the jump:
Here are some key points (from an official press release distributed earlier today):
- Sunday, January, 2012 was the second most-watched day in network history with Total Day average up +378% vs. the January 2011 Sunday average.
- FUEL TV had its highest-watched Primetime night ever, up +493% vs. the 2011 Sunday average.
- The top show of the day was "UFC Bad Blood" at 7:00 PM ET. It was the fourth most-watched show on FUEL TV among Households since the network became nationally rated.
George Greenberg, FUEL TV's Executive Vice President and General Manager, felt that the New Year's marathon was the first step of many exciting steps to come for the partnership:
"FUEL TV's New Year's Day Marathon of UFC programming was essentially Day 1 of FOX's seven-year relationship with the UFC. We are confident that this exceptional and powerful programming, our cross-network promotional strategy, along with a great working relationship with UFC management, will continue to drive growth for UFC and FUEL TV over the long term."
FUEL TV is certain to play a pivotal role in the future, regarding how MMA fans see the UFC on television.
On Feb. 15, the first-ever UFC on FUEL TV fight card will showcase a "dream" headline fight between Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger, LIVE from CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
In 2012, FUEL TV will telecast more than 2,000 hours of UFC programming, with more than 100 hours of live fights, weigh-ins, preliminary bouts, and pre and post-fight shows. In fact, in 2012, FUEL TV will offer more UFC programming than any network has ever offered.
No hard feelings, Spike TV.
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at least I had spike
But they were slowing the UFC’s growth down
I might have to look into getting Fuel TV…. :(
"I am the tomato can that crushed your champion, live with it."
i have both
but i enjoy all the mma stuff on fuel better than spike. just watched ultimate KO 9,badass!
That jab was stiffer than a box of viagra.
i haven't even heard of FUEL TV
Til UFC signed with FOX. I get Spike on my satellite subscription. But not FUEL. I don’t even know if they offer it in Canada.
That makes me a saaaaaaad panda :(
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by daniel worby on Jan 5, 2012 8:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Sexual harassment isn't a joke panda
Go to the island of misfit mascots
"I am the tomato can that crushed your champion, live with it."
ya in canada we seem screwed
Unless sportsnet covers it all which is a huge possibility
by ElStIkO on Jan 5, 2012 8:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I live in Canada too
And I’m not too worried. Sounds like us canadians we miss out on all the programming on fuel and fx but we will get all the live events on sports net. So I really don’t care about there stupid marathons on fuel, it’s all about the live event
fuel and fx will show live events just in case you missed the memo.
That jab was stiffer than a box of viagra.
And so is fuel tv at least on my direct tv package it is
Jackie chan hates MMA. Well FUCK Jackie chan I hate shitty movies!!!
by malito3og3 on Jan 5, 2012 8:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
fuel is in hd too, i get it
blame your lame ass provider no the network
"If guns cause crime then all of mine are defective."
And I gotta admit i love what fuel is doing new yrs eve was awesome and everyday they reshow a full fight card just re watched huges vs gsp 3 page vs bones there fixing to show Edgar vs manyard 3 some good shit
Jackie chan hates MMA. Well FUCK Jackie chan I hate shitty movies!!!
by malito3og3 on Jan 5, 2012 8:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
And it suddenly occurs to me.
Shit like this is probably why the UFC is so hard on YouTube people uploading full fights.
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One Time, I Interviewed Dana White at UFC 86 & It Was Totally Cool
by McKinley B. Noble on Jan 5, 2012 8:48 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I heard...
the average #s were 15,000 viewers, which is nothing to jizz over. That said, I’ll bet we’ll see a lot of growth in the next year, and Fox and the UFC are banking on that.
I was thinking the same thing, The 2nd highest rated show on the absolute least watched channel
that nobody has, is nothing to get fired up about. It really only KO’d the high school darts finals, Or the senior power walkers special, or the other crap like that on fuel. Any way, that station sucked until now. I don’t mind having it now.
by djkrazykill on Jan 5, 2012 9:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I understand that new people will be watching on Fuel
but like a lot of us, most people have never heard of it. Basic cable reaches a much broader audience.
The way they are trying to introduce it on Fuel is kind of annoying. They try to teach what mma is, like it is something no one has ever heard of. People arent that damn slow, they can understand the concept by watching and gradually learn. Dont need to be talked to like i’m trying to hit my chest and bite my ear at the same time.
Also from now on if Frank Mir is going to be interviewed with a group of fighters for 30 minutes. Someone needs to hold his mic, that way when its not his turn to talk then they can take it away.
right, i know that
imo i thnk they kinda talk to you like your slow.
Hopefully comcast will add fuel soon....
by MMA Boss on Jan 6, 2012 2:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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