UFC PPV woes

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.

Another interesting note.

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.

So what do you think? Bad economy? Too many events?

IMO, they are by far over saturating the market,
Just between now and July 3rd they're are 6 UFC PPV's,
not counting TUF, fight night, UFC on Versus.

No GSP or Brock since UFC 100 ...

[Vizion]

Somehow I feel no sympathy for them...more Fight Nights for the lesser cards. People are sick of having to buy crappy cards like....COLEMAN vs. COUTURE. Maybe then people would be willing to spend on PPV.

Also, why pay money when you can just wait and watch the videos online the next day, or even sometimes the same day?

whats more important is how those numbers stack up against years past. i think they are still bringing in more views than 09

[rockdawg21]

Vizion is right on, the headliner fights lately have sucked. UFC 110 was one of the best PPV's in years and its' numbers sucked only due to the fact that every even prior to that sucked. It sucks!

[QUOTE=Vizion;104364]Somehow I feel no sympathy for them...more Fight Nights for the lesser cards. People are sick of having to buy crappy cards like....COLEMAN vs. COUTURE. Maybe then people would be willing to spend on PPV.=QUOTE]

Exactly I only pop for a event now if its got a pretty stacked card and a belt on the line. Too many mediocre PPV inbetween good events. How about only charging $19.99 for a non-title event?

[flo]

Originally Posted by Vizion

Somehow I feel no sympathy for them...more Fight Nights for the lesser cards. People are sick of having to buy crappy cards like....COLEMAN vs. COUTURE. Maybe then people would be willing to spend on PPV.

Also, why pay money when you can just wait and watch the videos online the next day, or even sometimes the same day?

Yup, I agree, they raise the prices (in a tough economy, no less!) and have too many PPV events with less-than-stellar matchups.

Fewer shows with better matchups and put the price back to $40 (and HiDef is ~ $60 with tax, give me a break!).

[flo]

I think a good analogy is "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". When they introduced it the show was an overnight sensation. Slowly they started adding more shows per week until viewership dropped off because they flooded their market. People didn't look forward to it as it was on all the time.

Now add a heft PPV price and I'm not surprised at the falling numbers.

[Tyburn]

Because the UFC are bloody overcharging.

Listen...we all love more events, and more fighters...but you cant up your events quota by more then double (which they have) and not drop the price (which they havent) people will eventually make it not worth them doing the extra cards because they'll decide to only buy the main numbered event.

What the UFC have to do is drop the prices of the PPV substantially. If a UFN in half as good as a UFC then its half the price.

They also WELL need to tone down their live event prices..which are unbeliveably rising...and they want to stop moving into new territories for a year and concentrate on getting a proper circuit.

The very idea of going to the middle east is STUPID...I think it was a little silly to go to Austrailia before securing a proper European Market..one event in Germany does not equate to European Conquest...and they really will begin to annoy people if they try and keep their UFNs iabroad...as a way of doing what I suggest because some of us in England are already pissed off that they cant manage to actually crack the nation...and they havent...WHY are we supposed to wait for up to half a week AFTER TUF is shown in the US before its shown in England?? What do they think we do...avoid the forums for five days whilst we await their distributory pleasure....WHERE is the UFC on an easy to reach TV/Cable network...ITS NOT!! nowonder they have pirate issues, how else do they expect anyone in England to actually see their product???

Now they should tackle this before they gallivante much further...or else they will spread themselves to thinly and that might break their back ultimately. This is a dangerous expansion the UFC have suddenly broken into...if they play it wrong it might end in floods of tears...im very serious...selling out to the Saudis...or hosting your events in Islamic Countries...its not the best idea in this world right now.

[Tyburn]

...and finally..GET OVER TUF...its been done to death...its time they thought of another novel idea and let TUF die