What Is Going on With the UFC TV Deal Negotiations and Should Fans Be Concerned?

[Drake]

Back in 2010, the UFC began its new partnership with Fox after only televising non-PPV events on Spike TV for the six years previous. This was a huge deal for the organization at the time as it would mean the UFC would now be broadcasting on a major national network for the first time in their existence.

Most fans of MMA or just sports in general, often get confused about what TV negotiations may mean for their favorite sports. These negotiations can have bigger implications than some may realize because, in the end, it’s all about making money. Especially for the younger sports organizations such as the UFC. And there seems to be a lot of questions about the UFC’s future in regards to their upcoming TV deal negotiations.

I’ve received many questions from fans on the matter recently and so I sat down and spoke with a friend and avid follower of the business side of combat sports who specializes in MMA and pro wrestling, Frankie NYC to help me answer some questions.

@FrankieNYC

Continued: What Is Going on With the UFC TV Deal Negotians and Should Fans Be Concerned?

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

I have no idea which company has better distribution. NBC or Fox. But it's pretty amazing to have the 2 networks bidding on the UFC imo

 

[Uncaged]

I think being put on NBC could expose it to a huge audience, but would also be policed a bit heavier considering the audience

 

[Chromium]

In 2017, Fox is a much better choice. Mediocre as FS1 is exposure-wise, NBCSN is worse.

The ideal semi-realistic outcome for me would be something like this:

-Fox is the primary partner, Netflix is the secondary partner:

-PPVs are reduced to 8 a year. They’d usually be pretty fucking loaded.
-8 shows a year on Fox proper. At least every other one has a title fight.
-14 shows a year on FS1 (including 2 TUF Finales).
-FightPass is rolled into Netflix, but people without Netflix can still buy a FP-only subscription for like $6/mo. You own Netflix, you can get UFC FP for free.
-Netflix thus gets all early prelims, and some later prelims, as well as 6 exclusive cards a year.

And the Ideal Not-Realistic Outcome to me:
-Netflix gets everything.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Back in 2010, the UFC began its new partnership with Fox after only televising non-PPV events on Spike TV for the six years previous. This was a huge deal for the organization at the time as it would mean the UFC would now be broadcasting on a major national network for the first time in their existence.

Most fans of MMA or just sports in general, often get confused about what TV negotiations may mean for their favorite sports. These negotiations can have bigger implications than some may realize because, in the end, it’s all about making money. Especially for the younger sports organizations such as the UFC. And there seems to be a lot of questions about the UFC’s future in regards to their upcoming TV deal negotiations.

I’ve received many questions from fans on the matter recently and so I sat down and spoke with a friend and avid follower of the business side of combat sports who specializes in MMA and pro wrestling, Frankie NYC to help me answer some questions.

@FrankieNYC

Continued: What Is Going on With the UFC TV Deal Negotians and Should Fans Be Concerned?

You rang?

I forgot my PW ... took me a bit @Drake lol

 

[Enock-O-Lypse Now!]

UFC could have made this a lot easier on everyone had they stuck it out with Spike and locked in that HBO contract they were negotiating years ago.

Come on now, HBO Now - On Demand - PPV's shown the following week on HBO following Game of Thrones ...

A missed opportunity.

 

[member 3289]

Whatever they do, they need to make it so a subscription to their digital service allows people to watch events at ANY time during or after the event.

For example, if I want to watch last weekend's UFC event, I have to illegally watch/download it because I'm in the US and it's blacked out for a month on FightPass due to licensing restrictions

So I have two options - get a cable subscription (which still doesn't enable me to watch it after the event has aired) or download it illegally.

The UFC needs a stand-alone digital service like HBONow.

If I wanna watch Game of Thrones live or at any time after it has aired, I can as long as I have HBONow. Any episode from any season, I can watch it.

People shouldn't have to pay $10 a month for fucking FightPass and then get blacked out.

Fucking faggets.

 

[Enock-O-Lypse Now!]

I think being put on NBC could expose it to a huge audience, but would also be policed a bit heavier considering the audience

Do people still watch NBC? I know during the 80's-90's I'd watch NBC but their product like much of cable has gone south.

 

[kneeblock]

Whatever they do, they need to make it so a subscription to their digital service allows people to watch events at ANY time during or after the event.

For example, if I want to watch last weekend's UFC event, I have to illegally watch/download it because I'm in the US and it's blacked out for a month on FightPass due to licensing restrictions

So I have two options - get a cable subscription (which still doesn't enable me to watch it after the event has aired) or download it illegally.

The UFC needs a stand-alone digital service like HBONow.

If I wanna watch Game of Thrones live or at any time after it has aired, I can as long as I have HBONow. Any episode from any season, I can watch it.

People shouldn't have to pay $10 a month for fucking FightPass and then get blacked out.

Fucking faggets.

I agree that they need to at least shorten the blackout period to a week. HBO shows PPV boxing events a week after they air. Once the result are out there, it seems there are low odds on people ordering the ppv after a week. I would actually be interested to see how many buys they do after the live event airs. A decent cable deal for re-air rights should be able to make up whatever they're getting in post event buys. Failing that, having it on Fightpass after a week or 10 days would probably net them more subscribers.

They could also offer individual fights a la carte for the month following the event for like $5 a fight or something if they want to keep their monthlong embargo in place. Right now their system is entirely restrictive to push you to access content via the traditional PPV model and it incentivizes both piracy and disengagement. It wouldn't be the worst thing to at least experiment with some different models for a few events or fights. They have a lot if data on viewing habits and interests based on both Fightpass and PPV and someone has to be looking at those numbers to drive decision making. If they aren't, they're really wasting some great resources.

 

[Pitbull9]

First off drake sucks, he is literally the worst rapper r&b whatever the hell he is.


Second Fuck fox and NBc

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

Haven’t read yet, but wme is asking for 4X more this time around. Of course fox won’t be throwing that kind of money at them right off the bat.

UFC is in a strong position as most other sports are locked down for at least another 4-5 Years.

 

[Drake]

First off drake sucks, he is literally the worst rapper r&b whatever the hell he is.

 

[Wild]

They'll re-up with FOX in my opinion. It just makes sense.

 

[Uncaged]

Do you think NBC or other networks would want to move it to a 'Season' format? Would be a strange experiment but could potentially change its view to a more 'Traditional' sport, a la Baseball, wherein there's an off season.

We could cram all the awesome TUF episodes you're not watching in there.

 

[BeardOfKnowledge]

They should just do a proper web service like WWE does.

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

You own Netflix, you can get UFC FP for free.

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

Do you think NBC or other networks would want to move it to a 'Season' format? Would be a strange experiment but could potentially change its view to a more 'Traditional' sport, a la Baseball, wherein there's an off season.

We could cram all the awesome TUF episodes you're not watching in there.

that would get rid of super fights. clear contenders as well. it'd be like a grand prix but not played out in one night.

only downside is that it could mean some fighters only fight once per year if they get knocked out in first round? Is that kind of what you mean?

 

[Uncaged]

that would get rid of super fights. clear contenders as well. it'd be like a grand prix but not played out in one night.

only downside is that it could mean some fighters only fight once per year if they get knocked out in first round? Is that kind of what you mean?

Was thinking championship fights should happen near the end of the 'Season'? Best fighters with the most winning records end up competing in a tournament at the end of the season culminating in a championship fight.

Just a thought though, would be cool to see how it plays out. Having a time restraint would mean a lot of fighters would fight more often

 

[Yossarian]

They should just do a proper web service like WWE does.

Exactly, or get rid of fight-pass. It's a joke right now.

 

[Chromium]

Exactly, or get rid of fight-pass. It's a joke right now.

I don't wanna see the UFC get rid of FightPass, but I definitely wanna see them improve it. More Invicta (either more cards or fights-per-card or both). More UFC events (at least one in North America every year). More UFC prelims. And maybe the UFC should buy Titan FC or whatever outright and make it a proper farm league. A farm league could really help cut down on roster bloat.

Maybe then I might re-up my subscription.

 

[Yossarian]

I don't wanna see the UFC get rid of FightPass, but I definitely wanna see them improve it. More Invicta (either more cards or fights-per-card or both). More UFC events (at least one in North America every year). More UFC prelims. And maybe the UFC should buy Titan FC or whatever outright and make it a proper farm league. A farm league could really help cut down on roster bloat.

Maybe then I might re-up my subscription.

I haven't gotten fightpass, it's just not worth it compared to similar entertainment products. It's bad value. If I was into WWE I would do that without a doubt.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

I haven't gotten fightpass, it's just not worth it compared to similar entertainment products. It's bad value. If I was into WWE I would do that without a doubt.

I love mma, but there is far too much free mma for me to justify paying for it. Between ufc, Bellator, combate Américas and a couple of others shows? I’m good

 

[Yossarian]

I love mma, but there is far too much free mma for me to justify paying for it. Between ufc, Bellator, combate Américas and a couple of others shows? I’m good

Not really into Bellator, but even then a lot of cool and free stuff out there. Also kickboxing or MT will do it for me.