Although Spike TV held a UFC marathon all day long Wednesday in an effort to counter-program the UFC’s first full live event on Fuel TV, “UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger” was the most-watched program in Fuel TV history.
Not only was it the most-watched program, but Wednesday, Feb. 15, became the most-watched day in Fuel TV history. Figures released by Nielson Media Research confirmed the Total Day average audience had a 520 percent increase, while the Male 18-49 demographic was up 580 percent from February 2011 averages.
Starting at 8 p.m. ET with a fight card headlined by welterweights Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger, UFC on Fuel TV 1 averaged 217,000 total viewers and peaked with 315,000 total viewers during the main event time period of 10:45-11:00 p.m. ET.
During the 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET prime time period Fuel TV was ranked number nine out of all ad-supported cable networks in the male 18-49 demographic.
George Greenberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Fuel TV, commented on the success the network has seen already in the short time they have been partnered with the UFC:
“We fully expected the UFC was going to deliver Fuel TV extraordinary ratings, and now we’re seeing it. We are beyond ecstatic about the audience and the impact the UFC is having on our network’s growth thus far. The sky’s the limit on where this network can go from here.”
UFC on Fuel TV 1 was the first of six live and exclusive UFC events scheduled to take place on Fuel TV in 2012. More than 2,000 hours of UFC programming, including weigh-ins, pre- and post-fight shows and more than 100 hours of live fights are scheduled to air on Fuel TV in 2012.
Do you have Fuel TV? Check www.fuel.tv/getfueltv or call 877-4 FUEL-TV to see if the new home for UFC programming is available in your area.
[…] viewersMMAjunkie.comUFC on Fuel 1 Nets 217000 Viewers; Spike TV Counters with 678000Sherdog.comUFC on Fuel TV 1 most-watched program in network's historyPro MMA NowMMAmania.com -MMAFrenzy.comall 137 news […]
UFC on FUEL tv SUCKS.. Those ratings sluts are selling out to bros. .Fuck that.. I thought they were a true action sports network… $$GREED$$
Not enough action in MMA/UFC for you? Really don’t see how partnering with the UFC is “selling out” ? Fuel is owned by FOX, it’s not like they are some smalltime independent network. They are owned by the largest sports conglomerate in the world. In fact if you ask some hardcore UFC fans, they might say the UFC is “selling out”.
It’s great for those that have FUEL…ratings wise….if they are only drawing 200K on FUEL 3yrs from now….you’d have an argument….can’t really compare FUEL ratings with what they were doing on SPIKE right now…
[…] viewersMMAjunkie.comUFC on Fuel 1 Nets 217000 Viewers; Spike TV Counters with 678000Sherdog.comPro MMA Now -Bleacher Reportall 178 news […]
TV is over flooded with UFC/MMA as it is And now It has completely taken over Fuel TV. I pay extra for Fuel Tv so I can See skate, bmx, moto, ect. programs. Now I dont even wanna watch at all BULL SHIT. The same thing happened to Speed channel. They are over flooded with NASCAR. Fuel and Speed are both part of the Fox network Hmm I see a pattern here
The pattern is money. Like it or not UFC brings in more money from sponsors than a Camp Woodward skateboarding reality show. I’m a huge skateboarding fan too but it’s all about the money.
I HATE FUEL TV AND EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS NOW. I THOUGHT UFC FIGHTING WAS IN THE PAST ANYWAY. I GUESS JOE ROGAN NEEDS NEW CAREER. WHO WANTS TO WATCH A BUNCH OF DISCHARGED ROIDED OUT MARINES SMACK EACHOTHER AROUND. FUCK YOU FUEL TV FOR TAKING AWAY EVERYTHING I HAD TO LIVE FOR.
I hate fuel tv now..They really don’t need to play ufc all day…what happened to all the other sports that they used to play…UFC on fuel tv SUCKS!!!!!!!!!