For the second straight telecast, the ‘UFC on FOX’ earned the lowest rating ever for mixed martial arts on broadcast television.
The fourth edition of the UFC on FOX drew a 1.4 final rating and 2.44 million viewers on FOX Saturday night, down a tick in ratings but up 1% in viewership from the third telecast in May (1.5, 2.42M), and down 46% and 48%, respectively, from the second telecast in January (2.6, 4.661M).
In the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones, the telecast aired directly opposite primetime coverage of the Olympics.
Saturday’s 1.4 rating is the lowest ever for mixed martial arts on broadcast television (nine telecasts dating back to 2008). By comparison, the lowest rating for EliteXC on CBS was a 1.7 (July 2008), and the lowest rating for Strikeforce on CBS was a 1.8 (April 2010).
The UFC telecast also earned a lower rating than all eight primetime Major League Baseball telecasts on FOX this season.
Through Saturday, coverage of the UFC on FOX has averaged a 2.0 rating and 3.5 million viewers.
Ratings/Viewership For MMA on Broadcast
| Date | Event | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 8/4/12 | UFC | FOX |
1.4
|
2,440
|
| Sat., 5/5/12 | UFC | FOX |
1.5
|
2,420
|
| Sat., 1/28/12 | UFC | FOX |
2.6
|
4,661
|
| Sat., 11/12/11 | UFC | FOX |
3.1
|
5,675
|
| Sat., 4/18/10 | Strikeforce | CBS |
1.8
|
2,864
|
| Sat., 11/7/09 | Strikeforce | CBS |
2.5
|
4,042
|
| Sat., 10/4/08 | EliteXC | CBS |
2.7
|
4,600
|
| Sat., 7/26/08 | EliteXC | CBS |
1.7
|
2,571
|
| Sat., 5/31/08 | EliteXC | CBS |
3.0
|
4,851
|
(Saturday’s numbers from Fox Sports Media Group via TV By the Numbers)
