Fox Sports has release further numbers on last night's ratings. Some interesting nuggets:
The premiere show earned a 3.1/5 household rating/share with "with 5.7 million viewers making it the most-watched UFC event ever and the most-watched professional fight of any kind on any network since 2003 when 7.0 million tuned in to watch Lewis-Klitschko on HBO". Fox Sports also claims last night's main event at UFC on Fox 1 is "highest-rated and most-watched professional fight of any kind on a broadcast network for OSCAR DE LA HOYA'S FIGHT NIGHT on FOX. (4.3/6, 5.9 million viewers) in 1998."
Fox Sports also makes interesting comparisons to EliteXC's event in May of 2008 that was headlined by Kimbo Slice. Fox claims last night's event pulled an average audience 16 percent higher than the premiere of EliteXC (5.7 million vs. 4.9). UFC on Fox 1 also reportedly beat EliteXC is household rating (3.1 vs. 3.0) and in key male demographics: men ages 18 to 34 (up 34 percent, 4.3 vs. 3.2), men ages 18 to 49 (up 33 percent, 4.0 vs. 3.0) and men ages 25-54 (up 23 percent, 3.8 vs. 3.1). "FOX Research projects that last night's UFC on FOX premiere broadcast to win the 9:00-10:00 PM time period across key demos including Adults 18-34 (3.2), Adults 18-49 (3.0); Men 18-34 (4.3) and Men 18-49 (4.0)," said the release.
According to previous reports, May of 2008's EliteXC event peaked with 6.51 million viewers (currently the record). There is no word yet on the peak for UFC on Fox.
Also, of note, UFC on Fox has drawn more men 18 to 34 than any other college football game this year except for November 5th's LSU vs. Alabama. Last night, the UFC went head-to-head with ABC's broadcast of Oregon vs. Stanford (6.0 rating, 11 share), but beat out Notre Dame vs. Maryland (1.4 rating, 3 share).
Stay tuned to MMA Nation as we provide final ratings numbers in the days ahead.
Loading comments...