EliteXC on CBS Could Fail Miserably***Updated W/ Berry/Shammy Spoiler

Bullock · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 04:10 AM

Bloody Elbow :: The Challenge of Primetime

Quote:

By Michael Rome Posted on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 12:54:35 PM EDT

Dave Meltzer reports Zuffa's company line on the CBS deal:

Quote: 'There was definitely a lot of talk regarding the CBS/Pro Elite deal from people at Zuffa. The line, since it was repeated often, is that they don't believe enough people will watch the first show, noting how Saturday Night's Main Event in a similar time slot with the far more popular WWE didn't do well.'

I think this talking point has a lot of salience. The WWE has weekly mainstream TV with millions of total viewers. They heavily hyped their first show, and ended up doing a 3.11, followed by a 2.65. The deal has gone completely sour since then, and it has been acknowledged as a ratings disaster.

Now, consider that UFC's highest overall rating for a TV show ever is a 3.1, a number considered a disaster by NBC. Can Elite XC top UFC's highest number ever on their first show?

It will be very interesting to see how EliteXC's ratings look considering there aren't very many people besides hardcore fans and random Showtime subscribers who even know that EliteXC exists. Unless they can come up w/ a huge main event like Kimbo vs Ken Shamrock I don't see how they will pull good numbers. Hell, Kimbo vs Shammy might not even be enough to get the type of ratings the major networks consider a success. And the possibility of that match being set up is predetermined on whether or not Shammy gets KOed in his next fight which could easily happen considering his past performances. If it does happen, I can't think of a fight they could put on that would draw any semblance of a respectable rating.

****UPDATE

Well, now that Shammy looked like garbage in the Berry fight, I think it is safe to say we won't be seeing him against Kimbo.

So I really don't see how Elite is going to pull decent ratings with the roster they have.

Legend · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 06:09 AM

I honestly expect Elite on CBS to fail. I would have grave reservations as to whether the UFC could pull respectable numbers on network tv. So considering the UFC is vastly more recognizable then Elite I just don't see this being an overall success in the long run for them.

Quintessential Studmuffin · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 06:32 AM

Elite wont last very long on CBS.

mmasince91 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 07:15 AM

Yeah 3.1 is poor rating for such a big network I think elitexc has there work cut out for them. I am just glad to get MMA on aprimetime network. But I think in the end the best ratings will come with the UFC and maybe Fox at some point would pick them up! that would be great!

dustin1102 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 09:29 AM

I bet that they double a 3.1 rating. Think about it, we as fans will watch it because it's free. New fans will watch it because I guarantee CBS markets the shit out of it. The same people that don't know who EliteXC is are the same people that don't know who the UFC is. I'll bet my bank that this show is successful as long as CBS markets it correctly and EliteXC uses their best fighters on the first show. This will not only be good for the sport but good for the fighters.

Krazikarl · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 10:17 AM

I give it a 40% chance of reasonable success. And if it fails, that puts all of MMA back quite a bit in terms of mainstream acceptance. Meh.

Clint · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin1102

I bet that they double a 3.1 rating. Think about it, we as fans will watch it because it's free. New fans will watch it because I guarantee CBS markets the shit out of it. The same people that don't know who EliteXC is are the same people that don't know who the UFC is. I'll bet my bank that this show is successful as long as CBS markets it correctly and EliteXC uses their best fighters on the first show. This will not only be good for the sport but good for the fighters.

The thing is, I don't see CBS pushing it all too hard and honestly even doubling a 3.1 rating is going to be poor for CBS. To put things in perspective 60 minuts does an 8.1 and CSI does a 12.7 (from quick ratings I pulled off of google. 60 minutes was this week, CSI was middle of Feb)

Tyler4870 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 10:53 AM

To be totally honest, I don't believe EXC, UFC or MMA will have any impact on network t.v. It still appears that the mainstream view it as brutal and overly violent. The only way I see it being successful is if ESPN starts to really cover it, mma gets a strong spokesman and advocate, the networks promote it well, and the stars are all aligned just right. The "Mainstream" press has ALOT to do with this. I hope that EXC can do a decent job on CBS, but if they don't and fail, MMA will not be "mainstream" for a long time, I guarantee ESPN will stop covering the little bit they do cover. If they succeed then, game on, every network will want MMA.

dofking · #9 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 11:31 AM

It will be just another show on tv which most ppl wouldnt give a fuck about xcept for the hardcore mma fans who would be tuning in or even worse watch it for free on internet stream.

Dimson · #10 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin1102

I bet that they double a 3.1 rating. Think about it, we as fans will watch it because it's free. New fans will watch it because I guarantee CBS markets the shit out of it. The same people that don't know who EliteXC is are the same people that don't know who the UFC is. I'll bet my bank that this show is successful as long as CBS markets it correctly and EliteXC uses their best fighters on the first show. This will not only be good for the sport but good for the fighters.

Without this site I would have no fucking clue what the hell EliteXC was.