There's no real financial info here, but when a second-tier MMA league can work out a deal for network TV, and our national team is relegated to ESPN2 again and again, even for the biggest contests we have against Mexico, it makes you wonder whether MLS & SUM are interested more in exposure and getting games to the American public, or if they're doing all they can to not p!ss off the Mouse. I know ABCSPN did a lot for MLS early on, but let's be real - they weren't donating their airtime, and the fact remains that the other 3 1/2 major leagues in this country get at least a few games on network TV during the season. I say get off your @sses, SUM. Flex some 18-34 and latino muscle and let's get some games on the networks!
What are you talking about, there are a whole bunch of games on broadcast network TV this season. ABC (3 games), CBC (a bunch of Toronto FC games), Telefutura....
wow. 3 whole games. awesome. i'm sure i forgot to lap up the scraps off the floor. what time are those games on? noon saturday? in the middle of summer? excellent. perhaps i should send out a memo to everyone who has a life that perhaps they'll want to stay in for rapids and rsl on ABC over 4th of July weekend. i'm sure the ratings will be awesome. and telefutura? that's not network.
and before i get flamed about cbc, good for you guys up north. i'm sure your coverage is great. i'm not talking about canada.
This sounds like the second coming of the XFL. People don't want to watch a second-rate version of any sport, much less one that already have a devoted following to a powerhouse brand (UFC, which also owns PRIDE). How anyone can think Elite XC will last a full season is byond help.
Elite XC? Psh, this is a non-story, those who actually follow the sport arn't going to watch this because this isn't second tier but third tier because all of the first and second tier are already under contract. Those people who do watch it will reguard it as no more than american gladiators and lose interest in a matter of weeks.
The article says 4 times a year. And, I doubt that CBS would handover valuable tv real estate, say, during March Madness.
The original poster is also missing a big point. Exlite XC is partly owned by Showtime. Wanna take a guess at who owns Showtime? Yep, CBS. This is more interbrand promotion than anything else.
Dude why don't you do your research huh? One is DC United vs LA Galaxy on June 29, right before a little thing called Euro 2008 Championship Game. You know, a match that a lot of SOCCER FANS are likely to have set some time aside to watch. The other is the MLS Cup final in November. It's MLS soccer, on national TV, what makes you think the ratings would ever be stellar? Come on mr.TV executive, what programming would you bump so that MLS gets at best as 1.0 share? Sorry but since Kenn Tomasch isn't around someone has to bust your chops Considering it is on over the air much of the nation, yes it is.
allegedly kimbo slice is part of this "league". i'll watch a lotta shit, but mma is brutal just for the sake of being brutal, i'll pass
Not to threadjack but professional MMA is not nearly as brutal as many combat sports. Boxing alone has a concussion rate that is 8 times higher than MMA. You will hardly ever see a guy get knocked unconcious for 10 seconds in MMA unlike boxing.
The XFL is a great analogy. EliteXC is mostly just "freak-show" fighters like Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbot, who draw in viewers just cause they look tough. Its really just the power of marketing, not much different than He Hate Me. The truth is that none of the guys could cut it in the UFC. As for why they got a contract with CBS, everyone that pointed out that Viacom owns Showtime is correct. They are trying to promote their own product. UFC is by far the biggest show promotion, which brings in way more viewers, has yet to sign a deal with any major TV network. Speaking of UFC, they just signed a major sponsorship deal with Budweiser. Meanwhile, Bud has been a sponsor of MLS for years.
When the UFC out draws boxing you will have imatators, I for one don't think this will work on network tv it's too violent and bloody. You will see groups calling for its removal from CBS. I do like MMA and I do go to several local shows and I have been to the UFC that was here in Columbus. I just don't see how they will tone down the fights so it will work. I was reading on the covering the crew blog that there is talk of having a MMA fight at Crew staduim.
ESPN2 is relegated? Freaking monday night football is on ESPN now... Id much rather get a second weekly game on ESPN than have any games on ABC... network TV isn't what it used to me.
People don't receive long term brain damage from a career in MMA like they do from boxing. If you want to talk about brutality, try to hold a conversation with someone who's punch drunk.
I don't know about trumping MLS and such but EliteXC has put up some decent fights - it's better than Bodog Fight. Speaking of MLS and MMA, the 2 have a great home on HDNET.
UFC is in talks with FOX about 8-12 shows a year also on Saturday Nights in Primetime which is the 4 times a year deal CBS and EXC have. MLS being outdone by UFC, ok, thats fine. EliteXC (I've seen every event they've held) getting 4 saturday night primetime events a year while MLS has zero is a joke. UFC is 100 times better than EXC, someone already posted but EXC is the guys who couldn't cut it in UFC and freakshow guys who also wouldn't cut it in UFC. As for whoever said telefutura is Network TV, ummm, I have direcTV and its not even offered here, let alone network TV, i mean come on, pretty obvious when someone says network tv we're talking ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and to a lesser extent you could throw in WB or whatever its called and mynetworkTV since everyhome can have those channels. I have freaking directv with every sports channel you can have and every movie channel but telefutura is nowhere to be found, i've called a couple times, few times they said wasn't offered and once said I could get it as part of a spanish package for $40, yes $40, a month, and I'de get 3 spanish channels. So no, thats not NETWORK TV. As for CBC, congrats canada, but again the original poster kinda obviously was talking American network TV... So damn, MLS has 3 network games, a contrived all-star game that means next to nothing. no season opener. the 29th game is a cool idea and I like but that could have easily replaced the ASG as one of their 3 games shown. Oh ya, lets not forget about the MLS Cup thats here wasn't even shown on ABC, and was said to be shown on ESPN2 which instead I was gettin Tennis cuz again I have direcTV so i get the national ESPN2, not a local one. So I didn't even get to watch last years MLS Cup. Nice Network TV schedule. Don't be an MLS apologist, we once had a season (1998?) that had 12 ABC games. Ratings were bad so can't complain, but hell give MLS a Saturday Night primetime slot like CBS (and probably FOX) did for MMA on ABC 4 times a season. We should be able to at least match EliteXC, kinda sad we aren't.
I would agree about the freakshow guys. The rest I would defend given that they fight in EXC not because their good enough. Most MMA fighters fight on 'non-exclusive' contracts, which allows them a number of fights with an organization without tying yourself down to it. This is important given they earn their money on a per fight basis.
Well, apparently MMA is doing well. At least, UFC is if this online article from late last year is any indication: http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/08/ufc_today_spike_tv_tomorrow_th.php I wouldn't be surprised if Fox would show this type of program. I believe it was the network that showed the 'When Animals Attack' videos. Plus, Cops was almost a MMA match waiting to happen Also, the practicing of martial arts is essentially worldwide. So, I can see why some networks would covet the demographic that would watch programming related to it.