MMA Off-Topic

[Dave_S]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

What does this mean for Fight Pass?

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Sounds like fight pass content will be available on espn+, but fight pass will still be available.

"With more than 280 million fans around the world, UFC boasts the youngest fan base among major professional sports organizations in the US with a median age of 40 and an audience comprising 40% millennials.

Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year). To subscribe, fans simply download or open the ESPN App (or visit ESPNPlus.com). In addition to live, exclusive events, the lineup of UFC content available to ESPN+ subscribers will include:
• Exclusive, all new-seasons of “Dana White’s Contender Series” beginning in June 2019
• A new original, all-access series produced by IMG Original Content
• Exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 15 “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Nights”
• Non-exclusive access to UFC’s full archive of programming, including historic events, classic bouts, and original programming
• Additional UFC-branded content, including “UFC Countdown” shows, press conferences, weigh-ins, and pre-and post-shows

In addition to the live events and content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC FIGHT PASS® (UFC’s DTC streaming offering) and UFC PPV events via ESPN+, for a separate cost.

ESPN will also bring fans a variety of UFC content across ESPN’s widely consumed linear and digital platforms, including an exclusive, 30-minute special on ESPN’s linear networks previewing upcoming bouts and breaking down match ups leading up to each UFC PPV; hundreds of hours of UFC library programming on linear networks; and re-airs of current UFC PPV events.

The ESPN App and ESPN+ are available on mobile and TV-connected devices and on ESPN.com. The new ESPN App with ESPN+ are available on devices and platforms including Amazon (Fire TV, Fire Stick, Fire Smart TVs, Fire tablets), Android (Android phones, Android TV), Apple (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and supported in the Apple TV App), Chromecast and Roku.:

[johnmangala]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Isn't Fightpass ~$10?

If ESPN+ is ~$5, then hopefully we will see a price cut for Fightpass.

ESPN+ would include stuff from Fightpass and other major sports?

Meanwhile Fightpass will probably retain few exclusive content but hardly worth it when compared to ESPN+.

If the rumors of PPVs coming down to ~6 events a year are true; then maybe they will come to Fightpass as well.

This would be worth the $10 or so then imo. I would imagine they would add a few $ to that amount in that case tho.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

The way I'm interpreting it, it sounds like just paying $5 for this will get us full access to Fight Pass. The non-exclusivity meaning that UFC can still offer that outside of ESPN+ as well? Could someone clarify that? I'll pay the $5 either way, but if I could essentially save $5 that I would give to Fight Pass anyway and still get this content, that would be even better.

[p_rushing]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

The way I'm interpreting it, it sounds like just paying $5 for this will get us full access to Fight Pass. The non-exclusivity meaning that UFC can still offer that outside of ESPN+ as well? Could someone clarify that? I'll pay the $5 either way, but if I could essentially save $5 that I would give to Fight Pass anyway and still get this content, that would be even better.

ESPN+ $4/month at yearly price

ESPN has 15 cards, only streaming, no TV. Then access to same historical content as FP.

FP has early prelims. Then it's own cards. Then the other orgs cards.

PPV cards will be less in # or they are going to increase the # of total cards and they don't need to do that.

TV cards will be on some channel.



Basically they just made it harder to watch the UFC because ESPN is losing tons of subscribers and want to get that money back from a streaming service. So instead of offering people who already pay the ESPN fees, they now have to pay additional money for the streaming stuff.

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[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

ESPN+ $4/month at yearly price

ESPN has 15 cards, only streaming, no TV. Then access to same historical content as FP.

FP has early prelims. Then it's own cards. Then the other orgs cards.

PPV cards will be less in # or they are going to increase the # of total cards and they don't need to do that.

TV cards will be on some channel.



Basically they just made it harder to watch the UFC because ESPN is losing tons of subscribers and want to get that money back from a streaming service. So instead of offering people who already pay the ESPN fees, they now have to pay additional money for the streaming stuff.

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Thanks for that breakdown. I'm curious how many yearly UFC events Fight Pass will continue to offer once this gets going. I'm assuming that between ESPN and whoever gets the other tv deal, a huge portion of events will already be taken care of. Most of the live UFC shows on Fight Pass are low quality as it is, so that will hurt it as a standalone product a bit.

I think ESPN made a good move with this, though. It kind of sucks for MMA consumers at the moment, but I wouldn't have given the product a second look without this deal. Plus, I'm kind of looking forward to being able to see FIBA, Kobe's series, and some of the soccer content, in addition to the UFC stuff. If the UFC PPV numbers are indeed cut down at some point, I think it could end up being a good thing.

[p_rushing]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Thanks for that breakdown. I'm curious how many yearly UFC events Fight Pass will continue to offer once this gets going. I'm assuming that between ESPN and whoever gets the other tv deal, a huge portion of events will already be taken care of. Most of the live UFC shows on Fight Pass are low quality as it is, so that will hurt it as a standalone product a bit.

I think ESPN made a good move with this, though. It kind of sucks for MMA consumers at the moment, but I wouldn't have given the product a second look without this deal. Plus, I'm kind of looking forward to being able to see FIBA, Kobe's series, and some of the soccer content, in addition to the UFC stuff. If the UFC PPV numbers are indeed cut down at some point, I think it could end up being a good thing.

ESPN paid way too much for this to only put it on its streaming service. Unless they start offering the TV Channels with the streaming service, it will fail.

Plus they are going to piss off a lot of people if they start removing sports from TV for this streaming service. Probably so much that TV providers drop them or move them out of basic cable.

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[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

ESPN paid way too much for this to only put it on its streaming service. Unless they start offering the TV Channels with the streaming service, it will fail.

Plus they are going to piss off a lot of people if they start removing sports from TV for this streaming service. Probably so much that TV providers drop them or move them out of basic cable.

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Most of the sports and leagues that are offered with ESPN+ look kind of like the UFC, as far as them being somewhat niche offerings. I can't see too many people raising hell over rugby, tennis, boxing, soccer, and Canadian football not getting enough airtime. I also see MLB, NHL, and NCAA Football is offered on it too, but I doubt they'd ever put anything too significant on ESPN+ over their real network.

I don't have any idea how this is going to work out for them, but they had to do something. Since people are continuing to cut the cord and use streaming services, it makes sense to me that they went this route. They'll gain subscriptions from hardcore fans of those respective sports, along with possibly gaining even more subscribers who enjoy some of their other news/focus shows that made the move. They could very well have paid too much and it end up being a poor decision in the end, but it doesn't seem too crazy to me.

[Dave_S]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

LA times is reporting Yair got cut, lol. Fake news is pretty great sometimes. Dana White just confirmed.

Report: Yair Rodriguez cut by UFC for turning down Lamas and Magomedsharipov bouts

[p_rushing]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Most of the sports and leagues that are offered with ESPN+ look kind of like the UFC, as far as them being somewhat niche offerings. I can't see too many people raising hell over rugby, tennis, boxing, soccer, and Canadian football not getting enough airtime. I also see MLB, NHL, and NCAA Football is offered on it too, but I doubt they'd ever put anything too significant on ESPN+ over their real network.

I don't have any idea how this is going to work out for them, but they had to do something. Since people are continuing to cut the cord and use streaming services, it makes sense to me that they went this route. They'll gain subscriptions from hardcore fans of those respective sports, along with possibly gaining even more subscribers who enjoy some of their other news/focus shows that made the move. They could very well have paid too much and it end up being a poor decision in the end, but it doesn't seem too crazy to me.

Here is a good article explaining the deal. It is great for the UFC, not knocking for taking the money, but it is terrible for the fans and ESPN. I just hope that the deal doesn't say it has to be on ESPN+ and they can put them on TV or WatchESPN after they lose a ton of money on streaming.

https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/5/14/17343470/how-the-ufcs-deal-with-espn-changes-the-companys-business

From the ESPN standpoint, if you’re judging from traditional economics, the deal would make no sense.

To generate $150 million per year, ESPN+ would have to add a minimum, and likely a significant percentage more than 2.5 million subscribers, and they have to stay for the full year. Keep in mind the ESPN+ deal only covers the United States. For a comparison, only a few PPVs in UFC history — albeit at a much higher price tag — have ever done half that number on a worldwide basis. Keep in mind that the closest business to the UFC — the WWE, which puts all of its biggest shows on its streaming service and is a company that is holding steady in popularity as opposed to one with significantly declining ratings and PPV numbers — had 1,190,000 subscribers in the U.S.

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[Dave_S]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

[cooldude]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Outstanding.

[p_rushing]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Werdum failed drug test

Hopefully USADA stops buying these tainted supplements. If I was a fighter, I'd test supplements and find the right one, then buy the "tainted" substances and use those. Then you claim you were using the supplements.

[Dave_S]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Oh snap, no more ufc and fox??

https://www.google.com/amp/variety.com/2018/tv/news/espn-adds-30-fights-to-ufc-tv-rights-deal-reaching-1-5-billion-value-exclusive-1202819447/amp/

[p_rushing]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

Oh snap, no more ufc and fox??

https://www.google.com/amp/variety.c...202819447/amp/

FOX dropped the offer as there were less fights, so last I saw the # was rumored to be $175 million. Supposedly there were other bids from NBC & CBS late also.

FOX has WWE now.

ESPN hasn't learned. They really overpaid for the 15 events to put them on a streaming service and lose tons of money. Now they paid $300 million for another 30 events. What station are they putting the events on? The fall has football and winter has basketball on Saturday nights.

ESPN got into trouble by paying too much for rights and now they go and do it again. The UFC is in decline, maybe ESPN can get some more eyes on the events by advertising on their stations and shows, but a lot of people don't even watch their shows anymore.

Edit: Even worse than 1st reported, it is $300 million for 15 events on TV. 300/15=$20 million for 1 FN card? What was ESPN thinking.

Edit 2: Looks like it is now $300 million total for the combined 30 events, 15+15. So a lot better, but still $10 million for FN or worse is too much.

[aholbert32]

Re: MMA Off-Topic

FOX dropped the offer as there were less fights, so last I saw the # was rumored to be $175 million. Supposedly there were other bids from NBC & CBS late also.

FOX has WWE now.

ESPN hasn't learned. They really overpaid for the 15 events to put them on a streaming service and lose tons of money. Now they paid $300 million for another 30 events. What station are they putting the events on? The fall has football and winter has basketball on Saturday nights.

ESPN got into trouble by paying too much for rights and now they go and do it again. The UFC is in decline, maybe ESPN can get some more eyes on the events by advertising on their stations and shows, but a lot of people don't even watch their shows anymore.

Edit: Even worse than 1st reported, it is $300 million for 15 events on TV. 300/15=$20 million for 1 FN card? What was ESPN thinking.

Likely ESPN 2 for the prelims in the fall and winter which has more subscribers than FS1. They will move those 8pm basketball/football games to ESPNU or to Plus.

ESPN is banking that the UFC will do what Top Rank is doing for them in boxing. Sure, Conor isnt going to fight on a ESPN card but a Dillashaw or Mighty Mouse or Holloway fight would do great numbers on ESPN.