CBS/Strikeforce are NOT Promoting Fedor/Rogers

While there is little to no promotion, I expect it to pick up within a week or two of the event. All that matters is they sold 8,500 tickets on the first day I think it was, and the people that need to watch it on CBS will. Anybody that calls themselves a MMA fan will buy a ticket or tune in on CBS.

STRIKEFORCE: NOVEMBER 7, 2009 ON SHOWTIME
venue: Sears Centre in Chicago, Illinois

-Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) vs. Brett Rogers (10-0)
-Jake Shields (23-4-1) vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22-6) [Strikeforce MW Title ]
-Gegard Mousasi (26-2-1) vs. TBA
-Fabricio Werdum(13-4) vs. TBA

* Rumored Participants:  Matt Lindland, Robbie Lawler, and Jacare.  

And maybe... Bobby Lashley and Antonio Silva.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/10/4/1068442/werdum-added-to-strikeforce-cbs 

why would they flood advertisements a month before? wait until 2 weeks, or a week and I bet you see tons.

 Bceause nobody fucking cares about Fedor/Rogers, it's a fucking joke. Strikefarce needs to be bought out.

Rumored Showtime December Card:
- Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron (WW title)
- Josh Thomson vs. Gil Melendez (LW Unification Title)
- Frank Shamrock vs. TBA
- Scott Smith vs. TBA
- Cris Cyborg vs. TBA

i support this thread 100% because i've been talking up this fact for a while on the UG.

the promotional value the TV networks bring may be the MOST IMPORTANT factor in a promotion's success. this is true whether we're talking UFC & SpikeTV, Strikeforce & CBS/Sho, and the WEC & VS.

when i was the marketing manager at EliteXC it always troubled me that CBS (aside from the event that followed March Madness) did a bare minumum job of promoting the brand & events. EliteXC's leadership was mostly to blame for its failure, but CBS also contributed by failing to actively promote the brand. and now it kinda looks like they're giving Strikeforce the same red-headed stepchild treatment. its not enough just to broadcast the live event...it has to be heavily promoted to the viewers first, especially with the UFC's monopoly standing in the sport. and 2-3 week out promos just dont cut it...Fedor v Rogers was announced a while ago, so there's been ample time to kickstart the campaign to make it a huge success.

SpikeTV promotes the UFC at every break. CBS cant do the same volume, but - aside from a regular promo schedule - there should at least be more of a concerted effort to cross promote, especially with CBS' sports, late night talk, and morning news programs. there's also available program inventory on the weekends that could be used for a countdown show. and there's also a complete lack of any viral campaign, which is inexcusable given the nature of the fanbase.

Didn't thompson get hurt?

The Destroyer88 - While there is little to no promotion, I expect it to pick up within a week or two of the event. All that matters is they sold 8,500 tickets on the first day I think it was, and the people that need to watch it on CBS will. Anybody that calls themselves a MMA fan will buy a ticket or tune in on CBS.

That's stupid. You don't market to only people who call themselves MMA fans. When you have a primetime CBS show that's live you reach out to everyone and their mother.

That is kinda stupid.

How about this: We should see what we're capable of and all send an email to CBS to see if it ramps up promotion for it.

I know the trend around here seems to be cynicism when it comes to leagues outside of the UFC, but now's our chance to keep growing the sport like so many hardcore fans did back in the day (serious).

I'm going to write an email right now.

EDIT: Here's a link: http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

For the subject line, scroll down to "Other" on the list.

 There are only 2 confirmed fights...wtf?

Card - Rumored Showtime December Card:
- Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron (WW title)
- Josh Thomson vs. Gil Melendez (LW Unification Title)
- Frank Shamrock vs. TBA
- Scott Smith vs. TBA
- Cris Cyborg vs. TBA

A rumored card this close to the show is bullshit. They need to lock this up.

UFC had a triple main event to market and promote for UFC 100. And they marketed the hell out of it.

humphrey sphinctermuscle - why would they flood advertisements a month before? wait until 2 weeks, or a week and I bet you see tons.

I'm not talking about flooding. But there's literally NOTHING out there.

When I drive around LA, I see buildings with banners promoting UFC events. I see billboards.

Strikeforce is based in California. CBS Studios are fucking right here in LA, yet they are doing jack crap. this is unacceptable.

IMO. They are afraid to promote this event too much and risk offending their veiwers who do not care for MMA at all(the human dog fighting crowd).

The best chance for a cross over promotion would be during any sporting events that they can get, or the late night television crowd.

It sounds stupid but I am not convinced the execs are fully sold on the MMA experience. They are being a bit gun shy it seems

TheVileOne - 

The Destroyer88 - While there is little to no promotion, I expect it to pick up within a week or two of the event. All that matters is they sold 8,500 tickets on the first day I think it was, and the people that need to watch it on CBS will. Anybody that calls themselves a MMA fan will buy a ticket or tune in on CBS.

That's stupid. You don't market to only people who call themselves MMA fans. When you have a primetime CBS show that's live you reach out to everyone and their mother.

All I'm saying is, the lack of promotion won't really hurt them because there are still millions of fans who will tune in live to watch it just because they ARE MMA fans. So whether they don't promote the show at all or if they do it closer to when the show is, it's not going to bother me at all because plenty of people will still watch either way.

The Destroyer88 - All I'm saying is, the lack of promotion won't really hurt them because there are still millions of fans who will tune in live to watch it just because they ARE MMA fans. So whether they don't promote the show at all or if they do it closer to when the show is, it's not going to bother me at all because plenty of people will still watch either way.

You are overestimating the power of net fandom. Also, people took similar viewpoints to Affliction events which drew for shit. Millions of fans knew about those fights for sure as well, right?

Affliction wasn't also on free prime time basic cable television.

 Millions tuned in only to see Kimbo and Carano, not just MMA

The Destroyer88 - Affliction wasn't also on free prime time basic cable television.

So what? Fans still had this delusional belief that it would be huge just because of MMA fans wanting to see it.

 wonder if there will be mention of Strikeforce on Saturday's LSU/Florida game on CBS. Huge game.. #1 vs. #4.

Spike tv is the UFC network. CBS really doesn't give a shit about Strikeforce they just want ratings on fight day. They get way bigger ratings from Survivor, so why waste ad time on a one off event?

TheVileOne - 

The Destroyer88 - Affliction wasn't also on free prime time basic cable television.

So what? Fans still had this delusional belief that it would be huge just because of MMA fans wanting to see it.

Only a small percent of the fans thought Affliction would have any success at all(mostly the anti-UFC fans). Anybody who ever thought they were going to sell huge ppv buys, let alone competing with the UFC, were crazy.

LSelvon - Spike tv is the UFC network. CBS really doesn't give a shit about Strikeforce they just want ratings on fight day. They get way bigger ratings from Survivor, so why waste ad time on a one off event?

CBS/Showtime wanted Fedor and helped pay his salary.

I agree it's disappointing that they are not marketing this. FIrst, it is awesome to have MMA on network TV! And second, I am stoked about this fight. The way I figure it, one of these fighters is going to be exposed. If Fedore KOs Rogers in the first, we'll know Rogers was overhyped. If Rogers KO's Fedor, there goes the myth. The only way I might be wrong is in the unlikely even that ROgers take Fedor to a hard fought decision.

Whatever happens, I'll be watching.

 Pretty much a month away, I also think it's sad.  Should be getting promo'd out the ass.  If CBS isn't promoting it, Strikeforce should be on their own, everywhere they can.
  
As for why do it now, people like to make plans.  If you wait til the last minute to advertise it won't have the same effect.