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ESPN UK Possibly leaving UK market

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2/7/13 5:30 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
FOX Force Five 18 Member Since: 11/12/11 Posts: 834	I'm happy as is. I have a top up TV box for freeview with a £11 a month ESPN sub. I don't really want to put money Murdoch's way. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:35 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Mr Mister 280 Member Since: 9/2/12 Posts: 778	You lads are more in the know than me, isn't Sky owned by Fox? I really don't understand why MMA hasn't made a mainstream network here. The sport has grown a lot now over here You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:36 PM

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Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 8/16/11
Posts: 1976

The Haye v Klitchko fight was what destroyed PPV on Sky Sports. Sky received thousands of complaints from people who were actually able to view the fight but the thing a lot of people don't know is they lost millions due to their systems breaking down. There were about 60,000 people in the q trying to book the fight but the system couldn't handle it and crashed. They were unable to fix it.

On top of that they paid hundreds of people double time to come in and take the calls ( I was one of them). Sky got stung badly and because of that they stopped PPV boxing.

I'm just a phone dude for Sky (TV, BB and Phone technical) but when I get into work on Monday I'll start asking why they have never went for the UFC. TBH I doubt I'll get an answer, but I'll try.

I don't think it's worth their while. 95% of their ESPN customers already have Sky Sports so why would they pay millions to the UFC for no return. Virgin customers wouldn't jump to Sky as they can already view Sky Sports on Virgin. If they put UFC on Sky Sports 3 or 4 then they may get some of Virgins customers as Virgin don't get 3 and 4 in HD. Freeview and BT Vision customers may come to Sky but in reality there aren't many of them. There aren't a lot of UFC fans in the UK. Phone Post

2/7/13 5:38 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 Member Since: 8/16/11 Posts: 1977	The bottom line is they would have to pay millions to the UFC, millions to market the Sport so new fans would watch and it probably isn't worth their while. IMHO You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:39 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 Member Since: 8/16/11 Posts: 1978	Mr Mister - You lads are more in the know than me, isn't Sky owned by Fox? I really don't understand why MMA hasn't made a mainstream network here. The sport has grown a lot now over here No, both are owned by News Corp. The phone hackers. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:41 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Hazard 76 8 Member Since: 10/6/12 Posts: 40	Can't be bothered to search, but I am convinced that I read an article stating that UFC was moving to Sky Sports soon. Think it said in the summer........ I'm positive I read this somewhere......I could be wrong, but that's unlikely. I'm not usually wrong more than once a year! _ You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:45 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Pancake Syrup 75 Member Since: 8/7/12 Posts: 4703	BBC have lost quite a bit to Sky Sports. BBC getting UFC rights would be huge for them imo You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:45 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Mr Mister 280 Member Since: 9/2/12 Posts: 779	Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life - Mr Mister - You lads are more in the know than me, isn't Sky owned by Fox? I really don't understand why MMA hasn't made a mainstream network here. The sport has grown a lot now over here No, both are owned by News Corp. The phone hackers. But surely if they are both under the same ownership they could've made a deal by now? You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 5:46 PM

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Mr Mister 280 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 9/2/12
Posts: 780

Hazard 76 - Can't be bothered to search, but I am convinced that I read an article stating that UFC was moving to Sky Sports soon. Think it said in the summer........

I'm positive I read this somewhere......I could be wrong, but that's unlikely. I'm not usually wrong more than once a year!

*_*

The best move the UFC can make in the UK market is a move to sky sports IMO Phone Post

2/7/13 5:49 PM

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BigTedBear 3 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 1/14/12
Posts: 82

I really don't want this on sky sports you just know they are going to pull the same crap as the WWE cards where they give you half and half are on PPV. After trying to grow the sport I think people have a limit to what they are willing to pay after being used to the current espn deal and they would lose fans. They need to accept that PPV just does not work in the U.K. Sky have to take part of the blame for the mess boxing is in Dana won't be happy if they lose viewers. Phone Post

2/7/13 6:18 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 Member Since: 8/16/11 Posts: 1979	Hazard 76 - Can't be bothered to search, but I am convinced that I read an article stating that UFC was moving to Sky Sports soon. Think it said in the summer........ I'm positive I read this somewhere......I could be wrong, but that's unlikely. I'm not usually wrong more than once a year! _ If you come across this article please post it on this forum brother. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 6:24 PM

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Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 8/16/11
Posts: 1980

Mr Mister -
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life -
Mr Mister - You lads are more in the know than me, isn't Sky owned by Fox? I really don't understand why MMA hasn't made a mainstream network here. The sport has grown a lot now over here
No, both are owned by News Corp. The phone hackers.
But surely if they are both under the same ownership they could've made a deal by now?

You would think so. Around the time the Fox USA deal was secured this was when the TUF Finale was on FX UK (now Fox UK). Read my first post buddy, there were loads of happenings with Sky and UFC around that time but for some reason everything just fizzled out.

If Sky got UFC they wouldn't put it on PPV right away, it takes time to build PPV in the UK. The numbers wouldn't be worth it. They would have to market the shit out of it. Who's gonna pick up the tab for that? Dana or Sky? Phone Post

2/7/13 6:40 PM

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El Toro UK 75 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 7/11/12
Posts: 58

Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life -
Mr Mister -
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life -
Mr Mister - You lads are more in the know than me, isn't Sky owned by Fox? I really don't understand why MMA hasn't made a mainstream network here. The sport has grown a lot now over here
No, both are owned by News Corp. The phone hackers.
But surely if they are both under the same ownership they could've made a deal by now?
You would think so. Around the time the Fox USA deal was secured this was when the TUF Finale was on FX UK (now Fox UK). Read my first post buddy, there were loads of happenings with Sky and UFC around that time but for some reason everything just fizzled out.

If Sky got UFC they wouldn't put it on PPV right away, it takes time to build PPV in the UK. The numbers wouldn't be worth it. They would have to market the shit out of it. Who's gonna pick up the tab for that? Dana or Sky?

Yeah agreed SKY wouldn't put it on PPV, ESPN UK is getting over 60,000 viewers per 3am show at the moment. It wouldn't be worthwhile for SKY or the UFC.

They could experiment with the PPV model on UK/European as you'd obviously get way more viewers.

2/7/13 6:44 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
HitchieG 1 Member Since: 2/2/13 Posts: 14	Could be dark times ahead for us UFC fans from the UK. Is like a dedicated ufc channel and subscription where we can watch all the events, primetimes, specials and ufc tonight, old tuf and new tuf etc. That's the way forward. 24 hr mma programming lol You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 6:57 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 Member Since: 8/16/11 Posts: 1981	I'm sure channel 5 have previously shown interest but they currently have a deal with a Poker company. As I stated earlier I think FOX UK would be a good option. Primetime would be the worst, I'd have to actually pay for them then. :) You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:09 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
FearTheClown Member Since: 7/29/11 Posts: 676	Bwatermyfren - I'd say Sky Sports will take over showing the UFC. The day this happens, is the day I stop watching UFC. I'd rather watch old KOTC re-runs at 2am on Extreme Sports channel than pay £15 a month to watch the FOX, FX and Fuel shows and then an extra £15 on SKy Box Office for the numbered PPV events. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:10 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Tartan warrior Member Since: 3/20/08 Posts: 2260	Pancake Syrup - BBC have lost quite a bit to Sky Sports. BBC getting UFC rights would be huge for them imo Bahahaha.....I hope you were joking. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:14 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
tomp6581 10 Member Since: 11/9/09 Posts: 2024	Sky won't take UFC. They would have don't it years ago if they wanted to. They are boxing friendly in the UK. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:16 PM

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Tartan warrior

Member Since: 3/20/08
Posts: 2261

Uncle Muay Thai - If sky sports buy the rights, they will make a shit to of money due to people subscribing to their channels. I'm not to pleased that espn may be closing down as an 30 quid a month for sky sports on top of my other bills is not good. Hopefully fox uk will get the nod.

If there were that many viewers ESPN UK would stay in business just for the UFC. And again if there were that many viewers dana would set up PPV himself on one of the many platforms available. UFC is not not even a fringe sport in this country and isn't worth a massive amount to whoever buys the rights to show it. It will never challenge the big sports (football, rugby, cricket, F1 etc) over here and I dont think it will ever even challenge a sport such as the NFL. Fans are deluded if they think MMA is big business in the UK.

2/7/13 7:18 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Tartan warrior Member Since: 3/20/08 Posts: 2262	Terry Etim for dinner - I hope skysports take it - they have plenty of channels showing shite currently. UFC can surely draw more than netball or fucking poker! Poker is big business for any channel due to the add revenue that poker websites pay the channels. Sky also has it's own poker and betting sites... You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:19 PM

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Tartan warrior

Member Since: 3/20/08
Posts: 2263

Bwatermyfren -
BrocksSwockRanTrane_onShane -
Bwatermyfren - I'd say Sky Sports will take over showing the UFC.

Doubt it, they don't seem to give a fuck about it. Think they still see it as some silly we fringe sport.
As far as I know they have dropped all other mma organisations they currently show.

I have a feeling that this is because they are going to get the rights to show the UFC.

I could be totally wrong but this is just what I think.

No.

They've dropped all MMA because viewing figures are crap and it's not worth the money.

2/7/13 7:20 PM

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Tartan warrior

Member Since: 3/20/08
Posts: 2264

Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life - The Haye v Klitchko fight was what destroyed PPV on Sky Sports. Sky received thousands of complaints from people who were actually able to view the fight but the thing a lot of people don't know is they lost millions due to their systems breaking down. There were about 60,000 people in the q trying to book the fight but the system couldn't handle it and crashed. They were unable to fix it.

On top of that they paid hundreds of people double time to come in and take the calls ( I was one of them). Sky got stung badly and because of that they stopped PPV boxing.

I'm just a phone dude for Sky (TV, BB and Phone technical) but when I get into work on Monday I'll start asking why they have never went for the UFC. TBH I doubt I'll get an answer, but I'll try.

I don't think it's worth their while. 95% of their ESPN customers already have Sky Sports so why would they pay millions to the UFC for no return. Virgin customers wouldn't jump to Sky as they can already view Sky Sports on Virgin. If they put UFC on Sky Sports 3 or 4 then they may get some of Virgins customers as Virgin don't get 3 and 4 in HD. Freeview and BT Vision customers may come to Sky but in reality there aren't many of them. There aren't a lot of UFC fans in the UK.

Really good post. Thanks!!

2/7/13 7:20 PM

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Bisping=Gatekeeper4Life 114 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 8/16/11
Posts: 1982

Tartan warrior -
Uncle Muay Thai - If sky sports buy the rights, they will make a shit to of money due to people subscribing to their channels. I'm not to pleased that espn may be closing down as an 30 quid a month for sky sports on top of my other bills is not good. Hopefully fox uk will get the nod.

If there were that many viewers ESPN UK would stay in business just for the UFC. And again if there were that many viewers dana would set up PPV himself on one of the many platforms available. UFC is not not even a fringe sport in this country and isn't worth a massive amount to whoever buys the rights to show it. It will never challenge the big sports (football, rugby, cricket, F1 etc) over here and I dont think it will ever even challenge a sport such as the NFL. Fans are deluded if they think MMA is big business in the UK.

This man has got it.

What do you think will happen if ESPN go under brother? Phone Post

2/7/13 7:34 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Tartan warrior Member Since: 3/20/08 Posts: 2265	I honestly don't know. Channel 5 is the best option imo. But they have that stupid roullete shit on every night. 5 used to be amazing for NHL and MLB but they slashed the budget. If they're not willing to pay for marque sports then it will surprise me if they back MMA. You have ignored this user.

2/7/13 7:44 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
JustPeed 21 Member Since: 12/20/09 Posts: 11466	Damn it. I'm moving to the UK in 3 months and I just had it figured out of what channels I need for ufc. When will these changes happen? You have ignored this user.

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