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The Network ... UFC That Is.

http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/31544-ufc-announces-its-own-network-may-beat-wwe-to-punch-but-not-in-us

Might not launch in North America yet, but this has GOTTA infuriate Vince.

Comments

  1. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 1:58 PM

    If I were Vince, I'd just let'em. It's like fighting over who can board the Titanic first.

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  2. Vince is stupid. Just put a Network on TV and air RAW, SD, Main Event, 6 or so PPV's and just fill in the rest of the timeslots with old classic footage. Charge $9.95 a month and that's it. Just do it already. DO IT!

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  3. I doubt we see it in America unless Fox decides to take one of their channels and turn it into the UFC Network.

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  4. It's not like anyone watches Fuel TV anyways. Just let Dana write Fox a check and let them call Fuel "the UFC network". I mean, really it kind of already is, they have more UFC content than racing content on there anyways. They run reruns on there almost all hours of the day.

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  5. Fuel TV is being rebranded Fox Sports 2.

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  6. IN OTHER NEWS, JENNA JAMESON IS CURRENTLY BURYING TITO ORTIZ AS WE SPEAK:

    Jenna Jameson ‏@jennajameson 2m Here is 1 pic of titos drawer pic.twitter.com/GQhhyVAtaC

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  7. Jenna Jameson ‏@jennajameson 1h Soon the story of how he almost killed me in February will be public Expand


    WHAAAAAAAATTTT?!

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  8. Never date a porn star kids.

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  9. Scream09_HartKillerMay 30, 2013 at 3:42 PM

    They're going to have to put Triple H over Brock to do some damage control.

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  10. Always sad to see a relationship end... even if it's between a man and woman who were both routinely injected with testosterone by different means.

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  11. You wanna see burnout?

    UFC Channel.



    I dont care how many "Most devastating knockouts" specials there are... there isnt enough programming to sustain a UFC channel.

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  12. NOT IBUPROFEN!!! DON'T DO IT TITO!!!

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  13. There is way more than enough for a UFC channel.

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  14. ok there isnt enough enjoyable programming for me to buy a UFC channel.


    I dont wanna see Forrest Griffin or GSP side mounting Grabby Gaby for 8 thousand years.

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  15. Yes, Forrest Griffin is well known for his side mount.


    What?

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  16. Yup. Cable television is not the way to go in this day and age.

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  17. Yeah...not the best choice if she's trying to make him look bad. What a moron.

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  18. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    How will Tito Ortiz overcome such a burial?

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  19. At least Fuel TV has enough historic material and diverse race optoins to do a full week of programming all year.

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  20. HAHA... I just typed the first 2 UFC people I could think of.


    Its been well documented here that I am the pure definition of casual fan of UFC.


    In and out with Brock Lesnar.

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  21. Every PPV, the side shows like the FX cards or Japan shows that don't fit in the continuity, 18 something seasons of the Ultimate Fighter, Primetimes, all the shows from the promotions they've acquired, comps, best of fighter x, and not to mention all the OC they could put on there.


    If you're a fan of MMA, a UFC network is an easy sell.

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  22. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:03 PM

    I wonder if it might not be more advantageous, if both UFC and WWE are deadset on going through with these damnable networks, for them to follow the Wrestling Observer model and go in on this together. I mean, it would never happen in a million fucking years, but there's at least some crossover between wrestling and MMA audiences, and it might lessen the inevitable loss if both companies partner up on the investment.

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  23. I didnt know Dana bought other promotions.


    But heres the sell?


    UFC or WWE channel.... you can only choose one.

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  24. Hardcore MMA fans detest wrestling and since that is your target audience with something like this, probably not the best idea.

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  25. UFC, just for the fact that I'd have more confidence in them not to fuck it up.

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  26. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:05 PM

    True. It's why they hated Brock so fervently.


    (And just didn't care about Lashley)

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  27. Even if you "forget" the pre-Zuffa era, that leaves them ~120 PPVs (including prelims from Facebook and FX), 16 seasons of TUF, 6 FOX specials, and a multitude of other free shows on smaller networks like Fuel, Versus, and FX. That's a ton of material without even getting into shows like Primetime and Bad Blood and I think they also had one where fighters do talking heads about a particular fight. They could easily chronicle a fighter's entire career or do "Top 10 X" like NFLN.

    The issue begins and ends with how many diehards will pay for a UFC-only channel.

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  28. And helped Brock become one of the biggest PPV draws of all time. Half the audience wanted to see him fail and the other half wanted to see crush everyone.

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  29. You're right.


    I brought this up to Scott in an email he never submitted but what about Netflix?


    They are doing original programming now with House of Cards and AD, why not get a better partnership with Netflix, or just start their own

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  30. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    Also true, and one of the things that most fascinated me about Brock's time in UFC. It's like what WWE has with Cena, but at a mainstream level.

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  31. The difference being that people that hated Brock were willing to pay money to see him lose. Whereas with Cena, the people that hate him are meh about it.

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  32. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:16 PM

    Because all of the library would likely come standard with the Netflix subscription, since the entire Netflix catalog is available from the word "go." And $8.99 a month memberships mean WWE won't get enough of a cut for it to be worth their while, hence the rumored, ludicrous $25 subscription fee.

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  33. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:17 PM

    Bingo. It's the difference between money-drawing and money-saving heat.

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  34. I can't really blame Cena for it though, it's incredibly rare to have that kind of dynamic. Off the top of my head, the only people I can think of are Brock, Tyson, and Mayweather.

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  35. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    I hear ya. It's just that the heat is usually offered as an argument for keeping him on top, since "At least they aren't being quiet when he's out there!" But I'm not sure it's the kind of ambivalent heat that compels audiences to spend money they wouldn't otherwise spend. With Cena, it depends on the opponent whether some fans will spend money. But guys like Brock, Tyson or Mayweather could fight ME and people would shell out top dollar.

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  36. It's not really a fair comparison though. People are more likely to pay to see someone lose a *real* competition as opposed to a pre-determined one, especially in a post-kayfabe world.

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  37. It's weird that they see Punk as below Cena on the totem pole because he has the exact same dynamic as Cena but it's the opposite, kids hate him and adults love him, and he is the only full time guy there that moves the needle on the non WM PPVs.

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  38. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:35 PM

    Really? Hmm, I learned something today.

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  39. cabspaintedyellowMay 30, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    Agreed. While he's better as a heel, I really didn't get why they felt it necessary to turn him in the first place, since a) he was doing perfectly fine as a face (from a crowd reaction standpoint, in addition to merch), and b) he was the edgier Batman to Cena's Supes. The kids could love Cena and the adults could love Punk, and neither age bracket could feel they were being told who to like.

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  40. Eh. He was getting close to losing that support from the adult fans because even he couldn't overcome WWE's inability to write babyfaces. Before the turn, I was even starting to get sick of his act.

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  41. Scream09_HartKillerMay 30, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    I don't really need 24/7 access to either but if I had to choose and it wasn't going to cost me anything extra I'd take UFC - I'm a very casual UFC fan but I've always enjoyed going to bars and catching the fights. I think my enjoyment ceiling with UFC is higher than WWE.

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  42. Scream09_HartKillerMay 30, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    I signed up for Netflix a while ago, didn't search the sports categories until a couple of days ago. I've watched about 4 WWE DVDs I never would have watched if they weren't starring right at me a click away. I'd pay an extra couple of dollars to have more/better WWE content. Basically a reasonable cost that allows me to watch WWE content of my choice at my convenience with minimal effort is what I'm looking for.

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  43. Kids hate him?


    Um...as a heel. I don't remember Punk getting booed by ANYBODY as a face.

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  44. I was referring to heel Punk.

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  45. Don't they also own the footage from the other MMA organizations they purchased, like Pride and EliteXC?

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  46. They own WEC too, right?

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  47. Speed Channel is the racing network, Fuel TV focused on X-Games type stuff, at least at first.

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  48. ...kids hate heels?


    Any more keen observations?

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  49. Yeah, seems like you're having trouble comprehending simple shit.

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  50. "It's weird that they see Punk as below Cena on the totem pole because he has the exact same dynamic as Cena but it's the opposite, kids hate him and adults love him, and he is the only full time guy there that moves the needle on the non WM PPVs."


    Kids didn't hate Face!Punk.


    Ergo that statement is false. Ergo your comparison is wrong. Ergo YOU SUCK!

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  51. Pretty obvious I was referring to heel Punk. Ergo fuck yourself.

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  52. Why would you be comparing the role of a heel and a face?


    And Punk was getting booed by adults as a heel.


    Ergo eat my taint.

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  53. Because Cena and Punk aren't traditional faces or heels. And of course some adults boo Punk, just like some adults cheer for Cena.

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  54. How is CM Punk not a traditional heel?


    I mean, you're talking about Heel!Punk and Face!Cena right? So lets look at how Punk's heel work is unconventional.


    Insults the audience.


    Cheats in matches.


    Lies about events audience clearly sees.


    Claims moral superiority.


    Brags about accomplishments.


    Yeah, nothing traditional there at all.


    P.S. Punk got booed in Chicago as a heel.

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  55. They aren't traditional because usually they split the audience.




    And P.S. Punk was getting face heat against Taker at WM.

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  56. What Punk era are you talking about?

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  57. The same one I've been talking about this entire time.

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  58. Doctor FunkopolisMay 31, 2013 at 2:47 AM

    Speed Channel and it's relationship with Nascar should be a cautionary tale for anyone wanting to have their own network.

    It damn near killed motor racing in this country, and helped kill both CART and ALMS outright.

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  59. exactly. it sounds weird (if you're not a "smark", at least) but I want Punk to be a heel - and in the process end up cheering much more for him than if he's a face (because he is just much better at being the bad guy).

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  60. CART was the WCW of champ car racing, they wen't under because of thier own constant stupidity, though Speed didn't do them any favors. And since when is ALMS dead?

    What pisses me off about Speed is that they used to show all kinds of cool shit, like rally racing, DTM, V8 Supercars... Now they're nothing but Nascar practices (and who the fuck even watches that? I'm a huge Nascar fan and I don't get it) and 10-hour blocks of Pimp My Ride.

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  61. Doctor FunkopolisJune 1, 2013 at 1:08 AM

    ALMS closes it's doors at the end of this season with their teams being absorbed into Grand Am (or going to Europe), as Nascar looks to kill off prototype racing in the US for good and force their way into Le Mans as a result.

    The Aussie V8's are still on Speed. DTM, BTCC, FIA GT are all on Speed2. Which is great if you can get it, but is not the treatment those series deserve.

    CART was awesome and was growing at a pace stronger than Nascar without crippling it. Then the split happened and all that went by the wayside. The IRL had nothing but Indy. No names, no legitimacy. CART had everything but Indy, no glitz and no glamour.


    The Nascar/Fox alliance killed motorsport because Nascar now had it's own network. They outright banned ESPN's reporters from being inside the track and wouldn't allow their six times a week, televised motorsport news show to use any footage. Only stills.

    Within a year, ESPN began jettisoning motorsports programming from the network. Only hanging on to the IRL because of it's relationship with the Indy 500. They ended up shutting down their coverage of motorsport beyond the IRL and NHRA by 2003.

    Nascar wanted everything in their control and they got it and they set fire to the rest of the category, just so they could be the last one standing.

    If UFC and WWE both go down this route, it won't be good.

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  62. Paragraph by paragraph:

    I don't think endurance/prototype racing is popular enough in the U.S. to support 2 series of that style (nor is there enough talented drivers). It's not like they draw huge crowds or anything. Of course, auto racing as a whole is kind of in delcine in the U.S., Nascar is drawing half the crowds (at best) that they were pulling in even 3 or 4 years ago.

    Is Speed2 a real channel, or just an internet deal like ESPN3?

    I feel the same way about champ car racing as I do about prototype racing, there's just not enough fans or drivers for 2 "promotions". And I for one think champ car racing is boring as all hell, it's like worst parts of F1 (there's no contact because the cars are so fragile and people don't want to die on a racetrack) and Nascar (it kind of is just guys turning left for 4 hours) combined.

    They need to ban anyone from TNT from every track, thier Nascar telecasts are so bad they're practically unwatchable.

    What other auto racing did ESPN show before 2003? I remember they had AMA Supercross for a while...

    Yep.



    I don't see why UFC or WWE are even bothering with a network to begin with, It'd be like heavily promoting DVDs, cable/satellite is just antiquated technology.

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  63. ALMS is still drawing good crowds, but there is no TV. It's just a cheaper way for people to get a Le Man's invite.

    Speed2 is all internet, which is why I kind of hate it.

    To each his own on Indycar. I feel like the racing has been good with the new car, but there were several down years where the IRL was using the old Dallara which was never intended for use on road courses or even short ovals.

    They tried touring cars in the US. It was awesome, but it didn't go over well.

    ESPN would literally broadcast anything with a motor. It went from F1 and Nascar to snowmobile and lawn mower racing.

    I think the only reason UFC and WWE want networks is to have total control and isolate themselves.

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  64. How long ago was it that they tried touring cars? Because I think if they tried it again and heavily marketed it towards guys like me that have spent countless hours over the years playing stuff like Gran Tourismo and Forza it could work.

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  65. 1996/1997.

    Fans loved it. Manufacturers didn't. The Dodge Stratus that Pacwest ran was a beast, though.

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