Per Meltzer. Direct TV going down sure didn't help it's cause.
Here is what Meltzer reported
After the show, White also noted that they were expecting to take a hit on PPV. He received word that DirecTV went down all night so people with that provider were unable to purchase the show. Since he was at the show, he was probably only getting sketchy details. I was able to get the show on DirecTV with no problem. But there was an issue. Apparently if you automatically ordered through your remote in much of the country, there was no issue. However, if you tried to order by phone or by computer, there was a problem with the system that made it impossible, although the issue was apparently fixed in time for the replay show. We received a lot of feedback from DirecTV subscribers, split almost 50-50 between those who were able to see the show, and those who couldn’t, and many wanted to see it and gave up, not buying the replay. It was significant enough that it cost them a fairly significant number of buys that they would have gotten. But probably not enough to change it from a low number to even close to an average number.
Very early numbers indicate about 190,000 North American buys (this is not a direct buy number or even a strong estimate but just a very preliminary figure). While nobody going in expected big numbers, that would still be below most expectations. As we always say, there is significant potential margin of error this early, but suffice to say this show probably did not do well. We’ll have a better read on this in two weeks.
they probably still made money...
So what would the numbers have been if DTV didnt have problems? 250k? 300k?
bram - Per Meltzer. Direct TV going down sure didn't help it's cause.
neither did the card
I have DirecTV and had no problems ordering the fight or watching it. I ordered it 5 minutes before it started and nothing went wrong for me. I think that problem was very isolated and didn't affect the entire country. 
Thats close to what Edgar vs Maynard 3 was I think. Edgar is not a draw, even with another title fight and Chael on the card 
In fairness, it was prom night for those attending summer school so that may have something to do with it.
Demagogue - In fairness, it was prom night for those attending summer school so that may have something to do with it.
Lol
Presumably the FOX deal is making up for the ppv losses. I know I only buy a card that I'm really interested in now as opposed to a year or two ago.
So much free mma is on now. To me, that's a good thing.
SonofJockstrap - Well, whatever UFC's ppv cut of 9.5 Million is can't be too bad, still likely profited. Just not what they wanted to do business-wise. They'll make it back with 151 though.
So the two best LW's in the world going at it for the belt, with an exciting co main is considered "bullshit"? I think you need to assess the way you view the sport. I'm sure you will buy the next PPV with Brock Lesnar right? May have to go to WWE for that one.
Payout Perspective:
If the numbers hold true, the overall event has to be considered a disappointment. From the prelim ratings, to the attendance and gate and now the buy rate reflect a card that the consumer had little interest in. Undoubtedly, one might argue the DirecTV issues may have affected the number but even 200K PPV buys cannot be what the UFC had wanted to see especially with a rematch between Henderson and Edgar.
I'm happy this PPV took a big hit. The consumers have spoken, it's time for more depth on PPV cards. I went on a like a 3-4 year run of buying every PPV w/ friends.. The Calgary card was the 1st one that I just wouldn't pay $50 for. When I saw the 150 card I knew it wasn't up to the standards the UFC has spent years setting for themselves. I know with a lot of the free content and injuries the quality/depth of PPV cards have taken a hit this past year, but maybe it's time to scale back the PPVs a little. If you combine the Fox card with the PPV card, then it looks like a very good card of the past..
Henderson v Edgar
Shogun v Vera
Machida v Bader
Cerrone v Guillard
Lauzon v Varner
"but even 200K PPV buys cannot be what the UFC had wanted to see especially with a rematch between Henderson and Edgar."
Hmm.. who the fuck cared about this rematch again...?
Don't want to say the UG told you so, but the UG told you so
the casual fanbase is gone... Dana thinks Jones vs Hendo is gonna do ufc 145 numbers (around 700k buys)... he's in for a rude awakening. There are too many hoops for the casual fanbase to jump through in order to follow the sport now.
MMALOGIC - the casual fanbase is gone... Dana thinks Jones vs Hendo is gonna do ufc 145 numbers (around 700k buys)... he's in for a rude awakening. There are too many hoops for the casual fanbase to jump through in order to follow the sport now.
Jones/Hendo wont do 700k buys, they havent even been heavily promoting it, no Primetime, 145 had 2 months between PPV and a year of build up in the feud.
Jones/Hendo will do 400k to 500k easy though which is in line with what all Jones title fights have done. I think 500k is the mark, maybe a bit more but it wont top the 700k Jones/Rashad did.
450 to 550k is what it will do.
mr whipple, not yet but it's trending that way. 190k buys is roughly 4 million in revenue for them... if you look at the license fees fox is paying roughly 4 ro 6 million per fox event. If fox wants more events then maybe the ppv's will decrease but the ratings have been going down on fox.
Months ago I was saying the UFC is bleeding it's fanbase. 30% of the viewership on tuf, primetime and fight nights on fx are gone compared to spike... 80% of the viewership on countdowns and unleashed on fuel are gone compared to what they had on spike.
if 30% less people are watching your product that means eventually it will trickle down to the gate, ppv and merchandise side of your business. we are now seeing 30% plus drops in ppv and gate reciepts.
the fox deal has been a disaster... the only reason the hard cores continue to jump through all the hoops Zuffa created is primarily because they have a talent monopoly... if they didnt have a talent monopoly they would be dead.
The good news is these numbers could very well be the bottom... meaning the casuals have left and the hardcore base has shored up. if these are the bottom numbers for ppv, gate, fox ratings, fx ratings, etc... it's not the end of the world... because all you have to do is bring the casuals back. As long as the base is still their you can bring the casuals back.
The other bright side to the the ppv numbers tanking is that the carriers will feel more pressure to add fuel because ppv is a significant revenue source for rthem. They take half of the ppv money so they are gonna want a channel that primarily promotes their ppv's.
fuel needs to be in at least 80 million homes (it will likely be in 50 to 60 by the end of the year). Tuf needs to move to a better night on FX (sounds like this is happening in 2013) and fight nights on fx need to move back to saturdays.
This will begin to bring the casual fanbase back.
Chris27 -MMALOGIC - the casual fanbase is gone... Dana thinks Jones vs Hendo is gonna do ufc 145 numbers (around 700k buys)... he's in for a rude awakening. There are too many hoops for the casual fanbase to jump through in order to follow the sport now.
Jones/Hendo wont do 700k buys, they havent even been heavily promoting it, no Primetime, 145 had 2 months between PPV and a year of build up in the feud.
Jones/Hendo will do 400k to 500k easy though which is in line with what all Jones title fights have done. I think 500k is the mark, maybe a bit more but it wont top the 700k Jones/Rashad did.
450 to 550k is what it will do.
im not saying it's gonna do 700k... dana white said he expects it to do 700k. he thinks Jones is already at GSP level of stardom where he's gonna pull 650 to 800 buys no matter who he fights.
I agree, i think it will do around 450 to 550 buys.
MMALOGIC -Chris27 -MMALOGIC - the casual fanbase is gone... Dana thinks Jones vs Hendo is gonna do ufc 145 numbers (around 700k buys)... he's in for a rude awakening. There are too many hoops for the casual fanbase to jump through in order to follow the sport now.
Jones/Hendo wont do 700k buys, they havent even been heavily promoting it, no Primetime, 145 had 2 months between PPV and a year of build up in the feud.
Jones/Hendo will do 400k to 500k easy though which is in line with what all Jones title fights have done. I think 500k is the mark, maybe a bit more but it wont top the 700k Jones/Rashad did.
450 to 550k is what it will do.
im not saying it's gonna do 700k... dana white said he expects it to do 700k. he thinks Jones is already at GSP level of stardom where he's gonna pull 650 to 800 buys no matter who he fights.
I agree, i think it will do around 450 to 550 buys.
Yeah they are banking on Jones being that star and he is the next star in the sport but I think the UFC has failed to capitalize off the Rashad fight.
Here you have Jones coming off beating Shogun, Page, Machida, Rashad, he does 700k buys, he is fighting a Pride/SF champ, a legend and a name in Hendo yet you see no build up for this fight.
they are just banking on Jones fighting will do 500k buys. Why no Primetime? Why not push this fight more? They didnt do this card any favors by making it stacked, its one big fight and they arent even pushing it like a big fight. WOuld have thought they would push this fight, push Jones more, a primetime or something but they arent, thats why it wont top the Rashad fight.
It very well might have even with the one fight had they push this fight more. To me this was the fight because Machida rematch isnt huge, Shogun/AG winer getting a shot isnt huge, i mean those fights should do 400 to 500k but none of those fights are big time fights that can do big numbers.
I think Jones/Hendo could have been that if promoted more. He hasnt fought Hendo, Hendo is a legend, has that big right hand, smashed Fedor, people dont like Jones and Dan is the All American guy who can knock this young punk out. Thats the angle they should have been pushing for this fight and it might have been able to do 600k to 700k but with the way they have promoted it, or not promoted it I think 500k is the range. Wouldnt be shocked if it did more or less.