|
'The Ultimate Fighter 3' on Spike TV: A Knockout Premiere With 2.4 Million Viewers
The Most Watched Original Series Premiere in Spike TV History
#1 Among Men 18-34 in Timeslot Against Broadcast and Cable
NEW YORK, April 10 -- The Season 3 premiere of Spike TV's
The Ultimate Fighter(TM) on Thursday, April 6 (10:00 - 11:30 PM, ET/PT)
drew record ratings for the network and out-delivered anything else in
television in its timeslot in the hard-to-reach demographic of Men 18-34.
The 90-minute premiere also out-delivered major competition on cable
including the NBA on TNT (Pistons vs. Heat and Lakers vs. Nuggets) and USA
Network's coverage of The Masters.
Among the notable ratings achievements for the premiere of Spike TV's
The Ultimate Fighter 3 include:
* #1 among Men 18-34 (3.71, 971,000) in its timeslot out delivering
everything on broadcast, cable, or pay cable.
* #1 in HH rating (1.95), average audience (2.4 million), Men 25-34 (5.03,
758,000), Men 18-49 (2.70, 1,411,000), Persons 18-49 (1.67, 1,794,000)
(Ad-supported cable only)
* Highest household ratings for an original series premiere in Spike TV
history (1.95)
* Defeated TNT's NBA doubleheader featuring the league's marquee teams
including Pistons vs. Heat/Lakers vs. Nuggets in household rating (1.95
to 1.68), average audience (2.4 million to 1.8 million), and Men 18-34
(3.61 to 1.41).
* Defeated USA Network's coverage of golf's biggest tournament, The
Masters, in average audience (2.4 to 2.2 million), Men 18-34 (3.61 to
0.72), and Men 18-49 (2.70 to 1.01).
* Highest delivery of Men 18-34 in network history for an original series
* Versus last year in the timeslot (MXC), up +236% in households, +429% in
Men 18-49, +395% in Men 18-34, and +262% in average audience.
* Earlier in the evening, Spike TV simulcasted the first-ever LIVE network
sporting event (Ultimate Fight Night Live) to a mobile device via Amp'd
mobile.
"It's a great start to Season 3 which promises to be the best one yet
with the intense rivalry between Ken and Tito and an incredible crop of
fearless athletes," remarked Kevin Kay, General Manager, Spike TV.
"The momentum continues to build which is really exciting for us. We
were confident people would respond to the sport of mixed martial arts once
they got to know the professional athletes who participate in it. Stay
tuned, it's going to be a great season," said Dana White, President of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) organization.
About The Ultimate Fighter 3:
Sixteen of the best up-and-coming mixed martial artists from around the
world have convened in Las Vegas in pursuit of one goal -- to be named the
"ULTIMATE FIGHTER" and to be given a contract in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship(R) organization. UFC legends and bitter rivals Ken Shamrock
"The World's Most Dangerous Man" and Tito Ortiz, "The Huntington Beach Bad
Boy," train and coach the participating light-heavyweights and
middleweights. The Ultimate Fighter 3 is hosted by Dana White, UFC
President. The premiere episode of the thirteen-part series culminated in a
first round victory by Team Shamrock's Kalib Starnes (Vancouver, British
Columbia) over Team Ortiz's Mike Stine (Hicksville, Long Island).
Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films and Television, Frank Fertitta III,
Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White of Zuffa, LLC, and Kevin Kay of Spike TV are
the show's executive producers. Brian J. Diamond is Vice President, Sports
& Specials, Spike TV and Co-Executive Producer. Peter V. Symuleski serves
as Executive in Charge of Production for Spike TV.
Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 90 million homes
and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom
International Inc.
SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com
|
