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[popsicle]

MMAPayout.com has learned that Countdown to UFC 90 drew 796,000 viewers on Spike TV last Thursday. That number is good enough to make it the most watched Countdown show of the year and believed to be the most watched in the history of the program.

Based on that number, MMAPayout.com projects that UFC 90 will draw 626,839 buys. The formula used to project pay-per-view buys based on countdown viewership has been remarkably accurate this year, however, a number that high would shock the MMA industry.

Anderson Silva has been a weak performer on pay-per-view historically and this event was perceived to be one of the weakest lineups of the year for the UFC. However, it is Silva’s first headlining bout since the UFC’s push of him as the best pound for pound fighter in the world, which included a heavy TV rollout for his bout with James Irvin on Spike in July. A number above 500,000, let alone 600,000, would be a testament to the marketing muscle of the UFC and Spike.

This is great news! If he becomes a huge draw then chances are when his contract is up he will be offered a large amount of money. Maybe it will be an offer he cannot refuse and derail any thoughts of retirment. However, I hope the performance at UFC 90 did not hurt his marketability.

Countdown to UFC 90 Draws Record Audience; Is Silva Poised to Breakout as a Draw? : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA

[TN94z]

All of the Buffalo Wild wings type places have put a hurting on the PPV buys over the last year, I think. There are so many new fans to the sport now because of these places, but all of these people know that they can go there and watch it for free instead of renting the PPV. It is a good idea, but I think it messes with the numbers.

[hunterkiller]

Originally Posted by TN94z

All of the Buffalo Wild wings type places have put a hurting on the PPV buys over the last year, I think. There are so many new fans to the sport now because of these places, but all of these people know that they can go there and watch it for free instead of renting the PPV. It is a good idea, but I think it messes with the numbers.

PPV buys include calculations for the places that buy like Buffalo Wild Wings. Also, those places have to pay significantly more than the 45 or 55 dollar price tag because they are showing it to a mass audience. I'm sure they are projected into the buys.

But I doubt very serious Anderson's headlining this card still did nothing in terms of buys. I'd be surprised if they did more than 400-450K.

[TN94z]

You are probably right. I would still think that the numbers would not add up to the same as the people renting the PPVs and not going to watch it there.

[MMAhole]

You know what REALLY skews the numbers as far as the impact of Anderson Silva is assholes like me that always watch the stream for free.

Hook up my laptop to the plasma with the right cables...and boy is it sweet!

$50 worth of booze, anyone?

[bobbyjones]

MMAhole, I hooked my laptop up to my TV (26 inch LCD). The picture was pretty awful, i was using a VGA cable and just some stream that somebody mentioned on here (don't remember which). How do you get it to look good?

[smoogy]

It would be a big surprise if they sold more than 500k

[popsicle]

Originally Posted by smoogy

It would be a big surprise if they sold more than 500k

I would be very suprised as well. If they did sell more than 500k, Anderson has become a huge draw almost overnight. He would have almost single handedly carried the card. IMO

[Y2JUBAE]

Wonder how Silva's performance at 90 will affect the buyrate on his next fight.

[MMAhole]

Originally Posted by bobbyjones

MMAhole, I hooked my laptop up to my TV (26 inch LCD). The picture was pretty awful, i was using a VGA cable and just some stream that somebody mentioned on here (don't remember which). How do you get it to look good?

Sounds like you know what you are doing. VGA cables are surely the best you will be able to do unless your laptop has HDMI output (I highly doubt it unless it is super-expensive). I first started using regular RCA or S-Video and that sucked.

Have you adjusted the settings on your computer when viewing on tv? For example, usually my laptop tries to send the video out at like 1440 x 780 or something (resolution). That makes it look like shit because the stream is not that great when you have to stretch it across a screen. Try like 800 x 600 or whatever when it is a live stream like that. Also you can try to make it where it stretches the picture as little as possible. If you look at the picture on the laptop screen, it usually looks pretty damn good. My Dell has options like full screen vs. not, stuff like that. It is based on the quality of the feed. If you were using the one that rhymes with MopCast, or something else.

Like I downloaded Entourage from LimeWire and the original feed looked like it was HD. When I hooked it up to my 50 in plasma it looked HD and the resolution was at the top setting the 1440 or whatever. Play with the resolution, or don't view the full screen if you can stand it.

Hope that helps.