LadyStanley
Registered User
Paywall.
UFC exploded from ~20 PPV events circa 2010 to now nearly 50. Fighters up to ~500. 7 new weight classes.
Oversaturation for some fans.
Fox had the fights on multiple channels.
Move to ESPN family requires ESPN+ subscription plus UFC PPV for live fights.
Demographics changed as core fans have aged and no longer can justify every Saturday night out to watch fights as they're spending time with family or other priorities.
Expanded fighter pool means fewer recognizable names.
But ESPN >> Fox for mainstream gravitas in sports.
UFC getting ~$300m/year from deal, less than they hoped. Viewership up (from Fox).
Some interesting parallels as to what might happen with NHL rights if either party involved.