MMA Hot Stuff

“Strikeforce on NBC” Slams The Competition

Press Release from Strikeforce

Revolutionary Mixed Martial Arts Program A Smash Hit With 18-34 Year Old Audience

 

San Jose, CA. – The fifth episode of “Strikeforce on NBC”, the first-ever weekly mixed martial arts cage fight program on one of the four major national television networks in the U.S, topped the average ratings of both ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and CBS’s “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” both of which air several hours earlier during weeknights, in the 18-34 year old male category of viewers during the week of May 5, 2008. 

 

The .5 rating drawn by “Strikeforce on NBC” in the 18-34 year old male category beat the ratings of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on four of the five weeknights that the ABC show airs, and tied Kimmel’s ratings on the fifth night. The Strikeforce program bested the ratings of “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on all five weeknights and tied the Thursday and Friday night ratings of CBS’s “The Late Show With David Letterman” that week, in the same demographic group. 

 

The overall viewership of “Strikeforce on NBC,” which airs immediately following “Poker After Dark” every Saturday night (check your local listings for show time), has increased by an astronomical 197%, from 319,000 to 949,000, including a 58% jump between the two most recently reported weeks (949,000 from 602,000).

 

“We’re pleased to see our product gaining momentum on network TV,” said Strikeforce CEO, Scott Coker. “The series has proven to be a highly effective way of creating new Strikeforce fans throughout the country and we’re looking forward to delivering more action-packed programming to NBC viewers throughout the year.”

 

Co-hosted by mixed martial arts legend, Ken Shamrock, and award-winning ESPN announcer, Lon McEachern, “Strikeforce on NBC” is a 52 week series. Each episode runs 30 minutes and is comprised of fighter profiles as well as Strikeforce MMA fights and highlights.

About Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has co-produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22, 2007.

It's official. NBC + Strikeforce = goodness!

It's "finally" official straight from the horse's mouth - the horse being NBC. Here's the press release issued:

BURBANK -- March 27, 2008 -- In a major step for the fastest-growing sport around the globe, NBC has partnered with world championship promotion company Strikeforce to be the first to premiere a weekly mixed martial arts cage fight series on broadcast television. "Strikeforce on NBC" will premiere the night of April 12 from 2-2:30 a.m. ET on NBC.

The announcement was made by Jerry Petry, Executive Vice President, NBC Universal Television.

"Mixed martial arts has exploded onto the sports scene. Its athletes are tremendous competitors and the sport is one of the fastest growing in the world," said Petry. "As a leader in this arena, Strikeforce will be able to deliver some of the finest and most intense action ever seen on broadcast TV."

"It's truly an honor to have the opportunity to bring the Strikeforce mixed martial arts product to one of the longest-standing and most well-respected national television platforms," said Strikeforce Chief Executive Officer Scott Coker. "NBC has a history of popular late Saturday TV and in the 80's NBC's 'Saturday Night's Main Event' show helped catapult the popularity of professional wrestling. Strikeforce is looking to follow in suit and establish a legacy of its own on the network."

"Strikeforce on NBC" will air immediately following NBC's hit poker tournament series, "Poker After Dark" (1-2 a.m. ET/check local listings), the core audience of which -- 18-34 year old males -- matches that of mixed martial arts.

Each episode of the hard-hitting series will feature Strikeforce mixed martial arts fights and highlights as well as fighter profiles. Mixed martial arts pits fighters skilled in a wide array of combat disciplines against each other inside a caged-in ring. Popular disciplines include boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, among others. The premiere Strikeforce episode will feature superstar Cung Le vs. Brian Warren, Duane "Bang" Ludwig vs. Tony "The Freak" as well as a profile on Le, recognized as one of the most dynamic competitors in the sport.

Strikeforce launched its mixed martial arts fight series on March 10, 2006 with "Shamrock vs. Gracie," the first sanctioned mixed martial arts event in California state history. The fight card attracted a sellout crowd of 18,265 to San Jose's HP Pavilion and broke the all-time record for attendance at a mixed martial arts event in North America.

The series is being produced by Kevin Cusick of KC Productions in conjunction with Carr-Hughes Productions.