UFC CBS Debut Ratings Success Highlighted

UFC recently made its big debut on CBS, and the reception was outstanding. As part of their multi-billion dollar deal with Paramount, most UFC events will be available on Paramount+ but some will also be simulcast on CBS. UFC 326, which aired last Saturday, was the first event to feature on CBS, showcasing some prelims and the main card for fans to enjoy.

According to Nielsen ratings, a whopping 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the event on CBS. In fact, UFC proudly shared some interesting stats on their social media, highlighting the event’s success:

– It was the biggest UFC viewership on linear TV in the past ten years
– Viewership was 30% higher than the season average during the same time slot, with significant spikes in the 18-34 and 18-49 demographics
– This event saw a 273% increase compared to last year’s average viewership when UFC events aired on ESPN or ABC

These numbers only reflect the CBS viewership and don’t include those who watched on Paramount+. Interestingly, the CBS broadcast outperformed other popular shows airing simultaneously like Warriors-Thunder on ABC and the men’s basketball game between Alabama and Auburn on ESPN.

It’s intriguing to think about how much UFC content is just right for CBS simulcasts. While the main goal of this partnership is to attract more subscribers to Paramount+, the exposure on CBS allows UFC to reach a wider audience, hopefully converting them into subscribers after sampling the content. Although no official announcements have been made, reports indicate that the UFC White House spectacle in June might also feature a CBS component.

As fans eagerly await the highly anticipated June 14 show, it’s unclear if there will be another CBS simulcast before then. Nevertheless, Paramount leadership has already expressed their satisfaction with how the deal has been performing in the initial months. According to David Ellison, Paramount’s chair and CEO, “We couldn’t be happier with how the UFC partnership has kicked off. It has exceeded our expectations, and we’re excited to see UFC’s impact on our other content lineup.”