What is a reasonable price for a UFC pay-per-view event that offers a good but not exceptional lineup of fights? This question has been raised not only by fans but also by TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro during a recent financial call.
Shapiro expressed concerns about ESPN’s aggressive pricing strategy for UFC pay-per-view events, noting that the rapid increase in prices may have led to a surge in piracy numbers. The UFC’s battle against online piracy has been ongoing, with little success in curbing illegal streaming of events.
Despite efforts to remove unauthorized fight videos from platforms like YouTube, piracy remains prevalent. Many fans admit to rarely paying for UFC pay-per-views, contributing to the challenge of combating piracy.
The escalating cost of pay-per-views, coupled with technical issues with the ESPN+ streaming service, has created obstacles for fans. The UFC’s upcoming broadcast rights negotiations present an opportunity to address these issues and explore new distribution models.
As the UFC considers diversifying its product offerings across multiple platforms, the importance of attracting and retaining viewers at all levels of competition becomes evident. Balancing pricing, accessibility, and quality of content will be crucial in maintaining a loyal fan base while adapting to evolving market demands.