Update : Strikeforce does 575K, sets Showtime MMA record, UFC 100 replay does 2 million

http://mmajunkie.com/news/15889/strikeforce-carano-vs-cyborg-draws-576000-viewers-ufc-100-replay-nabs-two-million.mma
"As expected Spike TV's replay of a UFC 100 pay-per-view event outdrew the live broadcast of "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg" on Showtime this past weekend.

Spike TV, a basic cable station, is available in 98 million homes. Showtime, a premium cable station, has approximately 15 million paying subscribers.

"Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg" drew an average audience of 576,000 viewers. The UFC replay drew nearly four times that with two million viewers."


UPDATE : this figure is a record for any Showtime MMA event, including EliteXC's Street Certified.

UPDATE : The UFC broadcast, less a half million watching Showtime, still out drew Golf and MLB. MMA is becoming hugely popular. And competition between organizations makes things like this possible.

I actually thought it would be a bigger gap. I didn't expect the SF card to do over about 525 and I thought the Spike replay might hit 2.5 mil... Good for Strikeforce.

Pretty much what i thought.

GSP-Penn counter program did about the same in viewers. Slightly less. Strikeforce did not get nearly that many viewers for Shamrock-Diaz so good for Strikeforce. They know that UFC will have to do more than a replay to hurt them, especially when Strikeforce hits CBS than they might actually put a replay or even a fight night card to shame because Spike is pretty puny compared to CBS.

That's about what Weeds pulls in, so I'm sure Showtime is happy.

Updiz