Ads, ads, way too many ads, said the fans.
Justin Gaethje (right) claimed victory in the main event of UFC 324 in Las Vegas. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Media giant Paramount took over the exclusive rights to the UFC last summer. With the deal worth 7.7 billion dollars, or about 6.5 billion euros, Paramount got the right to broadcast the UFC in the United States.
Last weekend’s UFC 324 was the first of its kind on Paramount’s streaming service. The premiere was not very well received by the fans.
The approach was full of advertisements. This is how the news was reported, among other things Yahoo Sports. The viewers were disappointed when, for example, during the competitors’ entrances, the screen and the soundscape were filled with commercial announcements.
The same happened during the breaks of the matches, where you could usually hear the conversation between the contestants and their teams through the microphones.
Yahoo had gathered several fierce feedbacks from social media for its news.
– UFC on Paramount+ is creepy. No contestant entrances at all. Almost all ads will start if the match ends early. The subscription was not worth the price, one updated.
– I’m glad that the UFC is showing again, but oh my God, if there are ads at this rate during the entire match card, another wondered.
– Paramount’s UFC deal already hit rock bottom in the advertising placement of one sports broadcast, one complained.
The American public will have to get used to the new normal. When the ESPN deal ended, the UFC abandoned the long-standing PPV viewing model. During the PPV, fans had to buy the right to watch each UFC numbered night separately for the rather salty price of 80 dollars.
With the Paramount deal, Americans get unlimited viewing rights for a whole year for just $60.
The new agreement had no effects on Finland. UFC can be seen in the Nordic countries on the Viaplay service.
In the main event of UFC 324, the interim lightweight championship belt was suspended Justin Gaethje to the edge. Gaethje won after full time against the British opponent by Paddy Pimblett all judges vote.
