Despite Controversy, CBS And EliteXC Relationship As Strong As Ever

Both MMA fans and critics have been holding their breaths since Seth Petruzelli commented last week that EliteXC had implied that he should play to Kimbo Slice’s strengths during their October 4th battle, thus giving the company’s marquee fighter the best chance to win. Though Petruzelli won anyway, the Florida government has opened an investigation into the matter, and concerns have been raised in a number of quarters that CBS would break its television deal with EliteXC, fearing the company is more trouble than it’s worth.
Nothing could be further from the truth, according to an EliteXC spokesman.

“I don’t know that there’s any truth to that. That’s not a rumor that I’ve been privy too,” said company spokesman Hud Englehart when asked about those reports by Machochip. Englehart went on to confirm that the relationship between CBS and EliteXC remains strong, a point which will no doubt relieve fans of the fledgling MMA franchise.
It’s not easy to figure out why CBS is in love with EliteXC. The company issued a release yesterday outlining its ratings successes for the October 4th broadcast, declaring that the fight card brought in more viewers aged 18-34 than the MLB playoffs and college football during the same timeslot, and was the highest rated program on broadcast television and cable within that key demographic. MMA hottie Gina Carano was a big reason for the ratings surge, noted ProElite Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen.

Lappen said that the evening was a boost for EliteXC, noting that the huge television audience coupled with a packed arena gave the company a surge of confidence. In addition, Lappen felt that MMA would benefit in general from the exposure that the telecast gave to MMA superstars like Gina Carano and Jake Shields.

“Carano definitely has star power,” Lappen said. “Her mere presence in the arena electrified the crowd and caused a big increase for TV viewers. She is to our sport what Danica Patrick is to NASCAR: a highly skilled athlete at the top of her sport and a huge cross over star. She’s helping to introduce the sport and the other fighters to a whole new fan base.”

If you’re looking for your ProElite fix, the company’s “Champions of the Cage” series airs Sundays nights all this month on the Fox Sports Network. EliteXC’s year-end program, “A Night of Champions,” will air on Showtime November 8th.
Exceptional ratings for CBS-TV Saturday Night Fights boost MMA, ProElite [Business Wire]
Image [The Sun]