Bad news for UFC fans just before the new year. Similar to 2022, 2023 will also see another rise in UFC PPV prices! From January 2023, the PPV prices have increased from $74.99 to $79.99! It now means if one has to order all the PPVs that the company puts out, one will have to shell out nearly $1000! The amount will exceed the thousand-dollar mark if the fan buys an annual subscription as well!
Sports Business Journal writer Adam Stern broke the news earlier. Since ESPN secured the rights to broadcast the UFC events in 2019, the prices have gone up exponentially. At the time when ESPN struck a deal with UFC, the PPV prices were $59.99, and the ESPN+ package deal for fans was $89.98. But, since the beginning of the last year, it went up to $99.98
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But, they will get the package deal at a discounted price, if they buy it alongside a PPV. Fans, who get the package while ordering a PPV, can get both at a price of $124.98. However, the existing customers will have to pay the entire amount of $99.98. But, at the beginning of 2022, the price for ESPN+ monthly subscriptions was $6.99. But it later increased to $9.99. So the monthly subscribers have to pay $119.88 for the entire year.
Fans react to ESPN raising UFC PPV prices once again in 2023
The hiked prices will take effect from the very first UFC PPV of 2023. UFC will kick off 2023 with a PPV in Brazil. The event has two title fights in the main and the co-main event. Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will fight for the vacant light heavyweight title. Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo will face Brandon Moreno for the fourth time in the co-main.
Even more gold is on the line in Brazil! 🏆 Your NEW #UFC283 poster has landed!
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2022
🎟 Tickets on sale now: https://t.co/AwCOSS0jlc pic.twitter.com/btILluMvCn
Although it has other exciting fights such as Gilbert Burns vs Neil Magny and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua vs Ihor Potieria on the card, fans do not think it is worth spending a steep amount like $79.99. Over the last few years, PPV prices have gone up by $20. So MMA, which was once an affordable sport for the fans to enjoy, is now a hassle for the fans to afford and they are outraged!
Here are some fan reactions to the news
Literally never buying a ppv again , not to mention every time I actually do buy one and don’t pirate it the ESPN stream is worse than pirated ones
— zig8 (@zig8_) December 22, 2022
this shit isn’t worth spending all that money. i love ufc but i can’t afford this anymore
— Francisco A. (@8IGHTFIGURES) December 22, 2022
theres 5 fucking fights on the cards guys seriously get real
— Zack //\\ (@ZzccMMA) December 22, 2022
No f’ing way. That’s it I’m done. I was alternating between buying and streaming the ppv events, but with this I’m done buying the ppv. That is too expensive.
— NEOSgx00 (@SOTO962) December 22, 2022
And it will continue to increase until people stop buying.
— Joey Johnson (@joey4king) December 22, 2022
Go back to Fox! ESPN blows. I’ve never purchased less PPV. Used to get them all. Now maybe 3-4 a year. Stop screwing your customers Dana!
— Jon Gorden (@JMKRIDE_Jon) December 22, 2022
It’s getting insane… not too mention there was a lot of weak ppv cards this year (compared to 2021 at less)
— Gabe (@TheGWK21) December 22, 2022
There were rumors that the PPVs in 2022, did not live up to the numbers of 2021. In 2021, the company sold around 8.4-8.5 million PPVs as per UFC President Dana White. However, if rumors are to be believed, none of the UFC PPVs in 2022, broke the 1 million mark. But, superstars like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor did not have a presence in the year.
Conor is likely to fight later in 2023 and Jon Jones is rumored to take on the UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou at UFC 285. So the company would be banking on big PPV events like those to reach the heights of 2021. But, can they do so with an all-time high PPV price of $79.99? Only time will tell.
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