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K-1 mythology continues
By Zach Arnold | June 20, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Sankei Sports continues to push hard the claimed number by K-1 that the UFC 60 PPV with Royce Gracie vs. Matt Hughes did 800,000 buys and $32 million dollars, despite reports that contradict this. The Sankei article I linked to is a puff piece about HERO’s now having a show air on US PPV, therefore creating a “HERO’s Kakutougi (MMA) boom.”
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, MMA, Media, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
A “sports newspaper” making wild claims about whatver they want?? Wow, who woulda guessed. Sounds like is whats going on regarding another issue…
[A “sports newspaper†making wild claims about whatver they want?? Wow, who woulda guessed. Sounds like is whats going on regarding another issue…]
Puff pieces in the papers (such as when wrestling angles are being ran) vs. legitimate stories are getting easier to figure out. Several years ago, the lines were completely blurred.
Of course Sankei Sports has an interest in boosting K-1, because K-1 airs on Fuji TV. And Sankei Shimbun is part of the FujiSankei group.
You’re “reaching” with comparisons, but that’s fine.
Dana is already Zuffa’s golden boy for the current UFC boom. If one of his shows does 800,000 buys they will probably dip him in gold and worship him as the golden calf. Considering that Dana has thrown out some goofy numbers in the past, it’s funny when even he has to laugh at these comments of 800k buys.
“Of course Sankei Sports has an interest in boosting K-1, because K-1 airs on Fuji TV. And Sankei Shimbun is part of the FujiSankei group.
You’re “reaching†with comparisons, but that’s fine.”
Hero’s doesn’t air on Fuji TV. So how does the Sankei Sports article help out its affiliated TV network in any way?
[Hero’s doesn’t air on Fuji TV. So how does the Sankei Sports article help out its affiliated TV network in any way?]
K-1 is on Fuji TV (and the World MAX shows are on TBS). As you’ll see throughout the Japanese press, many of the TV networks and newspapers are affiliated with each other (for example – Yomiuri Shimbun is part of the group that owns Nippon TV, Sankei Sports is part of the Fuji line of media, etc.) So, there is always a certain element of politics involved as far as what gets covered, how it’s covered, etc. It’s just how business happens there.
I think the 800,000 PPV buys is wishful thinking, and K1 trying to insinuate that Gracie (and therefore K1) was responsible for the great numbers. As for the figure of $16 Million, I dont know. But I do know that Dana White would never want to admit to giving away that much money, even if it were true. He sounded embarassed when they asked him about this. He’s a tool anyway. The guy is just an idiot.