Would Pride Be Better Served To Lower PPV Prices To Compete? - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Heatwaves · 02-12-2007, 11:47 AM

Pride is still arguably the most popular MMA organization in the world. In the U.S., however, they are often second in popularity to the UFC. Now with the emergence of EliteXC in the U.S. market, would it be a good strategy to offer a lower PPV price? Let's face it, most of us have a certain budget for PPV events and many U.S. fans throw their money at the UFC. Would this strategy help bring more U.S. viewers and more of the revenue pie?

marnold · 02-12-2007, 12:29 PM

I think so. This is going to hurt, but UFC is better marketed and seen as--albeit erroneously--as a premium.

Gygax · 02-12-2007, 12:45 PM

I think this could be a good idea of helping to introduce the organization to the US market. If they dropped the price half, they would need to double the number of PPV buys to make the same money. But even if they only sold 1.5x the PPV buys, it would introduce the product to that many more people, making future PPV purchases at full price that much more likely.

I never understood how they were usually so close in price to the normal UFC PPV price when they showing a tape delayed event until Real Deal in October.

SeikanJudanski · 02-12-2007, 01:03 PM

Well, Pride was always cheaper than the UFC, but the way economics work, you got to pull with the market leader not to lose your face. Some people, not me, are of the opinion that if you make the buy cheaper than the competition, it will make the competition look somehow better. While that is somehow true, I think they should still drop the prices, and take a chance.

marnold · 02-12-2007, 01:50 PM

I sell real estate and sometimes when a house isn't getting any activity, you raise the price. It works.

Heatwaves · 02-12-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

I think this could be a good idea of helping to introduce the organization to the US market. If they dropped the price half, they would need to double the number of PPV buys to make the same money. But even if they only sold 1.5x the PPV buys, it would introduce the product to that many more people, making future PPV purchases at full price that much more likely.

I never understood how they were usually so close in price to the normal UFC PPV price when they showing a tape delayed event until Real Deal in October.

All great points. I would also argue that it may be in their best interest even if it causes them to lose money by not doubling their buy-rate for a few fights. Even though is would be a "lost leader", it would be potentially worthwhile to have them build awareness of their brand and fighters.

The risk, however, is that they don't want to generate a perception as the "discount" UFC with lesser fighters.

Heatwaves · 02-12-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marnold

I sell real estate and sometimes when a house isn't getting any activity, you raise the price. It works.

I'm not saying that's untrue, I just don't see the logic. If you raise the price and someone buys it, isn't that just pure chance? The buyer didn't know what the price was previously.

I totally understand if "raising the price" also means re-listing it, thereby making it appear as brand new to the marketplace instead of a house that's been on the market for months and months. I'm no real estate agent so I'm sure you know more than I do, but it seems like there'd be multiple factors involved.

hpulley4 · 02-12-2007, 05:38 PM

I hate the fact that they won't show Pride live over here. It seems overpriced considering that it's a tape delay for us and I can find out the results here before it is shown. They should show it Sunday night in Japan and live Saturday morning in america if they want to charge the same as a live UFC show, IMO. I'd watch it over corn flakes and a cuppa joe for sure.

SeikanJudanski · 02-12-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpulley4

I hate the fact that they won't show Pride live over here. It seems overpriced considering that it's a tape delay for us and I can find out the results here before it is shown. They should show it Sunday night in Japan and live Saturday morning in america if they want to charge the same as a live UFC show, IMO. I'd watch it over corn flakes and a cuppa joe for sure.

Pride next event from Japan will be live! So get your corn flakes ready and have some MMA breakfast.

I heart LNP · 02-12-2007, 07:00 PM

I think it would be a good idea to drop the price. If they dropped it by $10 it would be huge IMO. I think they would more than make up with it in sales. Plus, after a while when they got a really good sized devoted fan base in North America, they could put the price back up and I think the fans would stay with Pride.

marnold · 02-13-2007, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatwaves

I'm not saying that's untrue, I just don't see the logic. If you raise the price and someone buys it, isn't that just pure chance? The buyer didn't know what the price was previously.

I totally understand if "raising the price" also means re-listing it, thereby making it appear as brand new to the marketplace instead of a house that's been on the market for months and months. I'm no real estate agent so I'm sure you know more than I do, but it seems like there'd be multiple factors involved.

Raising the price doesn't re-list it. Only taking the property off the market and re-listing it does that. Check for DOM "Days on Market" to see how long a property has been listed and ask for price history to see how it has gone up or down. When the price is raised, it makes the buyer believe that the seller does not need to sell and this is not a distress property. Furthermore, raising the price makes the consumer believe that among like properties this one is special and available to a more disconcerting buyer. Is this true . . .
Pride would have to market increasingly well and make the consumer believe that for a premium they will get something special.

Dirty Fighter · 02-14-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marnold

Raising the price doesn't re-list it. Only taking the property off the market and re-listing it does that. Check for DOM "Days on Market" to see how long a property has been listed and ask for price history to see how it has gone up or down. When the price is raised, it makes the buyer believe that the seller does not need to sell and this is not a distress property. Furthermore, raising the price makes the consumer believe that among like properties this one is special and available to a more disconcerting buyer. Is this true . . .
Pride would have to market increasingly well and make the consumer believe that for a premium they will get something special.

I think this all that is needed. No need to mess with the PPV rates. Just let the public know about the organization, the type of fighters they have, and make it accessible.

hpulley4 · 02-14-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeikanJudanski

Pride next event from Japan will be live! So get your corn flakes ready and have some MMA breakfast.

Great news! I looked on the Pride site but couldn't see any news about this; which event are you referring to?

Of course the next event overall is in Vegas so we can all watch it live, without corn flakes

kane · 02-14-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeikanJudanski

Pride next event from Japan will be live! So get your corn flakes ready and have some MMA breakfast.

awesome that's one thing I hated about pride. I also hate the match making lately.

Harms · 02-14-2007, 06:44 PM

I think it would have been feasible if they still had a Japanese TV deal. But now a good part of the income comes from PPV.

AikaImmortal · 02-14-2007, 07:19 PM

The PPVs used to be cheaper than UFC, last year they raised prices from $29.99, Bushido events used to be $19.99

hpulley4 · 02-14-2007, 08:08 PM

OK, I found some links to future Pride events. Luckily I'm learning to read Japanese as I didn't find any articles about it in English. Still can't see anything about live north american PPV though.

So Pride 34 will be broadcast live here (anyone know about Ontario, Canada where I am on Rogers cable) from the Super Arena? Unless I'm reading it wrong it seems to be on at 4pm (pre-show at 2pm) in Japan on April the 8th (a Sunday) which means it would be on at 2am on the same day on the east coast or 11pm on the Saturday night on the west coast. Not quite cornflake time!

Pride 35 will be in Vegas again on April 28th.

In May it's the Lightweight Grand Prix Open Curtain Battle in the Super Arena.

In June, Pride 36 in California at the Staples Center.

In July, Lightweight Grand Prix 2 in Nagoya.

In August, Pride 37 in Osaka.

In September, the Lightweight GP finals in Tokyo.

In October, Pride 38 in Las Vegas (the web page says 37 again but I assume it is a misprint).

New Year's Eve, Manly Ritual 2007 (temporary) in Japan

Pride livedoor article