As of February 2018, outside of football, there is no other sport property broadcast in South Africa – event, league, series or organisation – that attracts more viewers. The latest statistics received show that EFC out ranks even the most traditional popular South African sports like rugby and cricket, and when comparing EFC to the biggest international and local sporting properties, it sees them pale in comparison.
It is well publicised that MMA is the fastest growing sport globally, but nowhere is that more evident than in South Africa with EFC clocking record TV audience figures in 2017, the highest by far in the organisation’s 8-year history.
Faeez Jacobs lands a flying kick to the face of Oumpie Sebeko at EFC 65.
The 21 million plus viewers is just the TV audience in South Africa alone. EFC is also broadcast across Africa on Kwesé Sports, with many millions more fans watching the best MMA action across the continent, plus EFC is broadcast on numerous TV networks globally, spanning over 120 countries, making EFC one of the most widely distributed African sport and entertainment properties around.
Comparing unique audience data of EFC to other traditionally popular sports broadcast on TV in South Africa in 2017, EFC:
Pulls an audience over 17 times larger than all SuperRugby games.
Draws a larger TV audience than all Sunfoil Test Matches, domestic SA cricket, Momentum One Day Cup and RAM Slam T20 Challenge combined.
Gets over 4 times as many viewers as all the Currie Cup rugby games combined.
Attracted over 22 times more viewers than Wimbledon.
Igeu Kabesa will take on former teammate Boyd Allen for the title at EFC 67 at Carnival City, Johannesburg on 10 March 2018 to kick off a year of epic events!
Plus, EFC had by far the most TV viewers, even though all of the above sports had significantly more airtime on local TV.
“With exceptional TV partners in Africa being SABC Sport in South Africa and Kwesé Sports taking EFC into new markets across the continent, there really is no limit to the growth that EFC can still achieve” stated EFC President Cairo Howarth. “2017 was the best year in EFC’s history and we look forward to an even bigger and better 2018!”
Much innovation has taken place in the EFC broadcast spectrum: last year EFC signed a landmark broadcast deal with SABC Sport, added to its programming with the hit reality TV series, The Fighter, signed on additional prestigious brands as partners, as well as held live events in three new venues around South Africa, including an inaugural event in Pretoria.
With a star-stacked roster featuring some of the world’s best MMA athletes, and exciting new additions to the EFC offering, fans and stakeholders are looking forward to an even bigger and more successful year ahead.
The next live event, EFC 67 Kabesa vs Allen, is presented by Betxchange.com and takes place on Saturday 10 March live from Carnival City, Johannesburg. Tickets are on sale at computicket.com, and the 5 main card bouts will be broadcast live on kwesesports.com (Sub-Saharan Africa), Kwesé Free Sports 1 (Kenya & Rwanda), TVplayer (UK) and live in South Africa on SABC 3 starting at 21:00 (CAT). Full broadcast details available on efcworldwide.com.
About EFC – The Extreme Fighting Championship
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, EFC is a world leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation. The Extreme Fighting Championship produces 10 live events annually at sold out arenas. With over 150 athletes exclusively contracted to the organisation, EFC showcases the greatest warriors on the planet.
EFC events are broadcast live in over 120 countries around the world on numerous television networks in multiple languages. EFC programming is available weekly in 600+ million TV households worldwide, making it one of the most recognisable MMA brands on the planet.
For more information visit efcworldwide.com, or follow us at facebook.com/EFCworldwide, Twitter:twitter.com/EFCworldwideand Instagram: Instagram.com/efcworldwide.
