At 14 seasons, "The Ultimate Fighter" is already a champ in terms of staying power. In fact, the show has become a defining feature of the Spike TV network.

But are current ratings averages acceptable for FX, where "The Ultimate Fighter" is soon to find its home?

"It's beyond acceptable for me," Chuck Saftler, executive vice president of FX Network, recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "In fact, I think there's some growth in it."

Per the UFC's new broadcast deal with FOX, the flagship reality show is set to undergo a major overhaul when "The Ultimate Fighter 15" heads to FX on Friday nights in January 2012. The show's fights air live each week, as opposed to pre-taped and aired over the course of a 12-week season. As before, the lead-up to the live fight will serve as a behind-the-scenes look at the contestants' lives in the fighter house.

Over the course of its lifetime, "The Ultimate Fighter" has attracted an average audience north of one million viewers each week including, as expected, strong numbers in young male and adults 18-49 demographics.

Despite those numbers, Spike ranks 25th in average ratings for adults 18-49 while FX, which boasts such hot properties as "Sons of Anarchy" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," is third, according to TV by the Numbers. In primetime and total day average viewers, FX is ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, while Spike is not. Both channels are available in approximately the same number of homes at 96 million.

Saftler believes "TUF" will deliver on a tough night for networks. With FX's current Friday lineup comprising syndicated reruns of "How I Met Your Mother" and third-run movies, it certainly changes the face of the network's programming.

"I believe the audience is still going to be there," he said. "Friday night is a very challenging night for all broadcasters to program these days. I think this makes our Friday night incredibly relevant and vibrant, so I couldn't be more excited about the potential for numbers that this brings to FX."

FOX executives have been mum on ratings expectations for the host of UFC programming that's headed its way next year, but with a seven-year partnership, they've made a substantial investment in its success.

While the offerings on FOX's flagship channel will undoubtedly receive the most scrutiny, FX believes "TUF" has nowhere to go but up.

"This is just such an exceptional property," Saftler said. "This is just a phenomenal step up, and a relevant step to what fighting fans are looking for today."


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