CBS: 'Fedor-Rogers' Commercial Ads Sold Out

Commercial spots for CBS’s Saturday Night Fights broadcast of Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Rogers” have completely sold out, according to Kelly Kahl, executive vice president for primetime programming for the network.

“I’d say this was probably a quicker sellout than the EliteXC shows,” said Kahl, who added that the addition of top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko has piqued interest in “premium advertisers” from the auto, movies, and video gaming genres.

Aside from ratings, advertising sales are a second way that networks can gauge interest in its programming. Kahl said that other sporting events on CBS usually complete their advertising sales a day or two before air date if that.

Among those scheduled around the live broadcast, EA Sports will unveil a preview of its MMA game due out in 2010.

Kahl would not suggest the ratings’ range CBS hopes to draw for Saturday’s show -- its first live MMA event since EliteXC “Heat” in October 2008. However, Kahl said any movement in the young male demographics, particularly Male 18-49 and 18-34, will be coveted. CBS averages a .7 rating in that demo on Saturdays, its lowpoint of the week, said Kahl.

EliteXC “Heat” drew a 2.5 rating in the Male 18-34 and 18-49 brackets a year ago, when Seth Petruzelli knocked out Kimbo Slice in 14 seconds during the main event. The three live MMA events that CBS broadcasted in 2008 ranged between an average 2.6 and 4.8 million viewers.