UFC, FOX come to agreement on long-term TV deal (Update)
Posted on August 16, 2011, 12:59 PM by DougMeadFor the past seven years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has called Spike TV its home for cable programming. However, according to a recent report, that relationship will end, starting in 2012.
Sports Business Daily reported on Tuesday that the UFC and FOX Sports have come to an agreement that will move all UFC programming to FOX’s Fuel and FX affiliates starting next year, for a period of seven or eight years.
The agreement calls for at least four major UFC to be broadcast per year, as well as the current programming featured on Spike TV and Versus.
It’s a huge win for UFC, which has long had a goal of acquiring a broadcast TV deal in order to continue its growth.
Spike TV had concerns over the relatively flat ratings recently for taped UFC shows such as Unleashed, Knockouts and Countdown.
However, UFC president Dana White considers broadcast TV to be a great vehicle to continue promoting his brand and for advertisement and marketing of the core pay-per-view entertainment, which is the primary revenue stream for UFC.
"We're never going to be in a situation where we're making money on those networks," White said earlier this year. "We'll have to come out in a situation where we break even. That works."
For years, many states in the US would not sanction the UFC, citing its danger factor. However, with many holdout states now softening their stance and with a more mainstream audience, the switch to FOX makes great sense for a sport continuing to gain in overall popularity.
Update:
Speaking at a special UFC 136 pre-fight press conference held in Texas today, UFC President Dana White would neither confirm nor deny earlier reports from Sports Business Journal that the promotion had reached an agreement with the FOX network that would bring a minimum of four live events to the broadcast powerhouse annually.
"Everyone is asking me to comment on the Sports Business Journal article. Well, there's a reason I haven't, just like I didn't comment on the Wall Street Journal article on us buying G4," said White (via MMAMania.com).
White went on to explain that, unlike other organizations, the UFC will not jump on the first major network offer that comes their way. Instead, he stated, the deal has to both make business sense and help further the growth of MMA as a sport.
While Heavy.com has reportedly confirmed the agreement, citing sources close to the FOX network, the UFC appears to be remaining tight-lipped on any details.
Keep it locked on LowKick.com for more details as they become available.
Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
This is really big for the UFC
Agreed, David..it gives the UFC a better vehicle to promote and market their core pay-per-view revenue stream...
Good one.
What about ESPN will that still be available for viewing.its the only way i see UFC if they cut that i'll be pissed
I'd say so, the UFC will be on atleast 3 to 4 different networks now. The UFC is smart instead of just being on one network it wants to be on mutilple netoworks (like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB). They know one network is not enough to be a legit sport (in America).
You must be in England, what the UFC do in the USA with TV deals will not affect any of the PPVS being shown in the UK. However as we saw with this last versus show, ESPN UK may miss out on the free shows. I doubt the UFC will stay with ESPN next year anyway, Skysports is the place to be in the UK not ESPN.
I live in the U.S. actually. All I'm saying is that the UFC is really smart to be on a bunch of different networks. I personally hope that the PPV thin goes bye bye and that all events will be free. This seems like a step in the right direction, but who knows maybe I'm just optimistic.
****...what channel is fox fuel?...
It depends on where you live.. check with your local cable programming....
Some carriers don't have it (like mine) which sux. It's a surf/skate/boarding channel.
Dana white refused to comment on this at the Press conference today and noted that many other rumours that came out he didn't comment on, so it sounds like this isnt a done deal yet
Numerous reports are saying this is a done deal, but it ain't official till Uncle Dana says so.
Ryan, I got thank you for changing your pic and nixing that god awful self-portrait of you raising your glass like some wanna-be extra on a rap video. Not that I have anything against wanna-be extras . . . Just saying, it was really cheesy.
Wonder if this affects VS.
i got basic cable i dont need a thousand channels that i wouldt watch anyways, and UFC will be losing alot of people switching to a network that you can only get if its paid for...point is if UFC switches to some channel like that,i will have to stream events... the internet will become my UFC Network lol
Not quite sure I follow this article and think the terminology is incorrect/misleading...
"" It’s a huge win for UFC, which has long had a goal of acquiring a broadcast TV deal in order to continue its growth. ""
Fuel and FX are cable channels. The parent company, Fox, is a broadcast network... but everything would be on cable channels. So they'll be going from one cable network (Spike) to others (Fuel and FX). Maybe they wanted to be a part of a broadcast FAMILY like Fox???
I agree that it actually seems like a step backwards. I've never heard of Fuel, and do not consider FX to be as big as Spike. But then again, I think UFC made Spike what it is today.
tight, maybe they will start showing, TUFs in mexico, since they recently made a deal with fox sports about showing the ppvs down here.
APPLE TV
So, you need premium cable/satellite subscriptions to be able to watch the UFC once this goes down? I don't have FOX Fuel or FX -- so I guess I'm shit out of luck.
I suppose I'll go back to watching WWE.