UFC confirms details on ESPN deal for UK broadcasting
by Jesse Holland on Jul 30, 2009 2:17 PM EDT
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has found a permanent home on ESPN for its live programming in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland after an abrupt end to its partnership with Setanta Sports earlier this year.
"The Worldwide Leader in Sports" will launch its UFC programming on August 3 on both the Sky and Virgin networks in the UK and Ireland at no cost for the first thirty days.
Following the initial free period, Sky Sports viewers will be eligible to subscribe to ESPN for £9 per month, and viewers without Sky Sports can subscribe for £11.
First up on the docket will be a live broadcast of UFC 101: 'Declaration' on Saturday, August 8, followed by UFC 102: 'Couture vs. Nogueira' on August 29. UFC Unleashed will also air every Thursday at 10pm.
From UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik courtesy of telegraph.co.uk:
"We are ecstatic to announce that ESPN is the new home of the UFC in the UK and Ireland. ESPN is one of the most trusted and respected brands in all of sports broadcasting, and we are thrilled to be working with them as they launch their new channel in the UK and Ireland. Over the last three years, the UFC has become as big a part of the sporting landscape in the British Isles as football and rugby, and for the worldwide leader in sports broadcasting came to us and we were able to reach an agreement so quickly is another testament that the UFC is an important part of the British sporting calendar."
Starting with UFC 80 back on January 19, 2008, the Ultimate Fighting Championship struck a deal with international sports broadcaster Setanta Sports to bring the UFC to millions of homes in the United Kingdom.
That deal recently eroded because of the broadcaster's financial instability following the dissolution of some of its English Premier League rights that left Setanta strapped for cash and on the prowl for some emergency funding.
It was unknown if UFC 99, scheduled for June 13 in Cologne, Germany, would even make the airwaves in the UK until just a day before the broadcast, jeopardizing the momentum of Zuffa’s Europe expansion.
The UFC was also forced to scramble to get airtime for UFC 100, their biggest show of the year. The pay-per-view eventually ended up airing via Sky TV on a defunct ‘Racing World’ channel.
The new deal with ESPN will not only solidify the presence of the UFC on UK television, it will also be a major step towards Zuffa’s goal of brand globalization.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com as more details are expected to be announced over the next few days.
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There you go over seas fans, more free mma… happy now?
by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
main event at 5am in the morning. rather pay the money and watch it with friends or at a bar.
as big as football and rugby!!! LOL, they are deluded, even if they are just hyping
by adam on Jul 30, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lets make some MOVES!!
lets leave fedor’s fucking faggott ass! out of them ufc lets move on cause he’s missing out and were moving up!!
by mikeybear on Jul 30, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great post Adam. That football and rugby comment was utterly hilarious. Less than 10% of the population know what the UFC is and half those people think it’s illegal.
Like we can be charged $50 like the Americans for a show that starts at 3am. Like any Americans would pay for that????
by attakdog on Jul 30, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve stayed up until 3am to watch dream fights, but you’re right. But for shows in europe, they tape delay them, they could have the ppv at 10 am and you’d pay, no? 7pm next day? I do it for over seas events, don’t go online until after I watch!
by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know, they all moan when they have to pay for European PPVs that they see in the day then complain that we don’t pay for PPVs of a minority sport that are shown live at 3am.
Every thread on UK TV deals seems to be hijacked with the same complaints and smart arse comments from the usual suspects. Get over it.
by David W-S on Jul 30, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m over it, we get good live shows, you get Hardy and Bisping as co and main event!
by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know, I do wonder if the UFC has done the proper market research to determine tat $45-$55 is the sweet spot. If it was less, would more people order instead of going to one guys house or a bar? And would it equate to a larger profit. $55 is what I pay for the HD. I skip a few and go to the bar if I’m not excited about the main events. If it was $25, I’d buy them all with no exceptions.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Jul 30, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have covered this before, you need a $50+ TV package to get the channel plus we have the joy of staying up till 3AM to watch the fights.
Feel better now.
by Casualfan on Jul 30, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no, my base cable bill is close to 200, then add PPV’s, you feel better. Last month my bill (UFC’s overlapped) was 480+
by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your getting jacked Kev… there has to be a better way.
I don’t care if your Warren Buffets love child
your paying to much.
No wonder California is bankrupt.
by Big Zino on Jul 30, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its not just CA bro! HBO, showtime, stars, movies are same price as blockbuster so rather than leave my house I order them! plus ppv
by kevin on Jul 30, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a f**kin’ absolute rip off. I get a basic digital TV package with sports for about $125 a month and that includes the UFC.
480+ for one month is ridiculous. How the hell did it get so expensive? What a joke.
by RobH86 on Jul 30, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully this will be something long term and ESPN keeps teh fights live stays away from ads and PPV.
by Casualfan on Jul 30, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice.
UFC making moves. I heard M1 signed with RSYH which the is Khazikstan sports network. Borat was the key negotiator.
Seriously though, the UFc has a plan and this is another iteration of execution by dana. The man is killing in boardrooms.
by Big Zino on Jul 30, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey Kevin its not exactly free (its £9 a month subscription) but I agree its cheaper than pay per view. However, you get to watch it live at a decent hour not at 3am in the morning!!!!!!
Anyway if it takes off you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll switch tp pay per view, just like the boxing is over here in the UK.
by Nuts on Jul 30, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So the UFC signed a deal with The Walt Disney Company aka the owner of ABC/ESPN. So will we be seeing UFC on ABC soon in the states? I think so… or maybe Brock and Snow White can do a movie together.
by Xsjado on Jul 30, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Brock would be willing to get on top of Snow White.
by Big Zino on Jul 30, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only after a couple of Coors Lights.
by attakdog on Jul 30, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I take it they will show replays on Sunday nights too? Dont get me wrong i stay up and watch every even but when the guys are round and the drinks are flowing am lucky if i can remember the fights the next day. I actually woke up one sunday morning thinking i must have dreamt that Anderson had two sh1t boring fights in a row!!
by Eagzy on Jul 30, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well I’m from the UK and I’ll be watching the next 2 UFC’s on ESPN’s free 30 days :) But after that they’ve got absolutely no chance of me subscribing. Us English are way too tight. If Dana and co think they’re going to sell the UFC over here and eventually start putting it on PPV it really isn’t going to happen. Ever! Big mistake by Zuffa. They should have sold to Bravo or Virgin. I’ll just watch the fights on 1 of the hundreds of site that post them the next day. As in not have to stay awake through the night til 06:00 the next morning and not have to put up with loads of inbetween fight boredom!! Happy days. Me=1, UFC=0 LOL.
by MrAngry on Jul 30, 2009 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
First month free = sweet £9 a month for all the UFC’s, UFN’s and other programming is well it.
by mack3333 on Jul 30, 2009 8:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ok clear this one up for me.
Is UFC in the UK shown at 3am still?
Is UFC in the UK going to be pay per view not subscription?
Thanks.
by Dashingprince on Aug 1, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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