Versus network to air two live UFC events in 2010 under new agreement with Zuffa
by Jesse Holland on Dec 14, 2009 11:10 AM EST
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Take that, DirecTV.
In a stunning announcement this morning, Versus.com has outlined their multi-year contract extension with Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).
As part of VERSUS’ renewal deal, the network will air seven live WEC fights and two live UFC events in 2010, marking the first time that live UFC events will air on a national sports cable network. Also included in the renewal deal are digital media rights, giving VERSUS.com the ability to air one non-televised fight and behind-the-scenes footage from each live WEC Event. Details regarding when the first live UFC event will air on the network will be announced in the near future.
This could be a tough pill to swallow if you have a metal pole in a bucket of concrete for your television needs.
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) events were yanked from DirecTV after the Satellite television provider dropped the Versus channel from its current line-up (though it's still available on the DISH Network).
DirectTV carried the sports programming network up until midnight of August 31, when its current contract expired. Versus is owned by Cable television conglomerate Comcast and demanded a fee increase under a proposal for a new agreement.
While both sides claim to still be in contract negotiations, DirecTV balked at the fee increase, citing a hike in fees that were not consistent with the return for carrying the channel.
Perhaps they'll change their tune when the MMA community tunes in en masse for a Versus-only UFC card?
And what about the "good terms" the UFC and current cable partner Spike TV were on? It's going to be interesting to see how the television landscape changes with this new agreement.
Stay tuned.
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Im sure Comcast now owning NBC Universal had a lot to do with Zuffa extending with them.
@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
Not bad
Personally would have liked a bigger TV deal than Versus, but I’m not going to gripe about more free fights. Obviously network TV would be a bigger story, but this is good for the UFC and for the fans. Now I need to find a friend with DISH.
I can’t believe DirecTV doesn’t have versus anymore. This is complete BS. I could live without the WEC stuff, but this I can’t. Great.
I kno
its garbage why even use a second rate TV station like versus anyways, when i did have it they messed up the time slots so much if i recorded a WEC event i’d get an hour of bullriding or hocky and miss the main event.
by dazzlebreath on Dec 14, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
I’m starting to think that DirecTV has no intentions of putting Versus on their channel list now that NBC (which owns Versus) is controlled by a competitor (Comcast).
Here’s the question: Which contract is easier to get out of, WEC with Versus or UFC with Spike?
Comcast is the majority owner of NBC and controls versus
Direct TV airs NBC sports and even though I’m not sure I would place a bet that the UFC cards will be aired on NBC sports a competitor of CBS that airs? Just a hunch I can’t see the UFC cards being held only on Versus?
I know but Comcast just took majority stake and management of NBC
basically versus and NBC “sports” mainly can work in partnership if Comcast wants them too and I know Dana wants the UFC on one of the big networks for their events. It will be interesting to see what is to come.
i know shit about USA tv networks
but i take it this aint the ground breaking TV deal that dana has been promising the American fans for a few yrs then?
Every night i would pray to God for a new bike, then i realized God does not work that way, so i stole one and asked him to forgive me
Versus re-airs WEC shows all the time, they also have WEC Wreckage and they even are starting to have some on-demand programming.
Also according to reports the UFC has always had an option to air up to 4 live shows on another cable network other than Spike so it’s all good.
versus is no major network though I would think Spike is as big if not bigger than versus
The UFC is suppose to get a major network deal and if NBC is part of the deal then yeah but if not this is no greater a deal than Spike unless they got paid huge dollars from versus? Being part of Comcast you must think the UFC will be airing on NBC at some point?
Agreed, UFC is just get started with Comcast
The Vs deal is just to get the relationship started, if all goes well, we can probably bet on seeing UFC events on NBC in the future. NBC is the 4th rated network and is really in the toilet right now—besides the Olympics and Notre Dame football (which sux), they have nothing going for them. Having UFC events on NBC would be a great ratings booster and give them good numbers in the key 18-49 demo.
However, Comcast needs to get Vs back on Directv as Vs has lost 1/3 of their audience due ot the dispute!
There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
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