Versus to be renamed NBC Sports Network on Jan. 2, 2012
by Jesse Holland on Aug 1, 2011 10:31 AM EDT
in UFC Programming
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Human Peacock-fighting.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will need to find a new name for its "Live" series as the "Versus Network" will officially be renamed the "NBC Sports Network" on Jan. 2, 2012.
The Sporting News explains why:
"Our goal is for anyone who sees the name or logo of one of our assets to immediately connect with NBC Sports," said NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus. He will officially announce the name change today at the Television Critics Association tour in Beverly Hills, Calif.
As part of the Versus rebrand, the NBC Sports Group also is updating its logo, making its peacock larger and using new fonts for NBC Sports.
"These rebranding efforts are a major step toward a complete strategic alignment of all our platforms and businesses," Lazarus said.
The UFC still isn't on network television, but it looks like it will be rubbing elbows feathers with the NBC brand as it continues broadcasting its "Versus" events after the New Year under its new handle.
The next such event (under its existing brand), UFC on Versus 6, will take place on Oct. 1 from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., as reigning bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz defends his 135-pound strap against Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson.
The world's largest fight promotion made its Versus debut with "Vera vs. Jones" back on March 21, 2010, from the 1ST Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, featuring the rise of Jon "Jones" Bones as he obliterated Brandon "The Truth" Vera.
Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the Comcast Corporation's purchase of a 51-percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric. Not long afterward, the UFC was in talks with NBC/Comcast to purchase a controlling interest in its G4 cable channel, a struggling gaming network that targets a male demographic.
UFC and Spike TV are in the final year of their television contract.
Anyone think the name change will lead to bigger and better things? Or is it just a formality?
Thoughts?
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As part of the Versus rebrand, the NBC Sports Group also is updating its logo, making itspeacock larger and using new fonts for NBC Sports.
oh and like this jab..be honest this wasn’t about wit
but it looks like it will be rubbing elbows feathers with the NBC brand as it continues broadcasting its “Versus”
Jesse even hates bloody elbow
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.
by Lesnar's striking coach on Aug 1, 2011 10:35 AM EDT reply actions
but it looks like it will be rubbingelbowsfeathers with the NBC brand as it continues broadcasting its “Versus”
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.
by Lesnar's striking coach on Aug 1, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Damn, this is some really interesting shit right here
"Long shall we remember
He who walked the road of danger
Master of revenge
Death's no stranger
Blood and death lived on his sword
The god of war his only lord
Into the depths of hell
Go all he fell"
- Manowar hymn of the immortal warriors
by O damn he got caught on Aug 1, 2011 10:42 AM EDT reply actions
Saw this coming
way back when Comcast stated to acquire NBC/Universal.
Now the only thing is will they be able to even compete w/ ESPN?
@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
Didn't work for Fox
Won’t work for NBC unless they do not renew any content contracts with ESPN, which aer slim and none.
The new US "debt deal" cut $2.4 trillion in deficit spending over 10 years. So instead of a $1.5 TRILLION deficit in 2012, we will only have to borrow $1.26 TRILLION to run our country into the ground. O_o
what will change for UFC ?
Other than the events will now be named “UFC on NBC sports”
by robinhorobson on Aug 1, 2011 11:10 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Want to rebrand?
Then you need a staple sport to provide a reason for people to watch the channel in the first place. Just changing a name doesn’t do that. Create a deal with the UFC, allow them to be your staple brand for the next 10 years. Trust me, the plethora of fishing shows on Vs. won’t cut it. Hockey and Nascar doesn’t bring in the number. NBC needs to pry the UFC away from Spike this year. I doubt it’s a coincidence that they are doing their rebranding the same year that Spike’s contract is up. NBC needs the UFC. Guess the question is, does the UFC really need NBC?
I’m on the fence. I think the UFC needs something more that what the new NBC sports channel can provide. I don’t know about all service providers, but the VS. channel is one of those channels I dont get with my initial cable line up (compared to say SPIKE). I have to pay for their sports package and I don’t have that much interest in doing that when the UFC is only airing live events on VS. on a quarterly basis.
If they do stick with NBC (past whatever contract they had with VS) then I hope that it leads to the UFC taking the opportunity to use the new channel rebrand as a new way to introduce the UFC to the masses (better production, higher caliber fights).
i dunno much about this
but
NBC needs the UFC
seems a bit much. they have survived up until now just fine without then
Wasn't this announced like a couple months ago?
or was it just a rumor at that time?
Curently running #1 in MMAmania Money Pool Season 4
Think it was a rumor
Professional Sig Bet Record: 2-0
"Punish your enimies"- The Huntington Beach Bad Boy
Fedor is the Michael Jordan of MMA??? ahahaah GTFO
by ItalianStallion54 on Aug 1, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Versus.com
changed to nbcsports.msnbc.com a month or so ago.
There was speculation that this move was going to go down, just that no one knew exactly when. Kind of like the WEC/UFC “merger” and the inevitable Strikeforce/UFC “merger”.
Ironic.
@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
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