New TV deals emerge. Possibly split for ESPN and NBC?

[Pugz]

Per our great source: This deal is worth a total of 320m/yr (160m/yr each). ESPN and NBC to pay for production (current deal UFC pays for production). ESPN and NBC will also have streaming rights and the fightpass prelims moving to their streaming platforms. Contender series to replace tuf (each network gets one season each per year). PPVs reduced to 6 a year. New weight classes to be added to help fill the increased fight nights (men 165, female 105, etc). Each network will have exclusive rights to certain fighters (similar to how HBO and Showtime have their own boxers which they develop and build) outside of PPV. Remember you heard it here first! TO


this is from terez owens so ill wait to believe it until more outlets post it because right now this sounds sloppy as fuck

 

[Teagz]

Different fighters on each network would be a disaster. I like the idea of less PPV's though.

 

[Pugz]

its looking like espn and fox are going to split the rights which is odd but espn mostly wants the rights to use on their streaming service.

 

[Teagz]

Hopefully ESPN doesn't get it then, because I'm not paying for that shit haha

 

[Pugz]

the splitting is so fucking dumb tol

 

[Pugz]

http://mmajunkie.com/2018/05/ufc-espn-deal-streaming-live-events

so people are forced to pay for this to see? welp more free streaming from me

 

[Teagz]

Man that's terrible. We're gonna have to stream every single fight night card.
 
 
Idk why they'd even do that, besides money. There's gonna be way fewer viewers than they get on FS1.

 

[Pugz]

not to mention so far, it looks like its way less money than they originally projected years ago. the ufc did this to themselves.

 

[Teagz]

It's been a pretty long down period for them. They don't have the stars right now to generate big business. That run they had from 189 to 207 with Conor and Ronda both on top is gonna be hard to match.

 

[Pugz]

It's been a pretty long down period for them. They don't have the stars right now to generate big business. That run they had from 189 to 207 with Conor and Ronda both on top is gonna be hard to match.

lack of stars is their own fault too. they have the most talent they've ever had. they just cant build the guys up and rely on circus acts outside of the press/fights to try and build their production

 

[Teagz]

Their promo for the champions is awful. The Stipe Modelo commercial is the biggest thing they've done in a while.

 

[Pugz]

Their promo for the champions is awful. The Stipe Modelo commercial is the biggest thing they've done in a while.

im actually surprised her got that commercial too. that dude may be quiet but hes a true american. he needs to be in the spotlight more.

 

[Teagz]

im actually surprised her got that commercial too. that dude may be quiet but hes a true american. he needs to be in the spotlight more.

Dude is a professional athlete making a good chunk of change and he still wants to fight fires in his free time. That's about as good of a story as you can ask for.

 

[Pugz]

Dude is a professional athlete making a good chunk of change and he still wants to fight fires in his free time. That's about as good of a story as you can ask for.

and yet dana hates him lol. maybe not hate, but he doesnt seem to care for him.

they have characters they can start promoting too. o'malley can be a star. colby is annoying as fuck but they can get a buzz behind him too. same with kevin lee

 

[Teagz]

and yet dana hates him lol. maybe not hate, but he doesnt seem to care for him.

they have characters they can start promoting too. o'malley can be a star. colby is annoying as fuck but they can get a buzz behind him too. same with kevin lee

I really like Lee after hearing him on Rogan's podcast. JRE is a great promo tool that they don't use enough. Stipe kinda sucked when he was on though, but it's great with guys who can converse. O'Malley would be great on there.

 

[Pugz]

ESPN is reportedly spending serious money to become a major factor in the UFC world.

According to Andrew Wallenstein of Variety, the network reached a deal with the UFC that will start in early 2019 and feature 30 fights on its channels and ESPN+ streaming service. While ESPN secured its initial TV rights in a deal in April, this latest development gives the network a second portion that Fox Sports currently holds and brings the deal to $1.5 billion for five years.

Wallenstein noted the breakdown is $300 million a year for the next five years.

Wallenstein pointed out Fox has shifted to a WWE deal and will no longer pair with UFC

 

[Teagz]

Gonna wait for the details to come out, but hopefully most of the cards end up on actual TV and not ESPN+.
 
 
This sucks for FS1 though. I liked having a channel that had UFC as a focal point. I'm afraid they might just fade into the background on ESPN.

 

[Pugz]

with this deal in place, they'd be foolish to not try and get them out there and even more mainstream.

also ariel and sonnen will have a show on espn. seeing them interview dana will be worth it.

 

[Pugz]

still not paying for espn+ tho