Overseas shows will also be live coast-to-coast in the United States as part of this deal.
After this weekend’s Bellator MMA doubleheader on Paramount Network, the Viacom owned promotion is headed for an all-sports channel.
Weeks after it was reported by Ariel Helwani, Scott Coker confirmed on Friday that starting October 1st we’ll see Bellator MMA on the CBS Sports Network. The action begins with a card in Milan, Italy headlined by Paul Daley versus Derek Anderson, and unlike previous European-based cards, all Bellator shows will be on CBS SN and live across both North American coasts.
“I am thrilled that Bellator live events will be coming to CBS Sports Network beginning on Oct. 1, as well as the unique opportunities the partnership creates across all CBS Sports platforms,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “CBS Sports is synonymous with iconic sports broadcasting and it is incredible to now have Bellator MMA included in that family. I would like to thank Paramount Network, formerly Spike TV, for the years of support that helped build Bellator into the organization that it is today, and this news marks yet another exciting relationship between two ViacomCBS properties. I look forward to bringing the biggest fights, featuring the top athletes in the world, live to CBS Sports Network and introducing Bellator to an entirely new audience this fall.”
“We’re excited to have CBS Sports Network serve as the new home of live Bellator MMA events. It’s a great opportunity to showcase some of the best events and biggest names in the sport,” said CBS Sports Executive Vice President of Programming Dan Weinberg (via the official press release). “Adding Bellator MMA to the CBS Sports portfolio will allow for greater promotion, engagement and exposure across all our platforms and assets including CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports HQ as well as our various social accounts.”
Bellator had been on Paramount Network (previously branded as Spike) since 2013, but sagging ratings and the recent partnership with DAZN certainly raised speculation over whether the promotion would stay on Paramount much longer. The DAZN deal still exists for now, but it’s worth noting that CBS does have the All-Access streaming app at a much cheaper monthly cost ($5.99 per month) than the $20 for DAZN.
Other notable fights set for CBS Sports Network include:
Cheick Kongo vs. Timothy Johnson, Michael Page vs. Ross Houston – October 10th in Paris, France (with 5,000 fans maximum in attendance)
Cris Cyborg vs. Arlene Blencowe for the Bellator women’s featherweight title – October 15th in Uncasville, CT
Douglas Lima vs. Gegard Mousasi for vacant Bellator middleweight title – October 29th in Uncasville, CT
Preliminary card action will still stream on the Bellator MMA YouTube page as well as the CBS Sports website. You may have also noticed that apart from the France show, the other events will air on Thursdays, which is not ideal going opposite NFL games but is still at least away from UFC cards.
Will Bellator’s switch to CBS Sports open the door for shows on main CBS? It could but for now the action will remain on CBS SN.