Press Release – Newport Beach, CA. (February 28, 2013) – Spike TV is launching “Bellator MMA” for iPad, iPhone, and iTouch, as fans can experience mixed martial arts like never before with the world’s most advanced co-viewing MMA app. The app is available on the App Store on Thursday, February 28, with an Android version coming soon to Google Play.
When the Bellator cage door closes and the gloves touch, the innovative app works in concert with the live Spike broadcast to supply real-time fight data to fans that is only available through the app. Developed from the ground up to make watching live fights more immersive, viewers will have the unique ability to track both expansive fighter analytics and participate in the on-air broadcast. As The 4th Judge, fans can score rounds with the help of real-time statistics powered by CompuStrike, a service providing data in 26 categories from arm strikes to submission attempts.
“The Bellator app is truly the first of its kind. It allows our passionate fans to experience the fight as a virtual fourth judge – creating a level of immersion that’s unparalleled in any sport,” said Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Multiplatform Events, Spike TV.
“At Bellator, we continually look for new ways to connect with our fans in a more meaningful way,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “This innovative app will resonate with our first-adopter audience who will feel closer to the action than ever before.”
Fan input doesn’t end with the app. As The 4th Judge, viewers will be able to have their opinions known during the live telecast. The Bellator broadcast team of Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock will announce the results of viewers’ polling to see how fan opinion compares to their own as well as the official cageside judges. (The 4th Judge voting will not factor in the actual judges’ decisions).
The app features historical statistic breakdowns for every fighter, pre-fight fan picks, and Favorite Fight polling which will be sharable via social networks. The Bellator MMA app also gives fans the opportunity to watch exclusive videos, and dig deep into fighter biographies. Bellator MMA airs live on Spike TV Thursday nights at 10:00pm ET/PT from venues all across North America, featuring many of the world’s best mixed martial arts fighters.
Spike TV partnered with award-winning Omnigon Communications, a digital solutions company specializing in the sports, media and entertainment industries, to create the app.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 107 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 150 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.
About Spike TV:
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