It appears that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is looking to purchase a controlling interest in Comcast’s G4 network. The UFC’s current television contract with Spike TV runs out at the end of 2011, a partnership that hasn’t been at it’s best in recent months. UFC President Dana White has talked about exploring different television options in the past, with most media agreeing that the promotion owning their own network as the best option.
The Wall Street Journal posted the news on Wednesday.
Ultimate Fighting Championship, which pits boxers and martial-arts specialists against each other in bloody bouts, is in talks to acquire control of its own cable network, said people familiar with the matter, as it seeks a more direct relationship with the sport’s growing fan base.
The sports organization, which popularized a new breed of fighting known as mixed martial arts, is in talks to buy control of NBCUniversal’s struggling G4 gaming network, the people familiar with the matter said.
The G4 Network is best known for programs such as “Attack of the Show”, X-Play, American Ninja Warrior, and is currently providing exclusive coverage of the E3 expo in California. The network is found in 63 million homes at this time.