While the UFC is in negotiations with Spike TV to discuss a new television deal, UFC president Dana White said he expects the new deal to be wrapped up in the near future.
“We’re in negotiations right now, so we’re still talking,” White said during the UFC 130 post-fight press conference this past Saturday.
“Should be wrapped up in the next six months,” he added.
The UFC has developed a huge audience with Spike TV, and the hit reality show “The Ultimate Fighter” has brought the company to new heights in terms of popularity and television ratings. While Spike TV has been the home of the UFC since 2005, White said they need to explore all their options before finalizing a deal.
“We want to be with somebody we can grow with like we have with Spike. We’ve had a great relationship with Spike and done great things there, so hopefully we can figure things out,” he said.
And it looks like White is not just wasting his breath. The UFC boss said they are looking to expand their horizons, even if that means they land a deal with a major television network like NBC or CBS.
The UFC had the opportunity to land a deal with HBO in the past, but control issues ultimately ruined any chance of it happening. White said getting the opportunity to be featured on network television was always in his plans, but the right deal never came along.
“Our deal has always been we could do fights on network television, we’ve just never come to a deal with network television,” he said.
And it appears that NBC could be the potential destination for the UFC, as the network owns the rights to the Versus network, who, along with Spike TV, airs UFC programming.
But according to White, his objective is to land the best deal possible, in order to gain exposure and growth as a sport. And in his mind, every network is on his list.
“We’re talking to everybody,” White said.
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