As UFC and FOX announce their new multi-year partnership, details have confirmed that a revamped The Ultimate Fighter series will begin airing on FX Network this spring. A UFC press release stated: In spring 2012,.
As UFC and FOX announce their new multi-year partnership, details have confirmed that a revamped The Ultimate Fighter series will begin airing on FX Network this spring. A UFC press release stated:
In spring 2012, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, UFC’s signature weekly reality show moves to FX, FOX’s general entertainment cable network now in more than 99 million homes. With the move to FX, the show will feature a newly-designed format. FX is also set to televise another four-to six-live UFC events annually, with a mixture of additional events and programs heading to FSMG cable networks including FUEL TV.
Changes to the TUF show include a two-hour live season premiere to showcase 16 ‘all-or-nothing’ fights among 32 fighters and audience participation as viewers vote on who will fight who once coaches select their teams. TUF episodes will be edited in real time and live fights will follow each episode over a 12 week period leading up to the 13th episode which will be an all live event crowning the champion.
Changes to UFC pay-per-view events are also in the works and Fox’s first UFC Live event will air November 12th.
Rejoice, fight fans, because the UFC has finally made it to network television. It was announced today in Los Angeles that the world’s premier MMA promotion will begin hosting live events on FOX beginning November 12th. And that’s just the beginning.
While following the live video stream of today’s UFC/FOX press conference, I — like every other MMA writer who wasn’t actually in the building — was intently monitoring people’s reactions on twitter and chipping in my own two cents when it seemed appropriate. So much information was released in the hour-long session that instead of transcribing the whole mess myself, I’ll just cherry-pick the most important bits that were coming through on our Freaks of the Industry feed. (Future of journalism, people.) All the good stuff is contained right here, so read on…
@stevecofield: UFC/FOX makes it official with a 10:02am PT press release. First event airs on Nov. 12 at 9pm ET. Spring 2012 TUF 15 on FX
@jordanbreen: You’ll never see another sport where so many people are excited for the symbolism of a guy from Newsradio wearing a jacket.
@benfowlkes: Fox cameramen apparently confused about the difference between GSP and Frankie Edgar. Rough start, but okay…
@mikechiappetta: FOX exec says TUF will move to Fridays. “We’ll literally own Friday nights,” he says.
Rejoice, fight fans, because the UFC has finally made it to network television. It was announced today in Los Angeles that the world’s premier MMA promotion will begin hosting live events on FOX beginning November 12th. And that’s just the beginning.
While following the live video stream of today’s UFC/FOX press conference, I — like every other MMA writer who wasn’t actually in the building — was intently monitoring people’s reactions on twitter and chipping in my own two cents when it seemed appropriate. So much information was released in the hour-long session that instead of transcribing the whole mess myself, I’ll just cherry-pick the most important bits that were coming through on our Freaks of the Industry feed. (Future of journalism, people.) All the good stuff is contained right here, so read on…
@stevecofield: UFC/FOX makes it official with a 10:02am PT press release. First event airs on Nov. 12 at 9pm ET. Spring 2012 TUF 15 on FX
@jordanbreen: You’ll never see another sport where so many people are excited for the symbolism of a guy from Newsradio wearing a jacket.
@benfowlkes: Fox cameramen apparently confused about the difference between GSP and Frankie Edgar. Rough start, but okay…
@mikechiappetta: FOX exec says TUF will move to Fridays. “We’ll literally own Friday nights,” he says.
@showdownjoe: From Spike: “The Ultimate Fighter” season 14 in September will be our last.”
@stevecofield: Dana White is giddy. “this was it for me. This is what I always wanted. This was always the pinnacle”
@jordanbreen: Someone throw a blazer on Dana. Please. People who dress themselves will understand.
@mmaweeklycom: TUF 15 will be taped week to week with the elimination fight shown live each Friday night on FX. #UFConFox
@maggiehendricks: The UFC already owns my Saturday nights, but now Fridays, too? MMA! The sport for shut-ins!
@showdownjoe: New promo airing right now for TUF…audience will now have a voice and select who will fight. I like it.
@thetomasrios: Just realized Pacquiao/Marquez 3 is Nov. 12th as well. That’s a very bold move for your network debut.
@5ozsofpain: Josh Gross and Dana White in the same room. This presser gets more monumental by the moment.
@stevecofield: @arielhelwani Asks about Nov 12 on FOX. Dana says it’ll be down in Anaheim. No card info yet. Seven yr deal.
@cagepotatomma: UFC programming like ‘Unleashed’ and ‘Prelims Live’ to appear on Fuel. Karyn Bryant was a big fan of ‘The Shield’.
@stevecofield: Richard Sandomir asks why this is such a big deal. David Hill makes a joke and Sandomir disappears.
[Ed. note: Sandomir is a New York Times reporter who asked Fox Sports CEO David Hill why he promoted this announcement as such a big deal. Hill: “So you’d call in.” Hill was firing brief, sardonic answers all day. Dude’s a character.]
@mmaweeklycom: Production will be run by the UFC, FOX will bring in their guys for the pre and post shows. #UFConFox
@stevecofield: Dana again confirming six UFC Fight Nights on FX and four big UFC cards on FOX. Plus 26 weeks of TUF live fights on FX
@maggiehendricks: Lorenzo says Fox caters to men, then the feed cuts out for me. Damn, @ufc, you really don’t want me around, huh?
@5ozsofpain: Also Loretta Hunt at the presser. Epicness continues.
@showdownjoe: Lorenzo stated that there will be championship fights on Fox, but not all will include champs.
@mmaweeklycom: The move for the UFC to Fox Latin America will be the driving force in the company having a show in Mexico #UFConFox
@mmaweeklycom: FX exec takes a shot at Spike TV regarding to the promotion of the ‘Ultimate Fighter’. They expect many more eyeballs on the show now #UFC
@5ozsofpain: Wide shot reminds us that Edgar, GSP, Rashad, and Chuck are still there. Would love to hear some questions towards them about the impact.
@showdownjoe: Dana just stated that there will be a new look and change to UFC ppv’s
@cagepotatomma: GLADIATOR OPENING IS GOING AWAY! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!
@jordanbreen: What are your favorite Gladiator Man memories? I always liked when he rubbed the sand between his hands to up the grip on his sword.
@cagepotatomma: “Try the wings.” – Joe Rogan #ufcfoxpressconference #lastwords
Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, NewsThe UFC’s first foray into network television won’t take long. During Thursday’s announcement of a newly signed seven-year deal with FOX, UFC president Dana White also announced that the first event on the broadca…
The UFC‘s first foray into network television won’t take long. During Thursday’s announcement of a newly signed seven-year deal with FOX, UFC president Dana White also announced that the first event on the broadcast network will come on Nov. 12.
The event will likely take place in Anaheim, California, White said.
The card itself is still being worked on.
Under the terms of the deal, FOX will broadcast four events per calendar year, while FX while host six “Fight Night” events.
The FOX shows are expected to be higher caliber offerings than “Fight Night” events, according to UFC executive Lorenzo Fertitta.
“You may not have championships on every card,” he said. “There may be championships on some of the time. But I can tell you that we’re going to deliver big fights on broadcast network, that’s for sure. Fights that matter, that mean something, and there’s a lot hanging on the line.”
The Nov. 12 event will give UFC a stretch of four straight Saturdays with a major show. It kicks off October 29, when Nick Diaz tries to wrest the UFC welterweight title from Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137. The next weekend, the UFC flies to the UK, where Chris Leben and Mark Munoz will tangle in the main event of UFC 138. Then, it’s back to the U.S. for the UFC on FOX debut, followed by a trip to nearby San Jose, California for UFC 139, with heavyweight king Cain Velasquez defending the belt against Junior dos Santos.
(Also, Glenn Beck’s old spot will be permanently replaced by BJ Penn tackling people.)
As reported earlier this week, the UFC and FOX have been finalizing a new broadcast deal that will place up to four annual fight events on the network and move weekly programming (like The Ultimate Fighter) to cable subsidiary FX. The partnership will be made public today at a press conference in Los Angeles, scheduled for 10 a.m. local time. (Or at least that’s what we think will happen. I mean, what else would they announce? Their mutual love of It’s Always Sunny?)
Expected for the press conference are Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Rashad Evans, as well as FOX Sports Media Group Chairman and CEO David Hill, Co-Presidents and COO’s Randy Freer and Eric Shanks, and FX President John Landgraf.
(Also, Glenn Beck’s old spot will be permanently replaced by BJ Penn tackling people.)
As reported earlier this week, the UFC and FOX have been finalizing a new broadcast deal that will place up to four annual fight events on the network and move weekly programming (like The Ultimate Fighter) to cable subsidiary FX. The partnership will be made public today at a press conference in Los Angeles, scheduled for 10 a.m. local time. (Or at least that’s what we think will happen. I mean, what else would they announce? Their mutual love of It’s Always Sunny?)
Expected for the press conference are Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Rashad Evans, as well as FOX Sports Media Group Chairman and CEO David Hill, Co-Presidents and COO’s Randy Freer and Eric Shanks, and FX President John Landgraf.
Well Dana White tweeted today: And that sent rumors buzzing that White and Frankie Edgar‘s trip to Los Angeles could be due to the big announcement Fox Network has planned tomorrow (Thursday, August 18th). As.
Well Dana White tweeted today:
And that sent rumors buzzing that White and Frankie Edgar‘s trip to Los Angeles could be due to the big announcement Fox Network has planned tomorrow (Thursday, August 18th). As reported by MMA Weekly:
It was released on Wednesday by John Ourand from Sports Business Daily that Fox executives were in Los Angeles for a press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon that would be “one of the biggest announcements in FOX Sports history.”
MMA enthusiasts are expecting to hear that a major broadcast deal has been struck between UFC and Fox for a multi-year contract negotiated around $90 million dollars. To add fuel to this pretty much true theory, it’s been reported that also on route to LA today were Georges St. Pierre and Rashad Evans. The Fox Press Conference is said to be held at 10:00am (PT) in Studio 2A at the Fox Network Center. This would really suck and/or be a little funny if it has nothing to do with UFC.
(Sorry, Marge. Your kind has no place here. Props: Fox)
Although reports like this are usually followed by UFC president Dana White calling “bullshit,”SportsBusinessDaily is breaking a very interesting bit of news:
In what would represent a major push into the mainstream for the UFC, Fox has agreed to a deal that will see the broadcast channel air as many as four MMA events per year, according to several sources. The multiyear deal would mark the first time the UFC will have consistent airtime on a broadcast network.
Fox execs refused to comment on the deal, but sources with knowledge of the negotiations said bidding had gone as high as $90M per year. The Fox deal is believed to be for seven or eight years. As part of the deal, most of the weekly programming that UFC has on Versus and Spike TV will move to FX starting in January. That includes several fight cards, plus shows like the reality series “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Fox-owned Fuel also will wind up with some UFC content. But rumors that Fox will rebrand Fuel as a UFC channel are not true, sources said. Fox was attracted to UFC programming, which has produced some of the highest viewership figures — and most attractive demos — on Versus and Spike TV…Both the Versus and Spike TV deals with UFC expire at the end of the year.
(Sorry, Marge. Your kind has no place here. Props: Fox)
Although reports like this are usually followed by UFC president Dana White calling “bullshit,”SportsBusinessDaily is breaking a very interesting bit of news:
In what would represent a major push into the mainstream for the UFC, Fox has agreed to a deal that will see the broadcast channel air as many as four MMA events per year, according to several sources. The multiyear deal would mark the first time the UFC will have consistent airtime on a broadcast network.
Fox execs refused to comment on the deal, but sources with knowledge of the negotiations said bidding had gone as high as $90M per year. The Fox deal is believed to be for seven or eight years. As part of the deal, most of the weekly programming that UFC has on Versus and Spike TV will move to FX starting in January. That includes several fight cards, plus shows like the reality series “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Fox-owned Fuel also will wind up with some UFC content. But rumors that Fox will rebrand Fuel as a UFC channel are not true, sources said. Fox was attracted to UFC programming, which has produced some of the highest viewership figures — and most attractive demos — on Versus and Spike TV…Both the Versus and Spike TV deals with UFC expire at the end of the year.
The report went on to say that the UFC had previously been negotiating with Comcast/NBC for a broadcast deal that would have placed UFC events on NBC and Versus and transformed G4 into the UFC’s official cable channel, but those talks recently broke down.
Also, negotiations with Spike TV are officially kaput. Spike ultimately walked away amid concerns that ratings for its UFC programming were on the decline. (“Shows like ‘Unleashed,’ ‘Knockouts’ and ‘Countdown’ averaged 1 million viewers in ’05. This year, they are averaging 492,000.”) Still, Spike holds the rights to UFC library programming through 2012, and may continue to air content like their “UFC Unleashed” fight-compilation show.
The deal with Fox would be a great leap forward for the UFC, whose two-pronged cable deal with Spike and Versus wasn’t really benefiting any of the parties involved. Plus, The Ultimate Fighter as a lead-in to Rescue Me just sounds badass. We’ll update you when we know more…
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