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News
ESPN
Plus strikes $750-million deal with UFC for 15 fight
cards a year - 8th May 2018
By
LANCE PUGMIRE UFC
announced a partnership Tuesday with ESPN Plus, the new subscription, direct-to-consumer
streaming service, that will offer up to 15 "Fight Night" cards per
year and bring the organization $750 million over five years. Beverly
Hills talent agency WME/IMG purchased the UFC in 2016 for $4 billion, hinging
its price to the potential ability to maximize television investment. This
portion of a UFC television package, with fights to begin on ESPN Plus in January,
will bring in $150 million annually. The UFC's expiring deal with Fox that began
in 2012 netted $100 million per year. Negotiations
are continuing for the broadcast rights to the remainder of the typical UFC fight
schedule, which will probably include around 20 more fight cards with main events
that are expected to be of higher quality. Fox
and NBC are reportedly in contention for the additional package. "UFC
on ESPN Plus Fight Night" will televise full, 12-fight cards. ESPN
Plus previously announced plans to boost combat sports coverage by aligning with
boxing promoter Top Rank for fights, including the June 9 welterweight title bout
between pound-for-pound No. 1 Terence Crawford and champion Jeff Horn. The network
will also offer supplemental "shoulder" programming in its UFC package. That
programming will include: new seasons of "Dana White's Contender Series"
beginning in June 2019; a new, original, all-access series produced by IMG Original
Content; exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 15 "UFC on ESPN Plus
Fight Nights;" non-exclusive access to UFC's full archive of programming,
including historic events, classic bouts and original programming; additional
UFC-branded content, including "UFC Countdown" shows, press conferences,
weigh-ins, and pre- and post-shows. The
ESPN Plus app, available for $4.99 per month, can be used to view UFC Fight Pass
events and UFC pay-per-view events for an additional price. "One
of our goals for ESPN Plus is to bring sports fans of all genres content they
love and are passionate about, and this agreement with UFC is illustrative of
exactly that," said Kevin Mayer, chairman of direct-to-consumer and international
operations for Walt Disney Co. "We
look forward to providing UFC's enthusiastic, growing fan base with a wide array
of live events and building a lasting relationship with the industry leader in
mixed martial arts." In
a news release, ESPN and UFC noted that "UFC boasts the youngest fan base
among major professional sports organizations in the US with a median age of 40
and an audience comprising 40% millennials." UFC
has long sought innovative ways to distribute its bouts to the widest audience,
employing a deal with Roku nearly a decade ago and streaming its "Fight Pass." UFC
President Dana White said in a prepared statement, "I couldn't be more excited
to partner with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on an agreement that will continue
to grow our sport. "UFC
has always done deals with the right partners at the right time and this one is
no exception. We will now have the ability to deliver fights to our young fan
base wherever they are and whenever they want it. This deal is a home run for
ESPN and UFC." Fox
is scheduled this year to televise 15 "Fight Night" events on FS1, along
with the "The Ultimate Fighter" reality television series and its two
finales, while Fox will broadcast five "Fight Night" events. Additionally,
13 pay-per-view preliminaries can be seen on either FS1 or FX. (Los
Angeles Times)
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