EliteXC to CBS; UFC to Fox?
Wow. The news just gets bigger on the MMA TV front this week. Everyone’s heard the rumors that EliteXC would be broadcast on CBS, and now it’s official. According to a news release on Pro Elite’s web site, the deal is done:
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28 — The CBS Television Network and ProElite, Inc., a Los Angeles-based leading entertainment and media company that produces world class mixed martial arts (MMA) events, today jointly announced a multi-year agreement that will bring one of the fastest growing spectator sports to a major broadcast television network for the first time.
CBS will broadcast four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite’s EliteXC fight division, as two-hour live primetime specials targeted for Saturday nights.
That is STAGGERING news. With all the rumors of UFC getting a network TV gig, EliteXC has beaten them to the punch. Rumors had UFC trying to a deal with CBS. According to MMAPayout.com, that deal stalled, and CBS went a different direction. UFC officially has some serious competition.
MMAPayout is also reporting that FOX is now interested in the UFC, going so far as to bid to purchase UFC. I highly doubt Zuffa would sell, but it sounds like FOX may become the network home of the UFC. If that happens, I’d bet my bottom dollar that Ultimate Fight Night cards will end up on FOX.
Combine this news with the new promotion from Golden Boy and Affliction potentially airing on HBO, and you’ve got one crowded MMA marketplace.
[…] DIGG_URL==’string’?DIGG_URL:window.location.href); document.write(”"); } )() First, it was EliteXC signing a deal with CBS. Now MMAJunkie is reporting that Strikeforce, which co-promotes events with UFC, is on the verge of […]
[…] review. We’ve got EliteXC signing a deal with a major broadcast network, CBS, to air live MMA cards. Strikeforce just announced a deal with NBC to air highlight shows […]