HDNet announces long-term agreement with Affliction
September 3, 2008 by Sam Caplan
HDNet issued a press release Wednesday afternoon to formally announce a long-term partnership to televise Affliction’s MMA events. The precise duration of the agreement was not specified in the release.
The events that will be televised on HDNet will be 60-90 minute specials to air immediately prior to major Affliction pay-per-view events, similar to the format utilized between Affliction and Fox Sports Net prior to the promotion’s first show on July 19.
The agreement between HDNet and Affliction will commence during Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” show on Oct. 10 in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Affliction that encompasses live MMA, co-marketing and top fighters for the top weekly show in MMA - Inside MMA on HDNet,” HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon is quoted in the release. “Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA which means it is a must have for HDNet.”
According to the press release, three matches will air beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with Kenny Rice, Bas Rutten, and Ron Kruck handling the broadcast duties. So far, only two of the three matchups set to air have been announced, which include former IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson fighting former UFC heavyweight title challenger Paul Buentello and welterweights Mike Pyle and Jason High.
uuh, define “long term”…long term as in the life span of affliction or long term showing their 3 events over and over in perpituity (sp?)
Ahh affliction I kid I kid, but seriously your fucked this deal does nothing.
No doubt…and the last time I checked…your best fighters fought on the main card…not the damn pre lims…Affliction lost.
RE: the Announcers, I think Bas is great, Kenny i could go either way with, but Ron Kruck just drives me nuts. I think that guy from MMARated is a 10X better interviewer. my .02
love me some hdnet
more free mma
ill gladly take
I thought Affliction was “dying on the vine”. What does long term mean? Does HD Net have anything to lose if Affliction MMA goes under before the contract expires. Almost sounds like Affliction is guaranteeing that they will be around for a little while, completely contradicting what “King White” said about them.
Ill take the fights only cause i got the channel(which as a H.C.Fan i accept for free gladly), i just dont like the fact that i dont wanna pay more $. And they some great fighters, but their only top notch fighters is Fedor only. id either watch it at a bar(if they show it) or on my faithful computer, for free.
Anytime you get free MMA on HDNet it’s good, HDNet has done a fantastic job of promoting the sport.
[...] is, we’ll no longer have to rely on the broke-asses at FSN for Affliction undercard matches. HDNet sent out a press release today announcing a “long-term partnership” with Affliction to televise the lead-off fights [...]
HDNet has been a godsend to hardcore MMA fans everywhere. Great move.