Comments on: Dana White announces UFC partnership with ESPN in the UK http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/ Your Destination for Insider MMA News and Opinion Sun, 27 May 2012 00:17:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: hindsightufuk http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100576 hindsightufuk Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:19:48 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100576 i dont know the specifics, but here in the UK, i dont anyone who has the ESPN package. As far as i can tell, even if you have the extra ridiculous cable/satelite deals (£40-£50 per month ($60ish)), you still have to pay extra to get ESPN. At the minute i pay around £25.0 for my cable deal, i think i would need to pay around £12 more just to get ESPN. thats a lot for a channel i will never watch except for UFC. At least on Setanta they used to show the Its Showtime kickboxing events from Amsterdam, plus a shit load of boxing. I can see no point in the UFC choosing ESPN just to show events in the UK. there must some other reason to choosing ESPN. It really doesnt benefit anyone over here. If the UFC genuinely thought this was a good idea for the UK, they clearly didnt have anyone IN the UK doing any market research. There has to be a bigger picture i dont know the specifics, but here in the UK, i dont anyone who has the ESPN package. As far as i can tell, even if you have the extra ridiculous cable/satelite deals (£40-£50 per month ($60ish)), you still have to pay extra to get ESPN. At the minute i pay around £25.0 for my cable deal, i think i would need to pay around £12 more just to get ESPN. thats a lot for a channel i will never watch except for UFC. At least on Setanta they used to show the Its Showtime kickboxing events from Amsterdam, plus a shit load of boxing. I can see no point in the UFC choosing ESPN just to show events in the UK. there must some other reason to choosing ESPN. It really doesnt benefit anyone over here. If the UFC genuinely thought this was a good idea for the UK, they clearly didnt have anyone IN the UK doing any market research. There has to be a bigger picture

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: fanoftna33 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100457 fanoftna33 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:38:23 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100457 Fight Trends good point that is something I brought up a few days ago, we would be able to see a lot of up and coming fighters without throwing them to the top talent to soon( see Gonzaga padding his record after every loss with a newcomer) The fighters would be hungary for the wins ala Griffen vs Bonner and we get a better way to see our sport more often. Fight Trends good point that is something I brought up a few days ago, we would be able to see a lot of up and coming fighters without throwing them to the top talent to soon( see Gonzaga padding his record after every loss with a newcomer) The fighters would be hungary for the wins ala Griffen vs Bonner and we get a better way to see our sport more often.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: fanoftna33 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100455 fanoftna33 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:33:02 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100455 I hope they dont go to cbs, my ddirect tv wont allow me that chanel. I hope they dont go to cbs, my ddirect tv wont allow me that chanel.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: ozz_the_powerful http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100445 ozz_the_powerful Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:01:17 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100445 I agree with dpk on this, as far as NETWORK television goes. Yes, the UFC signed an exclusive deal with Spike for cable, but it shouldn't inhibit them from network television. CBS bombed with Elite XC, which, IMHO was one of the worst representations of MMA EVER. Quite embarrassing as a fan, I would think. I'd like the UFC's chances with NBC better, myself. At this point in time, I just can't see UFC on ABC due to the fact that, guess who owns them? The Walt Disney Corporation. They are very unforgiving to violence, language, and (real) blood. NBC is a much more viable and lucrative direction to go. Let's put it this way-- NBC is available in an estimated 112 million households, 98.6% of those with televisions. NBC has 10 owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates in the United States and its territories. BAM, POW!!! I agree with dpk on this, as far as NETWORK television goes. Yes, the UFC signed an exclusive deal with Spike for cable, but it shouldn’t inhibit them from network television. CBS bombed with Elite XC, which, IMHO was one of the worst representations of MMA EVER. Quite embarrassing as a fan, I would think. I’d like the UFC’s chances with NBC better, myself.

At this point in time, I just can’t see UFC on ABC due to the fact that, guess who owns them? The Walt Disney Corporation. They are very unforgiving to violence, language, and (real) blood.

NBC is a much more viable and lucrative direction to go.

Let’s put it this way– NBC is available in an estimated 112 million households, 98.6% of those with televisions. NBC has 10 owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates in the United States and its territories.

BAM, POW!!!

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: dpk http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100440 dpk Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:34:28 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100440 I agree with FightTrends, i would love to see a Friday night fights type of weekly show, with UFC/WEC fights. It would be a great platform for young and upcoming talent. I also imagine that they could put a nice show on ESPN classic between the UFC and Pride video libraries. It won't happen until UFC's current deal with SPIKE is up, because SPIKE has exclusive cable TV rights in the US. I'm thinking that a network deal with ABC will happen first. Any deal with ESPN is a good deal at this point, they can put a lot of publicity muscle behind MMA with casual sports fans. I agree with FightTrends, i would love to see a Friday night fights type of weekly show, with UFC/WEC fights. It would be a great platform for young and upcoming talent. I also imagine that they could put a nice show on ESPN classic between the UFC and Pride video libraries. It won’t happen until UFC’s current deal with SPIKE is up, because SPIKE has exclusive cable TV rights in the US. I’m thinking that a network deal with ABC will happen first. Any deal with ESPN is a good deal at this point, they can put a lot of publicity muscle behind MMA with casual sports fans.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: JTM http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100436 JTM Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:21:45 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100436 It's good that MMA has found a permamnent home in the UK after Setanta went into administration but will this have wider implications in the US? My guess is, probably. I'd expect the UFC to try and push MMA coverage on ESPN adn try to get it more widely reported. It’s good that MMA has found a permamnent home in the UK after Setanta went into administration but will this have wider implications in the US? My guess is, probably. I’d expect the UFC to try and push MMA coverage on ESPN adn try to get it more widely reported.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: FightTrends.com http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100084 FightTrends.com Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:46:41 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100084 I would love to get something like Friday Night Fights on ESPN here in the US. The UFC would have no problem getting enough up and comming talent in areas like Florida and LA and having 3 or 4 fights every Friday at a local venue and televise it. Be a great way to help the casual fan become connected with new fighters and watch them trough their entire career. Kind of like how boxing used to be. I would love to get something like Friday Night Fights on ESPN here in the US. The UFC would have no problem getting enough up and comming talent in areas like Florida and LA and having 3 or 4 fights every Friday at a local venue and televise it. Be a great way to help the casual fan become connected with new fighters and watch them trough their entire career. Kind of like how boxing used to be.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Cory Brady http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100079 Cory Brady Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:34:03 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100079 I was under the understanding that it will continue to air for free on ESPN in the UK. When listening to the conference it seems as if Dana implies that it will actually commence in August, not that they will charge in the future. Hope that helps I was under the understanding that it will continue to air for free on ESPN in the UK. When listening to the conference it seems as if Dana implies that it will actually commence in August, not that they will charge in the future. Hope that helps

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: fanoftna33 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/31/dana-white-announces-ufc-partnership-with-espn-in-the-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-100067 fanoftna33 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:56:32 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=16017#comment-100067 So espn is going to charge them after August? I hope they do get a deal done here in the ststes with espn, I listen to them every morning and would like to hear some mma talk. So espn is going to charge them after August? I hope they do get a deal done here in the ststes with espn, I listen to them every morning and would like to hear some mma talk.

Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>