Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

by Kid Nate on Apr 23, 2008 2:54 PM EDT in News Comment 8 comments

As a quick sequel to my last post, I see now that Adam Swift is hearing buzz that the UFC and FOX are coming close to a deal that will put UFC on network television:

Last week in an interview with the Canada's The Score, when asked about the UFC following EliteXC onto network television, UFC President Dana White said "we'll have a network television deal very soon." When pressed for a time frame, White said within six months.

MMAPayout.com has learned that FOX is now widely believed to be the leading candidate to become the UFC's network television partner. Earlier this month White met with FOX executives in Los Angeles. While a deal with FOX is not believed to be imminent, industry sources have told MMAPayout.com that they believe the companies are making progress toward a deal.

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Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

Better than NBC or CBS. But not quite as cool as ESPN/ABC would have been.

by Popetastic on Apr 23, 2008 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

Bring it on home Dana!!!

by Tha Realness on Apr 23, 2008 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

UFC on FOX concerns me, because there is about a 50-50 chance Joe Buck will do play-by-play.

by Brett Jones on Apr 23, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

You shut your mouth. Seriously, if Joe Buck is announcing, I'll be watching on mute.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Apr 23, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

Joe Buck and Joe Rogan?

lol, that would be a GREAT booth!

Bring back Jim Brown!!

by BJJDenver on Apr 23, 2008 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

As I stated elsewhere...

Perfect fit. ESPN may be the only better home for UFC.

AND...

we would get "Celebrity Ultimate Fighting"!!!

It is still Fox after all.

by BJJDenver on Apr 23, 2008 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

haha man that would be satisfying - anyone see the bill o'reilly piece on MMA a week or so ago?

bill blasted CBS for putting Elite on cable - what's he going to say if fox puts the UFC on?!

haha fantastic!

by andyw on Apr 23, 2008 6:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Or Maybe We're Right on the Verge

The FOX network usually takes larger risks than the other 3 (big) networks, so this seems relatively plausible. The downside is that while FOX will air television programs that the other major networks would never dream of airing, they also tend to give those shows a very short time frame to prove themselves (shorter than the other networks, which are none too forgiving of lousy ratings in their own right).

If this rumor/negotiations/etc. pans out I wonder what the angle will be. FOX loves reality television and a season of TUF acting as a build-up for their first live event would make a lot of sense for both parties (in my humble opinion), but how would that jive with their current contract with Spike?

by Estrada on Apr 23, 2008 6:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs