Affliction to Air Prelim Fights on HDNet

by Kid Nate on Sep 3, 2008 3:05 PM EDT

From an HDNet press release:

HDNet Fights today announced a long-term partnership with Affliction Entertainment to air live MMA events exclusively in North America on HDNet. These live events, featuring the top Mixed Martial Arts fighters from around the world, will be broadcast on HDNet as a lead-in to Affliction's Pay Per View Events.

"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," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA which means it is a must have for HDNet."

As part of the agreement, HDNet will feature the first ninety minutes of live bouts that are part of each Affliction MMA event. Affliction joins the deep HDNet Fights lineup, which already features more LIVE events than any other network on television today.

HDNet will kick off the coverage with Affliction's upcoming "Day of Reckoning" event, to be broadcast LIVE from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on October 11th. HDNet's coverage of the first three preliminary bouts will include a match-up between Jason High vs. Mike Pyle (welterweight) followed by Paul Buentello vs. Roy Nelson (heavyweight).

Smart move for HDNet, they're certainly making this MMA fan scheme about getting a new cable package and a high definition TV so I can see more fights.

Don't know that this gets Affliction much of anything. HDNet has a tiny audience and I'm sure the revenue from this won't offset many inflated fighter salaries.

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“HDNet Fights today announced a long-term partnership with Affliction Entertainment to air live MMA events exclusively in North America on HDNet. These live events, featuring the top Mixed Martial Arts fighters from around the world, will be broadcast on HDNet as a lead-in to Affliction’s Pay Per View Events.

"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,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA which means it is a must have for HDNet.”

lol@ the bullshit in those two paragraphs….long term partnership my ass…last I recall most of the top fighters in a organization fought on the main card…not the pre-lims…

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Sep 3, 2008 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

As a fan of mma and HDNet, I am excited about this news.

As a realistic person, I am curious as to just how “long term” this turns out to be. imo, Affliction has a very short shelf life and I don;t see this deal doing much to extend it. I will however, hope for the best.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 3, 2008 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

I would not change my satellite service to get HDNet for some prelim fights.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 3, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

HDNet has a ton of mma content. I would say Dream alone is worth it.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 3, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Dream is great, plus Bas in HD! HDNet really does have serious amounts of MMA content. They have so many fights that I put it on all the time for white noise at my apartment.

by Day Man on Sep 3, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

HDNET is awesome.

MMA Weekly with Bas every Friday and a free fight card almost every Friday. If you are a serious fan, you should look into getting Direct TV or whatever other carrier has this channel. And no, I don’t work for HD Net!!!!

by !claw on Sep 3, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

exactly

The Dream tourney’s have been Out F’N Standing on HDNet.
Bas and Kenny Rice do the commentating. Plus you get at least 2 smaller shows a month and Inside MMA is a good weekly watch.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Sep 3, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

OK, a little more.

The IFL on HDNet was incredible while it lasted. They have had regional shows, allowing us to see guys like Dollaway, Rosholt and others. They have Strikeforce, Dream, Adrenaline and now Affliction. I know they are trying to get WVR as well, which would be awesome. Not to mention Inside MMA, which has improved and become can’t miss.

I truly feel like they are trying to give the fans as much mma as possible and I hope people get tuned into this and get HDNet. Plus, of course, it’s all in HD.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 3, 2008 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

And when they’re not showing MMA they’re usually showing softcore bikini babes of the carribean! You can’t lose!

by George Lucas on Sep 3, 2008 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The two best possible materials for HD presentation:

1. Blood

2. Skin

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Sep 4, 2008 6:46 AM EDT up reply actions

If you sign up for a package with HDNET and Versus (and pretty sure Dish Network has it in their top 250 plan) + TIVO= enough fights to keep you busy all week if you want.

Of course, the HDNET fights are not of the same quality as WEC or the UFC, but hey. It’s good enough.

by toxic on Sep 3, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

I like HDNET, the MMA programming is why I subscribed to it though the “miss hawaiian tropic 2008” in HD was delicious..

by pr0cs on Sep 3, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Love HDNET. Excited about this. Any extra mma I can see makes me happy

by SplitBreast on Sep 3, 2008 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

I have Versus but I didn’t know HDNet came with it.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 3, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

or came within the same channel line up

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 3, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Does anyone here think they will sell even as many ppv’s in their second show? I think we’ll see a drop in buys personally. No Fedor, no Tim (people love to watch Tim get beat up) will prove to hurt their bottom line. If they get 80k I’ll be surprised. HDnet was a step in the right direction I guess. I never knew the UFC to give away half of the ppv show for free and expect you to pay the same for the other half though.

by Tommy7 on Sep 3, 2008 9:18 PM EDT reply actions