Florida's XFC Signs Broadcast Deal With HDNet

by Chris Nelson on Jan 26, 2009 6:35 PM EST in MMA News

The Florida-based Xtreme Fighting Championships, an upstart organization that's averaged 10,000 fans to its first six events, has signed a multi-year broadcast deal with HDNet.

XFC representatives today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that four live XFC events will be broadcast on HDNet this year and four live events in 2010.

An option is available for 2011 and beyond.

The first event expected to air on HDNet is the upcoming XFC 8 show, which takes place April 18 at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn.

This is obviously a huge step for the XFC, who've been able to draw ridiculous crowds in their home state with only a grassroots campaign behind them, and even with middling main events like Gan McGee vs. Johnathan Ivey. As XFC President John Prisco points out, "there's a finite number of MMA promotions airing live coast to coast on national television right now" (approximately one).

HDNet also continues to show their commitment to the sport, and particularly to worthwhile regional promotions. Though the network is available in relatively few homes - and as a premium channel at that - it's become a must-have for MMA fans for exactly this type of show.

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HDNet is Great!

Hopefully PFC signs with HDNet as well.
As an MMA fan, you really have to love what they are doing.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 26, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions

Hey Sup

Remember when everybody bashed Cuban for getting into MMA and the whole “another idiot with no idea getting in to ruin the sport” chant was being thrown around? Whatever happened to that?

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 26, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

He stopped trying to be a promoter and turned HDNet Fights into a useful vehicle for the sport as a whole.

by Chris Nelson on Jan 26, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Exactly

According to Dana, Cuban was going to sink fast and be out of the game right, just to cash in.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 26, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

He is out of the promotion business… he had one show and realized how futile it was.

He’s not out of buying cheap content for his channel though…

by mmalogic on Jan 27, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Keep telling yourselves that

Art of War and a bunch of those other small promotions are basically in Cubans pocket. Even without controlling interest he owns them because he calls the shots if their organization wants to be on HDNet

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 27, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

I am a fan of HDNet, but with the exception of Strikeforce all of these organizations are signing away the rights to their own content. Just for the record and all.

by Luke Thomas on Jan 26, 2009 6:42 PM EST reply actions

I’m pretty sure DREAM is not.
Only in North America.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 26, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Cool, I had a buddy fight with them twice

Wrote an article on the organization for the school paper my senior year in high school.

A big part of getting such huge crowds was their “Salute to the Military” theme. They let all former or current military personnel into the event for a free or discounted price if I remember correctly, at least for their Tampa shows. They did a couple events in Kentucky, and they plan on doing another in Tennessee later this year if I remember correctly.

They recently changed their old event names from “Salute to our Armed Forces 1, 2, 3, 4, etc” to more clever, typical MMA-event style names on their website.

All in all theyve got some solid talent, although Im not to familiar with them being able to put mid-level talent on to the next level in KOTC, UFC, etc. For that I would look towards the Real Fighting Championships, which also hosts a lot of events out of Tampa, with greater talent but less crowds, despite more aggressive marketing.

Anyways this is good news, although I guess what Im trying to say is Central/South Florida is stacked with solid promotions, I wish RFC was TV as opposed to XFC.

im not impressed with your performance

by troy145 on Jan 26, 2009 6:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd.

And yep, that Tennessee show is the first one for HDNet.

by Chris Nelson on Jan 26, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

HDNet is not a premium channel on Directv.

by !claw on Jan 26, 2009 7:29 PM EST reply actions

I think I pay $15/month for HDNet, HDNet Movies and MOJO from Time Warner. It’s a scam, but I put up with it for stuff like this and 4am shows live from Japan.

by Chris Nelson on Jan 26, 2009 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

Wish I could get it. Only one cable provider, Cox who doesn’t have it in my area, at my apartment complex and I really do not like dish services.

by iiowyn on Jan 26, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

I just got it and its sick. DirecTV HD only for DirecTV customers.

by Luke Thomas on Jan 26, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks Luke, thanks for rubbing it in =(

by iiowyn on Jan 26, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

You Are Not

I have Time Warner and its $9.99 for:

HDNet
HDNet Movies
MOJO
Universal HD

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 26, 2009 8:01 PM EST up reply actions

these are the types of orgs who will last and reap the rewards as the tide increases.

by mmalogic on Jan 26, 2009 8:21 PM EST reply actions

HDNet also signed Ring Of Honor Today

HDNET FIGHTS ANNOUNCES LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH “RING OF HONOR WRESTLING”
DALLAS (January 26, 2009) HDNet Fights today announced a long term partnership with “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”

“‘Ring of Honor’ is proud and excited to enter a partnership with HDNet,” said Cary Silkin, president of Ring of Honor. “Our in-ring action is the perfect compliment to HDNet’s respected programming and growing stature in the broadcast industry. It’s a match most definitely made for a Main Event.”

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jan 26, 2009 8:37 PM EST reply actions