Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Spark launches OTT service with martial arts, action sports properties
New Zealand telco Spark launched its OTT sports platform on Thursday, with the company beginning its coverage with two newly-acquired properties focused on martial arts and action sports
Professional Fighters League strikes deals with ESPN, TSN
US sports broadcaster ESPN has enhanced its mixed martial arts portfolio by agreeing a multi-year rights deal with the Professional Fighters League, while pay-television broadcaster TSN has also partnered…
Bellator MMA given a fighting chance in the UK with Sky, Channel 5 deals
Bellator MMA has been waiting years for a consistent broadcast deal in the UK and Ireland. Now two have arrived at once
Sky acquires rights in UK & Ireland to Bellator MMA
MMA promotion Bellator’s US-based events will be shown on Sky in the UK, adding to a deal for Europe-based events with Channel 5.
ESPN pays up for UFC rights in Australia and NZ; UFC hoping for pay-per-view boom
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has secured a good increase for its media rights across Australia and New Zealand, in a new five-year deal with ESPN
ESPN+ gains 568,000 new subscribers for first UFC event
The ESPN+ streaming service gained 568,000 new subscribers on Friday and Saturday combined – and over 525,000 on Saturday alone – directly from the onset of ESPN's new UFC rights deal.
Powerful partners ease UFC’s entry into Russia; increase in Netherlands with Veronica
The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s new three-year deal in Russia and the CIS states will see the creation of a new pay-television channel, mostly thanks to the profile of undefeated lightweight champion K…
O2 TV picks up rights to One Championship
Czech pay-television broadcaster O2 TV has bolstered its mixed martial arts portfolio, announcing a new media-rights deal for Singapore-based promotion One Championship
One Championship strikes TV Tokyo deal
Asian MMA promotion ONE Championship has signed a multi-year media-rights deal with Japanese free-to-air broadcaster TV Tokyo.
The agreement is exclusive and covers all ONE Championship content
One Championship lines up US rights deal
Asian mixed martial arts promotion the One Championship has reportedly agreed a US rights deal with the Turner Sports division of media company Turner.
ESPN
UFC’s UK deal with Eleven collapses as rights head back to BT
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has triggered an exit clause in its contract with Eleven Sports in the UK and will return to BT Sport from 2019, SportBusiness Media understands.
Fight Sports signs carriage deal with Orange Spain
Fight Sports, the linear sports channel and digital service, has agreed a carriage deal in Spain with telco operator Orange
Eleven replaces BT as UFC broadcaster in UK and Ireland
Eleven Sports has acquired rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the UK and Ireland from 2019.
DAZN lands UFC rights in Germany, Austria
Digital media company DAZN Group has acquired rights in Germany and Austria to mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Nent to show Joshua v Povetkin title on pay-per-view across Nordics
The Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent) has acquired rights to the world heavyweight title bout between Anthony Joshua (pictured) and Alexander Povetkin on September 22
UFC deal with Ten sets out path to Whittaker title defence
The UFC’s deal with commercial broadcaster Ten in Australia will provide its middleweight champion Robert Whittaker with much-needed exposure ahead of his first title defence in December.
DAZN lands Pro14 rights, Italian launch line-up revealed
DAZN, the OTT service operated by digital sports media company Perform, has secured rights in Italy to the Pro14 cross-border rugby union league as it unveiled its full line-up for its launch in the country
DAZN eyes original programming to fill schedules
DAZN, the OTT platform operated by digital sports media company Perform, is to produce original lifestyle content in a bid to fill its schedule amid its international expansion plan