Versus Returns to DirecTV

Bill Gorman of TVbytheNumbers informs us that DirecTV and Versus have come to an agreement that will put Versus back onto DirecTV and the same packages assignment the network previously enjoyed in August, 2009.

DIRECTV and Comcast have reached an agreement to return VERSUS to the DIRECTV programming lineup today. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

“We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more.”

 

VERSUS will return to the same DIRECTV programming packages it was in at the end of August 2009.

 

“We are pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV.

 

“We’re excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts VERSUS back in millions of homes with DIRECTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule,” said Jamie Davis, president of VERSUS. “We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more.”

Payout Perspective:

The key thing to note from this announcement is that Versus will return to the same programming packages it was assigned as of August 2009, which is somewhat of a compromise. Versus wanted to move into a better, more widely viewed tier, while DirecTV wanted to relegate the network to a tier with fewer subscribers.

Obviously, this is great news for Zuffa as the UFC debuts on the Versus Network this Sunday with possibly it’s best free television fight card since UFC 75. Moreover, the additional 18 million households with Versus and DirecTV will now be available for the WEC to advertise its up-coming PPV offering in April.

I’d expect a marketing campaign to be initiated in the next few days to push the awareness that Versus is once again a DirecTV channel.

More to follow.