UK-based sports programming distributor RDA TV has reportedly sold a host of new MMA programming content to television networks in France, Turkey, and the Ukraine.
The company has recently licensed UFC programming to ESPN Classic for France, Digiturk in Turkey and QTV in Ukraine. RDA TV previously licensed UFC programming to ESPN for the U.K., TV4 for Sweden, Canal 9 for Denmark, MTV3 for Finland, RTL7 for Holland and Orbit-Showtime for the Middle East.
Payout Perspective:
These may not all be the biggest networks in each of their respective countries, but they serve the UFC’s purpose of getting a foot in the door within each market. The goal is to establish the television product in the market to grow awareness, which then facilitates the introduction of merchandise (also further boosting awareness and interest). The end-game, of course, is to generate enough interest that the UFC can put a live show into the market.
Note: I haven’t found the announcement in English yet, but the UFC also reportedly signed a television deal in Poland about a month ago.
UFC signed a deal with Orange Sport in Poland. It’s a premium cable channel which also broadcasts It’s Showtime kickboxing & recently bought Fedor vs. Werdum from M-1.