Texas-based promotion, Shark Fights, announced today that it has signed a deal with Fuel TV. It will be placed into Fuel’s “Friday Fight Night” starting April 15th. It will be a one hour telecast starting 10pm.
Via Press Release:
Amarillo, TX. – April 1, 2011. Popular Texas-based mixed martial arts fight promotion company, Shark Fight Promotions, announced today that they have officially signed a deal with FUEL TV, Fox Sports Media Group’s dynamic entertainment and sports network for young males. The nationally recognized fight promotion will be part of “FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night.” The exciting programming block takes place every Friday night at 10:00 PM ET/PT.
Shark Fights will show highlights from previous shows. The first offering on April 15th will replay Shark Fights 13 originally airing last September. The event featured Paul Daley and Keith Jardine.
(H/t: MMA Mania)
Payout Perspective:
A good deal for Shark Fights as it gets some increased exposure. Although Fuel TV is not a widely known channel, the network was rumored to be an option in Bellator’s network tv deal. From a broader perspective, this is a sign that more television executives are looking to MMA as an option for sports programming.
Shark Fights has done a good job for an event to event production but I can’t see how they are going to do it long term? They don’t have any next event on their website so not sure how they can map a long term plan? Do they own any fighters or are they chasing names fight to fight and not building their own fighters? Are they going head to head with their live events on Friday Night HDnet with old fights on Fuel?
Like I said they have done ok on a fight to fight local production level but they are going to have to step it up fast with all these tv deals before it all starts falling apart before it starts.
Good luck to them and I hope they can pull it off but I just dont see it.