Bellator remains committed to MTV2

Despite Thursday’s news of the UFC-Fox deal and its departure from Spike TV, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney indicated that he remains committed to MTV2. MMA Junkie reports that while Rebney admits the UFC deal has “shifted the landscape,” he is not clear if it has a direct impact on Bellator’s business.

Viacom owns Spike TV and MTV2 and while an interchannel move could occur, Bellator has not indicated a desire to do so. Yet, moving to Spike TV could benefit the company.

Via MMA Junkie:

It’s without question, though, that the promotion could get help from Spike TV, and vice versa. Spike TV is available in 96 million homes while MTV2 is available in 80 million homes. The success of the UFC has raised the cable channel’s profile, which has paved the way for greater advertising dollars. That’s not lost on parent companies such as the one that owns both channels.

Payout Perspective:

Moving to a bigger network, reaching more homes and going to a place with a history of showing MMA seems like an easy move to make for Bellator. It has made strides with tv ratings on MTV2 and while there could be an argument that it does not want to upset its momentum on MTV2 and does not want to be confused with the UFC, Bellator moving to Spike TV makes sense. A bigger audience with the targeted demo (Males 18-34) on Spike TV. Granted, Bellator would want to make sure it lands in a good time slot on Spike TV, but the move would be the best thing for the company.

If Bellator remains with MTV2, there are other options for Spike TV. There is ProElite which is streaming its first PPV online immediately after UFC 134. Also, there is Shark Fights, a Texas-based organization that has a tv deal with FUEL TV until the end of the year.