Spike TV announced today that it will unveil a prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show in 2012: “MMA Junkie Live.” Spike TV will partner with the recently acquired MMA Junkie web site for this half hour show starting this January.
Via Spike TV press release:
Spike TV will debut its first ever prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show, “MMA Junkie Live,” in January 2012, it was announced today by Jon Slusser, senior vice president, sports and multi-platform programming, Spike TV. Broadcast live from the iconic MTV Studios in Times Square, the heart of New York City, this half-hour, multi-platform show will feature a look ahead at the weekend’s big mixed martial arts fights, and a look back at the action from recent bouts.
Partnering with the award-winning MMA news website, “MMAjunkie.com,” part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group, the half-hour show will be hosted by an all-star team of MMA experts and journalists who will engage in discussion and debate regarding the latest news from the sport. “MMA Junkie Live” will also feature live in-studio interviews with many of the world’s top fighters, in-depth features, action-packed highlights, as well as viewer interaction via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.
“The goal of the series will be to create the must-see destination for MMA fans who crave news, discussion, information, and expert opinion about the sport they love in a unique and entertaining way,” said Slusser. “Building on our multi-platform success, this show will be an experience that takes advantage of social and mobile platforms to engage viewers in real time and make them a part of the live show.”
Payout Perspective:
So we now see one of the reasons for the purchase of MMA Junkie. The move increases the presence of MMA on Spike TV and shows the network’s commitment to the MMA business. MMA Junkie Live also shows an extension of coverage of MMA. It joins InsideMMA on HD Net and MMA Live on ESPN as shows covering news around the world of MMA. It will be interesting to see how Junkie will be presented and how it will distinguish itself from the others.
It will promote Bellator and try to get bellator’s fighters over.
Hope it’s not the MMA Junkie radio crew… cause those guys have radio faces.
Are they going to lightly cover UFC stuff and heavily promote Bellator?
It sounds almost identical to HDNET programming, except for the journalists. I think they will be heavily confined by the 30 minute time (inclusive of commercials). I would expect to see more Bellator fighters, announcers, Bjorn, but content will still be mostly UFC plus Strikeforce if they still exist by 2012. You wull get a few minutes each week of Bellator hightlights and look forward as well, but not much different than HdNet until Bellator makes some changes to become more relevant.
If this is a real mma show talking about UFC etc then ok but if this is just mmajunkie doing this show to promote Bellator and not really talk about the UFC then junkie sold out.
You cant even call it an mma show if it isnt 90 percent UFC since UFC is mma.
I dont think junkie would sell out like that tough.
doesn’t it seem like the reason spike went after junkie is to assure some sort of editorial integrity? otherwise why wouldnt they just do it themsleves and make the show all about bellator?