MMA Junkie reports that the UFC has extended its TV deal with ESPN UK through August 2013. The deal means that the live events will continue on the premium cable channel for viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Via MMA Junkie:
The live fights should be welcome news for U.K. fans who have lobbed numerous complaints about ESPN, which first became a UFC broadcast partner in 2009. The cries reached a climax earlier this year when UFC on FUEL TV 2 aired on tape delay.
Payout Perspective:
Renewal of its existing deal was logical considering the UFC will have another international version of The Ultimate Fighter, TUF: Australia vs. UK, forthcoming. The deal ensures that U.K. fans won’t miss out on the show. If the TUF franchise continues to survive, international TUF’s may be where the interest lies. The television deal falls in line with the company’s global television strategy and we shall see how the ESPN-UFC partnership pans out.
ESPN UK haven’t said they were picking up TUF UK Vs Australia, previous US based TUF’s have aired on various stations throughout the UFC’s deal with ESPN.
It’s also interesting that they only signed for a year, when ESPN loses Premier League coverage and will most likely lose a tonne of subscribers.