MMA Junkie reports on the television contract of the World Series of Fighting on NBC Sports Network. Ray Sefo, WSOF head, indicated that the organization has a one year deal with the network although its his plan to run 8-10 events a year.
Sefo clarified the position that WSOF will be in discussion with NBC Sports Network about the future of the organization after its debut November 3rd. While the plans to run 8-10 events are a goal, it’s not a definite reality. If WSOF does well, it could become a monthly show on the network.
WSOF has enlisted pro wrestler/former Olympic amateur wrestler Kurt Angle as a color commentator for the debut card in November. He will be there alongside Bas Rutten and Michael Schiavello.
Payout Perspective:
Despite the 1 year deal, it appears that NBC Sports is getting behind the WSOF as it has taken out a full page ad in the Sports Business Journal and has hired on some well-known announcers for commentating. WSOF has booked familiar names from Strikeforce and the UFC (e.g., Miguel Torres, Bobby Lashley, Josh Burkman and Gerald Harris to name a few) which should help with the casual MMA fan. 8-10 events a year might be ambitious at this point. It could be that NBC Sports Network will take the same tact it has done with NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night. As we indicated previously, the network probably hopes it does well as it furthers its programming and provides some competition to the UFC programming on Fuel.
Anyone else think that the WSOF acronym may be a little too close to the WSOP (World Series of Poker) acronym.
How much is NBC Sports Network paying WSOF?
I’d bet the WSOF bought the time. no way NBC sports is licensing this.
FYI: Kurt Angle is not commentating according to Twitter post this morning.
Wow, Kurt Angle can’t Tweet for shit. I’m not wiz with the text messages myself, but really man, try to make some sense.
NBC Sports has put on some good boxing cards recently, but then it’s easier to find up boxers than MMA fighters not signed by Zuffa or Bellator. With Fox continuing (as far as I can tell) to push MMA on it’s family of networks and Viacom doing the same with Bellator, I’m not sure how much room there is for another organization to do regular shows on cable. I’m all for more free MMA, but I’m already worried about Bellator’s survivability and the UFCs low ratings. Add all of the HD Net fights and this is just one more player in an already crowded and non-expanding market.