MMA Fighting’s Dave Meltzer reports that TSN appears to have retained UFC programming in Canada. The inference of the deal was made as January network scheduling for TSN came out including UFC programming.
For those not in Canada, TSN is the U.S. version of ESPN down to similar logos. TSN is owned by Bell Media with a small share held by ESPN.
Negotiations for the UFC television rights in Canada had gone quite the last couple weeks although rumors had TSN as the front runner.
Meltzer indicated that UFC popularity has fallen off due to the loss of GSP and the inundation of UFC events.
The television rights were previously held by Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. Sportsnet signed a 4 year deal with the UFC in 2011. However, this year Sportsnet signed deals with the NHL (a monster 12-year, $5.2 billion deal) and WWE which likely meant that it would not re-up with the UFC.
No official announcement was made by the UFC or TSN.
Payout Perspective:
The anticipated deal with TSN was made more likely after the Sportsnet-NHL deal. Previously, TSN had the rights to the NHL and with Sportsnet taking control of the broadcast and multimedia rights of the nation’s most popular sport, TSN has a big void to fill. The UFC has pledged 4 or 5 events in Canada in 2015 and we will see if the new network will bring back interest in the UFC.
Dana White’s lambasting of GSP right after the Hendricks Fight shut the territory off as soon as he started talking. The repeated cancelation of Montreal events, combined with him two-timing Rory, is not working out positively with the media or the public. TVA Sports will be showing its last card in French this Saturday, as their 3-year contract is up. I don’t know how they’ll reconquer the Canadian market.
In Canada the UFC was selling Lawlor V Hendricks with a picture of Rory and the tagline “Who will Rory fight next”. They cancelled a Toronto PPV this year as well as Montreal. I used to like Dana White, I made plans to attend Toronto when it was announced then Dana said Las Vegas wanted it more. From now my UFC attendance will have to be “if I’m free OK but I won’t alter my schedule to fit it in”.
Good news for us Canucks that UFC isn’t solely being shifted to Fight Pass. Bad news is I suspect is that it will be moved to the harder to find TSN channels. My HD package only has 2 or 3 TSN channels and I pay too much already.
I suspect the UFC didn’t get the deal they were hoping for and this was part of the reason for axing Rory vs Robbie in Canada. UFC had no leverage in this deal since SportsNet and TSN are the only real options for them, and SportsNet took a pass.
Seriously the state of California has more people then the entire country of Canada, this is some big news?
Sal smells like hot trash.
Salad thief Canada is the hottest mma market per capita in the world shit for brains, or it was with GSP. Go steal some broccoli you moron.
D how do you smell turds and salads through the Internet you fucking retard , just curious? You smell like a diaper with carrots.
It is news because Canada’s top sports network chose WWE over the UFC. The UFC will now be on TSN 4 or 5. I am Canadian and did not even know TSN had five channels til the news came out about the UFC. I think it is news also because the UFC has not announced the change of broadcasters, sort of weird considering they announced the switch to Fox about a year ahead of time. I assume that no broadcaster in Canada wanted the UFC so the UFC had to “give” it to TSN 5. I understand it is a TV deal in a country with a small population but it could be a sign of future trouble. Canada was a country with line ups at bars to watch PPV events, now, I have to hunt to find a bar that is showing it.
Dave Meltzer reported that TSN will be broadcasting but if you go to TSN.CA there is no mention that they are the “New Home of UFC”. Nothing!
Clarification: TSN was once, many years ago, the top sports channel in Canada, it has not been for a lot of years. Reports that say it is the equivalent of ESPN are not accurate, Sportsnet would be closer to ESPN than TSN.
Tsn has more viewers than sportsnet David what the f are you going on about?
MMAFAG, aka Sampson,
When did I say I smelled salads or anything else through the internet fag boy? Go suckoff one of your boxing trolling boyfriends you little fag.
Hahahah every other post you say salad smells like diapers or turds or some 10 yr old shit like that you fucking numb nuts no point in lying we can all see it. You welfare troll blogging for 10 cents
haha UFC 40% down and without GSP is 100% down in canada fuck tard!
Canada is the most dense mma market says who?? Why dont they have a huge Canadian owned promotion?? FUCKING IDIOT!!
Hey too much salad shit for brains Dana has said this many times in the past, during GSP reign. They share nhl just like UFC you fucking retard.
Salad boy needs a lesson or 2 in economics just like his gay bf D, will those 2 get a room yet yeesh.
HAHAHA! I know that Sal wears diapers and that he shits in them, hence I know what he smells like. I didn’t say I could smell him through the internet, Rain Man. I also never mentioned anything about salads, boxing troll fag boy.
Yes, TSN has better numbers than Sportsnet. I guess my viewership has changed, I used to be TSN dominate but not for the last few years. My other points are right though, I think.
@saldathief Canada was indeed the UFC’s biggest market, BY FAR. Not counting the 55000 stadium event in Toronto (UFC 100), the promotion continuously sold out the Montreal Bell center at nearly 25,000 seats. The PPV starring GSP hovered in the 700k to 900k with more than 50% coming in from Bell Express Vue Y roger cable subscribers.
While GSP was fighting, the UFC made more money from Canada than they did from anywhere else. GSP was named Canadian athlete of the year (above Sidney Crosby!). He was a MAJOR Canadian TV shows, every sports shows talked about MMA, it was a completely different world than the US were MMA is still a marginal sport.
@Wonderjudas You said it. The way Dana White treated GSP was the main reason I started to lose interest in the UFC myself. That guy is a big scum bag and a terrible business man, how can you crap on your #1 star in public, what a moron.
Salad boy did you read JFs post? Learn a little get out of your bubble numb nuts.