With its current media deal with ESPN ending at the end of the year the Professional Fighters League is shopping its media rights around. Could Netflix or Fox be next?
According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, the PFL is talking to Netflix and Fox. The PFL has been with ESPN since 2019. Unlike the UFC, the PFL has not been featured on its network as it was always secondary to the UFC. Even with the UFC’s exit, the PFL has not been put in a position to succeed. It remains behind the digital platform for most events and when it is on the network it rarely gets the necessary marketing to push for people to be reminded that it is on.
CEO John Martin has been direct about his dismay that ESPN has not properly promoted the PFL product even with the company doing more events this year. While it still does overseas events, it held an event in Pittsburgh this past spring to little or not run-up. It is also holding an event in San Diego in late June and on Long Island in July.
Payout Perspective:
Now would be the time for the PFL to make inroads with another network for its product. The SBJ article noted that the company has 230 fighters under its contract. But, only Dakota Ditcheva and Usmar Nurmogomedov are stars that are ascending and could possibly be the face of the company. However, Nurmogomedov’s contract is ending soon and Ditcheva does not have opponents which could help her elevate her profile. With Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions coming off a successful event and looking to add more. In 2027, Scott Coker’s new MMA league is slated to start. Thus, Martin has to come up big for the PFL with a media deal for next to keep it going and deal with the new competition as well as staving off the UFC from signing any of its top stars.
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