del.icio.us
Digg It!
E-Mail to a Friend
Printable Version
Comments
Offering more proof that mixed martial arts is America's fastest growing sport, the upstart Bellator Fighting Championships has locked up a deal to televise its 2010 events on three major networks.
Beginning April 8, Fox Sports Network will broadcast Bellator events in primetime on Thursday nights.
"We're thrilled to bring Bellator's brand of MMA to our viewers," said David Sussin, Vice President of Programming, FOX Sports Net. "We believe the quality of the events and the passion of these fighters will resonate with our audience."
The highlights of the Fox show will then be repackaged into a 30-minute broadcast on Saturday night on NBC. Finally, Telemundo will show a one-hour highlight show every Saturday night at 1 a.m.
Unlike UFC, Bellator, which means "warrior" in Latin, offers tournament-style matches where fighters compete during the season to become champion.
"Mixed martial arts has established its position by becoming one of the fastest-growing sports," said Jerry Petry, Executive Vice President, NBC Universal Television. "Bellator and its real sport tournament format has proven it can deliver some of the finest and most intense action on broadcast television."
Bellator Fighting Championships was founded by Bjorn Rebney and has offices in Los Angeles and Chicago.