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[TheBonger]

dont think this has been posted already if it has feel free too merge.

LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White insists his company eventually will reach an agreement with HBO Sports to broadcast several mixed martial arts fight cards per year, even though HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg released a statement Friday saying the deal is dead in the water.

The UFC and HBO have been talking for more than a year and White publicly has said several times he believed a deal with HBO would be completed before long.

The UFC went as far as looking to stage a card in Portland, Ore., in December that would have served as a kickoff for the HBO series. White said a show in Montreal also was discussed.

But on Friday, Greenburg said the network had decided against going forward with the UFC.


The sides had been locked in a battle over control of the production of the telecasts. The UFC produces its broadcasts on Spike TV and on pay-per-view, and wanted to continue to do so on HBO. But HBO insisted on control of the broadcast.

"After lots of discussion, it became apparent that the business model doesn't make sense for either one of us," Greenburg said in his statement. "So, we've agreed to go our separate ways. You never know what the future holds. We have enormous respect and admiration for the executives we dealt with at the UFC. We wish them well."

White isn't bothered by Greenburg's statement and said he doesn't believe it ends the possibility of a deal.

"We'll come to a deal with HBO, I'm 100 percent confident of that," White said. "Ross is probably pretty happy now, but we'll get a deal done with them. Believe me, we will. They want the deal, I want the deal – and when two sides want the deal, it gets done.

"There's a lot of stuff to this and these things take time. Deals are never easy to get done. They take a lot longer than I'd like."

White said he expects the UFC to have a significantly larger television presence in 2008. The UFC is working on a long-term extension with Spike and is negotiating with another network White wouldn't name, though it is believed to be ESPN.

"We're going to make another big announcement about (TV) that is going to blow people away," he said. "You never know who that might be. You'll have to wait and see."

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

[Dork8503]

Good find.

Don't really think it matters though, UFC could get someone like Starz who has no sports yet an is just as big if not bigger then hbo, or skinmax or some other tv station.

[2mcgrath]

i dont know what to think on this.sounds like hbo wanted total control of the show?but i dont think the channel he is talking about announcing will be espn ethier.dont know though.

[jrube]

Originally Posted by Dork8503

Good find.

Don't really think it matters though, UFC could get someone like Starz who has no sports yet an is just as big if not bigger then hbo, or skinmax or some other tv station.

Not Skinamax...they are owned by HBO... The Starz is a possibility, and don't count out Showtime in the near future, as strikeforce wont bring nearly the buy power as the UFC.....

[Dork8503]

Originally Posted by jrube

Not Skinamax...they are owned by HBO... The Starz is a possibility, and don't count out Showtime in the near future, as strikeforce wont bring nearly the buy power as the UFC.....

i didnt know hbo owned skinamax

[TheBonger]

indeed Max is apart of HBO, but comparing Starz too HBO is like comparing MyNetwork too Fox. HBO is far and away the #1 Premium cable channel in the world, while Showtime has made strides they are still a distant 2. Starz is a very very distant 3. They have no international programming or channels, they really aren't in the same league as HBO and I don't see them trying to become a sports network at all. I think ultimately the UFC ends up on HBO but it could be a ways away at this point. Im really looking for a major network ala Fox or NBC too throw there hat in pretty soon.

[Noob]

Originally Posted by TheBonger

indeed Max is apart of HBO, but comparing Starz too HBO is like comparing MyNetwork too Fox. HBO is far and away the #1 Premium cable channel in the world, while Showtime has made strides they are still a distant 2. Starz is a very very distant 3. They have no international programming or channels, they really aren't in the same league as HBO and I don't see them trying to become a sports network at all. I think ultimately the UFC ends up on HBO but it could be a ways away at this point. Im really looking for a major network ala Fox or NBC too throw there hat in pretty soon.

Agreed. HBO > Starz by quite a stretch.


I'm interested to hear who Dana was foreshadowing to. Best guess has to be ESPN, though I suppose something like Fox Sports wouldn't be entirely out of the question.


I think it's still a little too early for one of the major broadcast networks to jump on (ABC, CBS, NBC), but I wouldn't complain if they did.

[Misfits138]

I'm glad the deal didn't go through. I'd rather UFC was visible on basic cable channels. It would suck to have to buy premium channels just to watch UFC.

[thumper]

yeah I agree that HBO dwarfs the other networks.

I think they'll reach an agreement too, and I'm betting it will be when Dana caves and gives in to production.

Who do you think's going to give in here? HBO has all the cards. that's why they closed the deal.

Sounds like posturing to me.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by Misfits138

I'm glad the deal didn't go through. I'd rather UFC was visible on basic cable channels. It would suck to have to buy premium channels just to watch UFC.

You mean like PPVs? If you're watching the UFC you're paying 50.00 per month as it is.

I don't think they'll ever be going to free networks. (abc nbc fox etc). those networks are losing sports to the likes of tnt, espn etc. it'll go to one of the premium networks, no doubt about it.