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[BigBanda]

More on the relationship with UFC and HBO since Albrecht was released from his position of CEO...

Source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...3954&zoneid=13

The Ultimate Fighting Championship being telecast on premium cable channel HBO has long been a hot topic of discussion amongst mixed martial arts fans. Several times the deal has been reported by inside sources to be all but signed, only to continue dragging on due to the complexities of the negotiations.

With the recent firing of HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht, who was pushing for the sport to be a part of the channel’s programming, speculation has run rampant as to the state of the negotiations between HBO and the sport’s premier organization, the UFC.

In comments to MMAWeekly, UFC President Dana White commented on the situation and how he felt Albrecht’s dismissal would affect the deal, “It’s unfortunate… [but] we haven’t come to a deal with HBO anyway. We’re still hitting that thing back and forth.”

There had been much resistance to program MMA from HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg. Albrecht went against the norm at HBO and reportedly vetoed Greenburg’s decision and basically instructed him to add MMA programming, leaving Greenburg only to negotiate the contract.

But at this point, with Albrecht out of the equation, it is anyone’s best guess as to what the fallout will be. Obviously, the shakeup at HBO goes far beyond their dealings with the UFC. As a result, despite how close to completion things seemed, it could be quite some time before the situation plays out.

[Bullock]

thanks, I've been wandering what was the deal.

Repd.

[Dat Dude]

Some people may see this as a bad thing, but personally I don't think the UFC needs and HBO deal. All the UFC needs to do is work on getting themselves a major network deal, like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX or any of there subsidiaries. Having UFC on HBO would be nice but it isn't a necessity.

[warrior06]

I hope this deal goes through.

[Howie]

if you go back and look at the UFC 70 conference call shit, DAna talked in depth about HBO and what was going on. Now he says they hdont really have anything? interesting

[Howie]

Here are a few points about dana saying the deal was done. these were taking from the UFC conference call from ufc 70
http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Word-For-...ence-Call.html



CBS Sportsline: (To Dana) You mention that the HBO deal could happen in the summer, is that a signed deal, and delivered deal?

Dana: Yea, the UFC will be on HBO this summer.

Long Beach Press Telegram: (To Dana) We have heard for a while that you guys are negotiating with HBO. What is the status of that and when do you thing you guys maybe making your debut on HBO?

Dana White: This Summer,

LBPT: This summer?

Dana White: YES!

CBS: So we can report that as being official?

Dana: [laughs] Yea, we will be on this summer.

Las Vegas Review Journal: One of the big contentions on HBO and the UFC was that, the production and the announcers and everything. What have you decided on that?

Dana: It has been a long hard process, this deal with HBO; I’m very comfortable where we are right now. I would have never signed a deal that I wasn’t comfortable with. I probably could have had a deal with HBO a year ago, but I was never going to sign a deal that I wasn’t comfortable with and I think that HBO and the UFC are both comfortable with where we are at right now.

MMANews.com: You said that the production would be run by HBO in this move with them in the summer.

Dana: Yep.

MMANews.com: Does this mean no, Joe Rogan, no Mike Goldberg for the announce team?

Dana: Yea, there will be a new announces team, there will be an HBO announce team.

[Chute]

I dont think UFC really needs to be a part of HBO. Especially because one of the best commentators isnt going to be apart of the ''HBO events''. Either way I cant see it hurting the sport if HBO and UFC sign a deal or not, all I have to say is all believe it when I see it.

[Dat Dude]

Originally Posted by Howie3045

if you go back and look at the UFC 70 conference call shit, DAna talked in depth about HBO and what was going on. Now he says they hdont really have anything? interesting

That's because Chris Albrecht the former CEO of HBO was a supporter of MMA. Now that Albrecht is gone that isn't anyone from the HBO camp to interested in the whole MMA deal. At this point its going to be a struggle to get a deal done.

[Legend]

I would rather see them runs some shows on ESPN then on HBO. I think running programming on ESPN would help legitimize the sport more to the mainstream public and help get rid of those lingering stereotypes that some people still hold onto. So hopefully the rumors about running shows on ESPN are true and I just don't care that much about the HBO deal bc they just don't see to want MMA in the first place.

[Howie]

the way it would appear, HBO seems like there gonna fuck UFC up