Comments Thread For: UFC, ESPN Reach Multi-Year Deal To Stream Events on ESPN+

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

UFC(r), the world's premier mixed martial arts organization, and The Walt Disney Company's new Direct-To-Consumer & International segment along with ESPN, have reached an immersive, multi-year media rights agreement for exclusive live UFC content on ESPN+, as well as across a variety of ESPN's television, social and digital platforms, in English and Spanish, taking effect in January 2019.
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[Butch.McRae]

Smart move by the UFC here.

I wonder if ESPN is thinking of expanding its boxing offering through another partnership?

I might sign up for this app, if there was more content available.

[Scipio2009]

Dana and Bob together building ESPN+ brand.

I wouldn't hold my breath, lol.
With the quality of actual fights that Bob Arum has brought to ESPN, why would ESPN stick with Bob once that deal is up when the UFC is, if my math is right, basically taking the 25 or so FOX/FS1 events per year and consolidating those down to 15 stacked shows for ESPN+ (on top of filling ESPN+ with all of the various UFC shoulder programming, a new TUF-style show featuring Dana White, and access to the UFC library)?

Bob Arum might be ****ed.

[Scipio2009]

Smart move by the UFC here.

I wonder if ESPN is thinking of expanding its boxing offering through another partnership?

I might sign up for this app, if there was more content available.

I wouldn't bank on it. Hopefully we get more information about the deal as time passes, but I have a feeling that Golden Boy is going to play out the time buy before heading back to HBO (with Alvarez and whatever other fighters they can get to emerge before the time is up) and Top Rank will be forced to take their operation digital (after burning bridges with HBO, Showtime, Turner Sports, and ESPN with their shortsighted philosophy).

[killakali]

I wouldn't hold my breath, lol.
With the quality of actual fights that Bob Arum has brought to ESPN, why would ESPN stick with Bob once that deal is up when the UFC is, if my math is right, basically taking the 25 or so FOX/FS1 events per year and consolidating those down to 15 stacked shows for ESPN+ (on top of filling ESPN+ with all of the various UFC shoulder programming, a new TUF-style show featuring Dana White, and access to the UFC library)?

Bob Arum might be ****ed.

lol. Bob has a 4 year deal that is about to be converted to a 10 year deal.

This app has several live sports going on at the same time so they can overlap.

Espn is so happy with the Top Rank shows they are having them produce all of the overseas cards that have nothing to do with Top Rank like Khan-Lo Greco.

That and the expansive Top Rank catalog of fights have them ready to announce their contract extension in the near future.

Now ESPN will be controlling the boxing and UFC market. This UFC additional makes the app even more of a bargain to go along with the baseball and hockey and college sports they provide.

[Motorcity Cobra]

So now you gotta pay for fight pass, ESPN +, and PPV

[Butch.McRae]

lol. Bob has a 4 year deal that is about to be converted to a 10 year deal.

This app has several live sports going on at the same time so they can overlap.

Espn is so happy with the Top Rank shows they are having them produce all of the overseas cards that have nothing to do with Top Rank like Khan-Lo Greco.

That and the expansive Top Rank catalog of fights have them ready to announce their contract extension in the near future.

Now ESPN will be controlling the boxing and UFC market. This UFC additional makes the app even more of a bargain to go along with the baseball and hockey and college sports they provide.

The boxing offering isn't very strong right now at all. They need more partners. It's basically a two fighter operation right now.

Nobody cares about Khan-LeGreco lol

Maybe if they got Duva's fighters and Loeffler's roster that would beef things up a bit on the boxing front.

[Scipio2009]

lol. Bob has a 4 year deal that is about to be converted to a 10 year deal.

This app has several live sports going on at the same time so they can overlap.

Espn is so happy with the Top Rank shows they are having them produce all of the overseas cards that have nothing to do with Top Rank like Khan-Lo Greco.

That and the expansive Top Rank catalog of fights have them ready to announce their contract extension in the near future.

Now ESPN will be controlling the boxing and UFC market. This UFC additional makes the app even more of a bargain to go along with the baseball and hockey and college sports they provide.

Have a timeline for that, lol? The fact that you're drawing anything from Khan-LoGreco is rich.

The UFC controls something like 70% of the top MMA talent, and this move puts them on PPV, ESPN+, content on ESPN, and Fight Pass.

[killakali]

The boxing offering isn't very strong right now at all. They need more partners. It's basically a two fighter operation right now.

Nobody cares about Khan-LeGreco lol

Maybe if they got Duva's fighters and Loeffler's roster that would beef things up a bit on the boxing front.

top rank is their exclusive partner. Their won’t benther promoters. Golden boy has a time buy.

Not strong right now? It just started two weeks ago lol. They got crawford horn coming up and Anjacas sultan. There will be more announced plus the international fights like Tyson Fury’s next fight.

Just be patient.

[killakali]

Have a timeline for that, lol? The fact that you're drawing anything from Khan-LoGreco is rich.

The UFC controls something like 70% of the top MMA talent, and this move puts them on PPV, ESPN+, content on ESPN, and Fight Pass.

a time line for what? This is facts. Tyson Fury’s next fight will likely be next. Thy already sent a press release out saying they have 6 international fights this year. Khan Lo Greco was the first.