Comments Thread For: ESPN, UFC Announce and Outline Huge Multi-Year Deal

[Scipio2009]

Only way this ESPN+ works if if NBA, NFL and MLB go there too. But can't see that happenning.

Why?

ESPN has this longterm deal with the UFC, and they have the rest the rights deals already under the Disney portfolio (ACC Football being the clearest one to come to mind, but picture the rest of the sports that you see actually on ESPN).

When the time comes for the deals to be redone (assuming that there's something in the contracts to bar things now), roll everything on to ESPN+ (ie ESPN/ABC figure out what ACC games to air during the week, with the rest of the ACC games aired exclusively on ESPN+).

With the major sports tied to the main broadcasters (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc), major boxing tied to Showtime/CBS, Bellator FC with Viacom, and a few other similar deals, ESPN+ could become the home of everything else (leveraging the sports content already with ESPN/ABC)

[Scipio2009]

ESPN bought FOX's half of the UFC.

So in addition to the half of UFC they already had, now gives them all of the UFC.

ESPN is now the exclusive home of the UFC. Got it

[Mr. 29K]

Fantastic news. At least UFC doesn’t try to shove a white man down our throats. That’s what I love about them - they’re fair but firm, and know their stuff.

[LOCOMEX89]

ESPN is fully invested in combat sports. That's great news. Top Rank and the UFC are going to hopefully be bringing weekly content to us fans.

My question does this mean that Golden Boy Promotions will get cut out of the picture and if not will they get the same or less dates?

HBO needs to figure the situation out quick, fast, and in a hurry. They need to up front with the promoters who they work with and figure out if it's worth them investing in boxing anymore.

[killakali]

True. If you're a sports fan period, ESPN+ is lit!

hellz yeah!!!!!

[killakali]

Why?

ESPN has this longterm deal with the UFC, and they have the rest the rights deals already under the Disney portfolio (ACC Football being the clearest one to come to mind, but picture the rest of the sports that you see actually on ESPN).

When the time comes for the deals to be redone (assuming that there's something in the contracts to bar things now), roll everything on to ESPN+ (ie ESPN/ABC figure out what ACC games to air during the week, with the rest of the ACC games aired exclusively on ESPN+).

With the major sports tied to the main broadcasters (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc), major boxing tied to Showtime/CBS, Bellator FC with Viacom, and a few other similar deals, ESPN+ could become the home of everything else (leveraging the sports content already with ESPN/ABC)

ESPN+ is already showing MLB. I watched the Reds game on it last night for a bit. They have daily MLB and will have daily NHL next season along with college football.

The idea is never to roll everything over to the app. They will still have most of the content on ESPN and ESPN2 but will have this app to create additional revenue and then when cable is fazed out in the future they will be ahead of everyone else.

ESPN and ESPN+ is pretty well set up now. They have all of the UFC, they have the biggest library of classic fights from Top Rank and they are the leader in boxing too. With over 30 cards per year from Top Rank on ESPN and ESPN+ plus another 6 or more international cards like Khan-Lo Greco, BJS-Martin Murray, Inoue-McDonnell they have more content than Showtime and have blown by HBO which is almost irrelevant now except for Canelo and GGG who are pretty much only PPV fighters now.

With Benavidez and Beterbiev on their way to TR their stable will keep expanding.

[MisanthropicNY]

ESPN has hired terrible TV personalities/commentators. It's become a Social Justice Warrior **** show. Hopefully, ESPN keeps the same people Fox Sports used.

If I see Stephen A. Smith or some other MMA/Boxing novice commentating on the UFC... smh..

[lanker rom]

ESPN is now the exclusive home of the UFC. Got it

I wonder if Top Rank and UFC can place nice together under the same roof. Or maybe Top rank and UFC will form an alliance. Either for whatever reason I have a strange feeling this could possibly lead to competition between the two

[nickp91]

Fox paid more for WWE’s B-show A scripted show where the results are pre-determined was deemed more valuable

[Scipio2009]

ESPN is fully invested in combat sports. That's great news. Top Rank and the UFC are going to hopefully be bringing weekly content to us fans.

My question does this mean that Golden Boy Promotions will get cut out of the picture and if not will they get the same or less dates?

HBO needs to figure the situation out quick, fast, and in a hurry. They need to up front with the promoters who they work with and figure out if it's worth them investing in boxing anymore.

-I think folks are overstating to committment to Top Rank Boxing by ESPN, drastically so. Every fight worth anything is being immediately put behind a paywall (whether it is ESPN+ or PPV) and, according to a dig by Sampson Boxing, it's believed that Arum is getting maybe $1.5m for each ESPN card.

-Golden Boy Promotions will only go as far as Canelo takes them; if that means Oscar cutting Alvarez a piece of his company (plus Alvarez still promoting his own fight), Oscar will do it.

The plan is simple; build the fighters that they can on what's left of the ESPN time buy, and then package that talent, with Saul Alvarez, and head back to HBO.

Alvarez has his 2-3 PPVs, and HBO uses their proceeds from those PPVs to cover their boxing schedule, largely with shows put forward by Alvarez's co-promoter Golden Boy.

It's gonna suck to be Main Events, or anyone not tied in as options to fight Alvarez, in the not so distant future.