UFC FOX DEAL – THE INSIDE DETAILS

By Sean Farrell

Well the demise of Spike TV may have started today. Sports Business Daily is reporting the UFC and Fox have agreed to a multi-year deal that will bring the UFC to network television for the first time in its 18-year history.

The deal is allegedly for 7 or 8 years and the regular UFC programming that currently airs on Spike TV & Versus will be moved to the FX Network in January. The Fox owned Fuel channel would also receive some UFC programming such as Unleashed and old episodes of ‘TUF’.

The report also states that the UFC will have about four live specials on Fox in 2012 alone. The UFC’s current TV contract with Spike TV ends at the end of 2011, and the network may not stay afloat long after. It began in 2005 when the UFC’s reality series The Ultimate Fighter debuted with much success, which spiked Fox’s interest. The move to basic cable turned around UFC’s business and helped usher in the most successful period in the company’s and sport’s history.

The UFC has not released a statement about the report as of Tuesday afternoon but it is expected when they do I will have ALL the details stay tuned.