06-23-2007, 10:14 PM
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UFC on HBO deal dead?
Report: UFC on HBO Deal Likely Dead -- UFC news at UFCjunkie.com
Quote:
A long-publicized — and long-awaited — deal between the UFC and subscription-cable leader HBO is now unlikely to happen because of the recent arrest (and subsequent firing) of HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht last month, according to a report from Variety.com.
Rumors of the possible deal first surfaced late last year, and throughout the 2007 calendar year, UFC president Dana White spoke often about the progress and benefits of a potential partnership with HBO. The discussions advanced far enough for White to announce in April that a deal was done.
In fact, the two sides were so confident an agreement would be reached that April 21’s UFC 70 event was expected to air on HBO. It was later moved to Spike TV after the deal stalled.
However, after May 5’s mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya, Albrecht was arrested for allegedly assaulting his female companion near a valet-parking station.
Albrecht was actually responsible for overruling HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, who reportedly wanted nothing to do with MMA.
From Variety.com:
[One] of Albrecht’s proposed changes seems to be on the ropes, as a pact to bring in UFC, the mix-martial arts league, may not go forward.
Albrecht had been a big champion of a deal. But HBO Sports topper Ross Greenburg and other execs have resisted, feeling it would tarnish boxing and the rest of the HBO brand.
With the deal now apparently, officially and completely dead, that could open the door for a new suitor.
Earlier this year, ESPN confirmed it had held “exploratory talks” with the UFC to secure rights to its footage. That obviously led to the recent agreement that earns the UFC regular new coverage on the cable-sports giant. That relationship has been solid, and there’s always the possibility that it could expand to include live-event broadcasting.
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Not really a surprise. I think I would rather ESPN do the PPVs than HBO.
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