What are the effects on USA Network’s WWE Programming?…

Spike Extends UFC Deal, What are the Effects on USA Network's WWE Programming?
By Anna Elizabeth Anderson Oct 26, 2007

UFC President Dana White and SpikeTV Prexy Kevin Kay jointly announced Thursday afternoon that the cable network had extended its deal with UFC through 2011.  The agreement gives Spike four more series of "The Ultimate Fighter," four editions per year of "UFC Fight Nights" featuring live bouts and 39 one-hour episodes of “UFC Unleashed.” That series, hosted by Mike Goldberg, features great fights from the history of the UFC, many of which have not been seen on basic cable; it will appear beginning in 2009.

Spike Extends UFC Deal, What are the Effects on USA Network's WWE Programming?

Spike also has committed to run two seasons of a new weekly live fight series. "That's going to be very interesting," said Arturo Collozo Jr. the editor of mmanewsdesk.com,  "because that's where they'll be tempted to go head-up against Vince, or be used by TNA to test those waters."

"Of course," Collozo said this afternoon, "that would be a mistake. UFC is a company driven by pay per view and the enormous gates of the live presentations. They should avoid a comparison where they don't look dominant."

The extension is estimated to be worth $100 million, though Spike and UFC executives declined to comment on financial terms.

“We are paying the UFC more money than Joe Torre turned down from the Yankees,” said Kevin Kay, not realizing how stupid that sounded. If he said "more money than someone pays the Yankees, then the comparison is understood. But to compare an entire league to one man? Not one of Kay's better moments.

TV Week reported that Spike TV picked up the UFC after World Wrestling Enterprises moved to USA Network, and that Kay noted “The most important thing for me is we’re still in business with the UFC and we secured our future long-term with them, because I think we’re both critical to each other’s success.”

Actually,  as www.mmanewsdesk.com pointed out, TUF started as a show that came on Monday nights after WWE, trying to capitalize on the momentum from Raw.  Spike's President Kay said the deal also gives Spike three to five minutes of exclusive digital content per episode of “Ultimate Fighter” and for each “Fight Night” to use on its Web site.

“It will be a little bit more behind-the-scenes, and a little bit more about how guys train and a little more information about what it takes to be an athlete in this sport, which is really important and something we know our guys are very curious about,”  Kay said.

“Spike TV has really been a good partner to us," White said. “It’s a network that hasn’t tried to stop us from growing.”

He said UFC, which recently launched a syndicated show and stages pay-per-view events, is still interested in a broadcast or pay TV deal.

“We haven’t even scratched the surface of how big this thing’s going to be,”  White said. “We’ve got big plans over the next five years.”

Those next five years, with Vince McMahon dealing with Congressional hearings and moving into his mid-60's; with his daughter Stephanie assuming more responsibility; with WWE's contract with USA coming due in that time frame; and with pay per view revenues being key to UFC and still very important to WWE; will be a very interesting period for the history of sports entertainment.