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Affliction signs long-term deal with HDNet Fights
By Zach Arnold | September 3, 2008
Partnership solidifies HDNet as THE Home for Mixed Martial Arts on television
DALLAS (September 3, 2008) – HDNet Fights today announced a long-term partnership with Affliction Entertainment to air live MMA events exclusively in North America on HDNet. These live events, featuring the top Mixed Martial Arts fighters from around the world, will be broadcast on HDNet as a lead-in to Affliction’s Pay Per View Events.
“This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Affliction that encompasses live MMA, co-marketing and top fighters for the top weekly show in MMA – Inside MMA on HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Affliction has quickly become one of the top organizations in MMA which means it is a must have for HDNet.”
As part of the agreement, HDNet will feature the first ninety minutes of live bouts that are part of each Affliction MMA event. Affliction joins the deep HDNet Fights lineup, which already features more LIVE events than any other network on television today.
HDNet will kick off the coverage with Affliction’s upcoming “Day of Reckoning” event, to be broadcast LIVE from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on October 11th. HDNet’s coverage of the first three preliminary bouts will include a match-up between Jason High vs. Mike Pyle (welterweight) followed by Paul Buentello vs. Roy Nelson (heavyweight).
Kenny Rice, Bas Rutten, and Ron Kruck will be on hand to call the action live on the HDNet broadcast, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
About HDNet Fights
HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over 24 live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is a unique and unifying force in the MMA industry, partnering with leading promoters, including M-1, SportFight, Ring of Combat, Adrenaline, DREAM and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.
Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the best news and information show for MMA fans, “Inside MMA”.
In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From “Dan Rather Reports”, to championship sports coverage from NASCAR and Major League Soccer to “Guys Night In” every Friday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world’s best picture quality.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.
If you don’t already have HDNet, call your local cable, satellite or video provider and order it today!
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
They’re finished.
Anybody know what kind of numbers HDNet fights has pulled in with their other shows, like Dream and whatnot?
i called. its not available in my area just like 90% of all the other internet fans. the internet fans are the only people who would want to get it and most can’t. i think this is bad news. i liked it when fox sports aired it live. almost anyone with cable or dish gets that channel.
Awesome….the HDnet deal the IFL made is the reason why they’re still successful today.
Seriously though, it’s at least a better option than FSN because the undercard won’t be preempted on different regional stations. Even the UFC drew shit ratings on FSN.
To b.w.
..agreed, but the internet fans will buy it (or watch online) anyway…surely the lead in is aimed at hooking fans who might not have otherwise watched or order the PPV?