FOX Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill, co-presidents Eric Shanks & Randy Freer and FX President John Landgraf will headline a press conference on Thursday, August 18 for one of the biggest announcements in FOX Sports’ 17-year history.
August 18, 2011 – In just a few minutes, there will be a LIVE press conference with one of the biggest announcements in FOX Sports’ 17-year history. Many are anticipating this to be the much-rumored confirmation of the UFC’s broadcast deal with the network – heralding a new era in MMA.
Just the other day at the UFC136 presser, Dana commented to me face-to-face when I asked about this deal.
“When you’re in these negotiations, all the rumors start flying and everything else but to answer your question, I think it’s time.I think we do fit in to the sports world with the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA, etc. I’ve always said that what would take it to the take it to the next level would be a broadcast deal – being on one of the major networks… But to do that, you have to have the right deal.”
Well the wait is finally over. America, are you ready?
Here are all the notable quotes from MMA’s biggest moment yet. (RECORDED PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO)
David Hill, FOX President
“There’s no yesterday in TV. It’s all about the next big thing.”
- “What the UFC has done, they’ve taken a niche sport and made it mainstream in ten years.”
- “This is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. This is just the beginning.”
- “I changed my mind. My thoughts on the UFC from ten-years ago are different.”
- “It’s a different world from when I was younger watching boxing when pterodactyls walked the earth.”
- “We wouldn’t have gone into this deal if we haven’t canvassed a large group of advertisers that aren’t behind this. There are a few companies that have a “do not buy” but a heck of a lot more that have a “Do buy!” on these sport.”
- “We never discuss what we pay.” (on the dollar amount of the deal)
- The importance of this deal is what it brings in Male 18-34 demographic. Looking at that young demo, they are always wavering. They are here then they’re gone. When you look at a sport like this and the figures the UFC is filling in this demographic, it’s huge. That’s where the exciting future is. That’s the key, key thing. (on what makes this a good investment for FOX)
- “We’ll probably do what we’ve done during the past ten years – sit back and applaud.” (on who will run production)
Eric Shanks, FOX Sports, President
“It’s a deal that touches literally all aspects of the FOX Sports media group. It all starts with 4 massive fights a year on broadcast, 32 live runs on FX along with 2 runs of Ultimate Fighter. We’ll literally own Friday night programming. FUEL will have all the pre-and-post fights for the networks and PPV’s…”
- “People outside of the UFC are wondering why it took so long.”
- “When people ask, ‘is this the point it all becomes legitimate,’ for God’s legitimate, it’s been legitimate for ten years!”
- “If I have to explain this (UFC) to you, you probably won’t understand.”
- There will be a lot of cross-promotion with the UFC through all our media groups. A lot of tactical ideas are yet to come but production, marketing, and sales will be cohesive. We’re digging in.”
Dana White, UFC President
“The Ultimate Fighter will be LIVE on FX.” (WOW!)
- “To be on the #1 network in the country and to be on with all the other major league sports – NFL, MLB, Nascar, etc. This is the pinnacle of TV.”
- “I couldn’t be more proud to be sitting here making this announcement right now.”
- “Ultimate Fighter LIVE… This is revolutionary programming right here.”
- “This is deal I wanted. it took a long time to happen but this is the deal I always wanted.”
- “The first fight on FOX is Saturday, November 12th, on the FOX network.”
- “This is a 7-year deal.”
- “A lot of the other programming from “Unleashed” to our LIVE prelims will migrate to FUEL. We will help build FUEL as we helped build SPIKE.”
- “UFC Fight Nights will be on FX (six cards a year) and four big fights will be on FOX.”
- “Coming to FOX now, everything is will be changing – including on the PPV’s. What we want to do is take this thing to the next level – from PPV to the Ultimate Fighter, to everything we produce.”
- “There will be no speedo fights on FOX.”
- “There’s going to millions and millions of people that will see the UFC for the firt time. We’ve got some great ideas on how to educate these people on the UFC for the first time.”
- The “Gladiator opening” is going away.”
Lorenzo Fertitta, Owner, Zuffa LLC
“It was really an easy decision. The fact is we’ve been in business with FOX for a long time.. Australia, Latin America, Europe… This is the icing on the cake and taking it to the next level.”
- “I think we are at the highest level of sports media. This is a national evolution.”
- “We’ve done the research and the fact is that UFC programming is the most efficient way to target the young male demographic if that’s what advertisers are looking for.”
- “Every major broadcaster out there where vying for these rights. Every major broadcast company was vying for these rights. It wasn’t a one-horse deal. This was the right one.”
- “We’re going to deliver BIG fights on the broadcast network (FOX). Fights that matter.”
- “The FOX Sports Deportes (Latin American) deal is what’s going to drive the UFC going to Mexico.”
- “The reason we’re not in New York is a union issue…”
John Landgraf, President, FX Networks
“We can now stand with USA, TNT, etc. “
- “The UFC on FX is going to put us on a level playing field with all our competitors.”
- “Dana and the UFC are coming up with ideas that are going to revolutionize The Ultimate Fighter.”
- “Will be airing TUF with footage from each week followed by a LIVE fight.”
- “32 weeks of LIVE fights on FX.”
- “There’s an 80% overlap between people that watch FX and those that watch the UFC. There’s a lot that we can do to bring these two great brands together.”
FOX / UFC Press Conference – Quotes and Miscellaneous Notes
- Joe Rogan opening with commentary for the press conference. Very fitting.
- GSP, Rashad Evans, Edgar, Fertitta, Dana… all are present.
- “Do you want to be a fighter.” (no LIVE cussing from Dana. lol.)
- Ultimate Fighter preview looks GOOD. Should do well introducing this show to the national audience. Excellent explanation of what viewers should expect.
- Joe Rogan is hlarious with his comments on the questions and callers. Classic Rogan. Joe in a suit?…. even funnier.
- Loretta Hunt is back!
- The FOX show is on the same date as Pacquio vs. Marquez III, November 12th.
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