<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>That’s the word according to MMA Junkie: NBC and Strikeforce will soon announce a deal that will give the quickly growing mixed-martial-arts organization a weekly presence on major network television. Sources close to the deal tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that a formal announcement of the partnership is expected within the next week. However, Strikeforce executives didn’t return phone calls from MMAjunkie.com requesting comment. As part of the NBC deal, fight footage from past Strikeforce events will likely be shown in “highlights” shows, not unlike the Pride Fighting Championships shows that currently air on Fox Sports Net. The first Strikeforce show is expected to air in mid-April. The report goes on to say that these shows will most likely take place after “Saturday Night Live” runs on NBC, so they will be in a very late spot, unlike the prime time spot that EliteXC will have on CBS. It should be interesting to see how the highlights show does and if it leads to any live shows on NBC in the future. If I’m Strikeforce, I’m making sure the first fight I show is Gilbert Melendez vs. Clay Guida for the Strikeforce lightweight title. That one is a barn burner and a fight that could turn a lot of people on to mixed martial arts.</div> woooh, things are happening fast in this sport. at least this improves my chances of seeing my boy Paul Buentello fight
here's the MMAJunkie article. I had read a rumor much earlier today on the UG, but it didn't confirm which org had signed with NBC. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NBC and Strikeforce to Announce Partnership - MMAjunkie.com Exclusive by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 13, 2008 at 12:49 pm in - News - NBC and Strikeforce will soon announce a deal that will give the quickly growing mixed-martial-arts organization a weekly presence on major network television. Sources close to the deal tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that a formal announcement of the partnership is expected within the next week. However, Strikeforce executives didn't return phone calls from MMAjunkie.com requesting comment. The NBC-Strikeforce deal comes just weeks after CBS and ProElite, Inc. announced a formal partnership that will put four annual EliteXC events on primetime television. The first EliteXC-CBS event is expected to air in May. And though it won't be a live event, Strikeforce could actually beat EliteXC to the airwaves. As part of the NBC deal, fight footage from past Strikeforce events will likely be shown in "highlights" shows, not unlike the Pride Fighting Championships shows that currently air on Fox Sports Net. The first Strikeforce show is expected to air in mid-April. The program will likely air on late Saturday nights (early Sunday mornings) either immediately after or soon after the hit NBC series, "Saturday Night Live." Although unconfirmed, there's speculation that the deal could possibly lead to live or, at the very least, tape-delayed Strikeforce events airing on NBC. However, other than the weekly highlights show, few other details of the deal are known at the time. The fact that NBC signed a deal to air MMA isn't surprising; however, the fact that it was Strikeforce -- not MMA's powerhouse, the UFC -- might raise some eyebrows. NBC's interest in MMA reportedly peaked during the recent writers strike, when networks were desperate for specialty programming. In fact, the Strikeforce deal may have first been reached back in January, when NBC was in talks with a host of organizations, including the IFL, M-1 Global and the UFC. Sources close to the deal tell MMAjunkie.com that talks between the UFC and NBC never really got off the ground. According to those sources, the UFC wasn't interested in a late-night timeslot, and additionally, NBC executives "weren't too keen" on working with UFC president Dana White. Strikeforce, though, apparently saw the value in getting its fledgling brand on network television in a weekly slot. However, the partnership may not be an exclusive deal, meaning other organizations could still negotiate with the network. Prior to the EliteXC and Strikeforce deals, the UFC had been in talks with both HBO and CBS, but those deals fell apart when White reportedly wasn't willing to concede creative control. During a pre-UFC 82 press conference, White said he wasn't willing to make a "bad deal" when asked about the failed negotiations. As for Strikeforce, the NBC deal could help the organization grow from a regional hit to a international powerhouse. After more than a decade of success promoting kickboxing events, the San Jose-based organization launched its MMA division in 2006. Its debut show was the first-ever MMA event sanctioned by the state of California. More than 18,000 spectators packed the HP Pavilion to watch Frank Shamrock defeat Cesar Gracie in the night's main event. Since that debut show, the organization has hosted nine other events, including one in September at the legendary Playboy Mansion, which was streamed live by Yahoo! Sports. Strikeforce has emerged as one of MMA's big players while focusing on the local market. California-based fighters such as Shamrock, Cung Le, Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson sell out local venues while drawing international interest. The organization only recently left the state of California when it hosted a Feb. 23 show in Tacoma, Wash. Strikeforce's next show, co-promoted by EliteXC, takes place March 29 in San Jose and features a Strikeforce world middleweight title fight between champ Shamrock and challenger Le. Additionally, Drew Fickett takes on Jake Shields for the first-ever EliteXC welterweight title, and Strikeforce world lightweight title-holder Gilbert Melendez defends his belt against Gabe Lemley. The event airs on Showtime.</div>
Fox is supposedly the front-runner to get the UFC. For sure they should be putting on smaller Fight Night shows once or twice a month during prime time.
but Dana is so damn stubbourn is he hurting UFC's chances of making it to TV?? I've said for a while now, someone else should be the spokesman for the UFC while Dana doesn't do as many interviews etc.. Besides a media PR firm they need a PR spokesman to help legitamize the sport.
If this is running that late it's a ticky tack deal. Doesn't have any impact on the UFC or even MMA to be honest.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Flush @ Mar 13 2008, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If this is running that late it's a ticky tack deal. Doesn't have any impact on the UFC or even MMA to be honest.</div> yeah but don't forget the WWE started out in that time slot on NBC in the mid 80's and it turned out pretty good for them. The audience they're trying to attract does stay up that late and mma fans like me will record it
