White Says UFC Working On Network Deals, Launching Own Net

White Working On Broadcast TV Deal, Eyes UFC Network In Coming Years

UFC President Dana White's "most notable goal" is "finally taking his sport into broadcast television for the first time, a move he says his organization is finally prepared for in the coming year, as well as launching his own channel," according to Ben Grossman of BROADCASTING & CABLE. The UFC's current cable deal with Spike "expires next year and White is already said to be shopping that as well." The following are excerpts of Grossman's Q&A with White:

Q: What's next for your television strategy?
White: A lot of people don't realize we are in a half a billion homes around the world. ... We are working on a couple moves now and should be in a billion homes around the world in the next couple months.

Q: What about here in the U.S.? You have said you'd only do a broadcast deal when the time was right? Are you there yet? Do you expect to be on broadcast TV for the first time in 2011?
White: Yes, we will. We are working on some things right now. I just can't talk about it at all because we are right in the middle of it.

Q: I have heard you have had some back and forth with News Corp., and Fox has a hole on Saturday late nights and that would seem like a perfect fit for UFC.
White: I don't disagree with that. We're in the middle of this stuff, we can't talk about it, but it's all common sense.

Q: How about Comcast-NBC. You have a relationship with Versus already, so what does this deal mean for you?
White: It could be our way into NBC. Everything you're saying makes sense. Fox on Saturday nights, Comcast merging with NBC.

Q: What about launching your own UFC network? That has to be in your plans?
White: That will happen within the next couple years.