UFC in January will "launch a new, subscription-based digital network" that will "include an expanded menu of live 'Fight Night' cards from outside North America, as well as live, behind-the-scenes programming from all its events and on-demand availability of original 'The Ultimate Fighter' shows developed abroad," according to Bill King of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The as-yet-unnamed network’s "first scheduled live event is a 'Fight Night' card set for Jan. 4 in Singapore." The net, which "will reside on its own URL, was driven" by UFC's "rapid overseas expansion." The "backbone of the on-demand programming will be 'The Ultimate Fighter' shows developed for telecast in India, China and elsewhere, as well as an array of shows that air on UFC networks launched in Mexico and Brazil." UFC COO Lawrence Epstein said that UFC "has not locked in a pricing model." King notes the net "eventually will replace UFC.tv as the host site for consumers who stream UFC pay-per-views rather than watching them through traditional cable or satellite services" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/2 issue). USA TODAY's John Morgan reports a formal announcement of the new net will be "scheduled later this month." The net will feature "more than a dozen live fight cards," including an event on March 8 at London's O2 Arena that "will stream on the new platform." The net will allow UFC "to hold international fight cards in prime time" in local markets "while keeping the content accessible to fight fans around the globe at times when television partners might decline to air live programming." Historical fight footage and live fight-week fan and media events "will be streamed" on the net (USA TODAY, 12/2).
TURNING TABLES: YAHOO SPORTS' Dave Doyle wrote of UFC fighter Ronda Rousey's stint as a coach on "The Ultimate Fighter," "Everyone knows reality TV shows are heavily edited to fit storylines." There is "no doubt that at the start of The Ultimate Fighter 18, Rousey was the UFC’s golden girl," and rival coach Miesha Tate "the perpetual runner-up." But after the end of a six-month process including the show’s filming, Tate during FS1's broadcast on Saturday of the Ultimate Fighter Finale was "all smiles and Rousey was all snarls on live TV." That is something Rousey "can't blame on an editor with an agenda" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/1).
