UFC signs Indian TV deal with Sony Six

14 September 2012 | Posted in Broadcast, North America, Asia | By Tom Love

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced a new broadcast agreement with Indian sports channel Sony Six.

The agreement, financial details of which were not released, sees the Multi Screen Media-owned channel holding the exclusive rights to all UFC content in India, including live events, the promotion's Countdown and Primetime shows and archive programming.

Included in the new deal - which was described as a 'wide-ranging, strategic partnership' in an official press release - is the creation of a new all-Indian edition of The Ultimate Fighting (TUF), the UFC's long-running reality TV show which has so far taken place in the US, Brazil and the UK/Australia.

"We are very excited to partner with Six as the UFC expands into India," said UFC chairman and chief executive Lorenzo Fertitta. "We look forward to working with them to not only further expand the UFC’s fanbase here, but also to find and develop local talent and, ultimately, bring regular live events to India.”

Multi Screen Media chief executive Man Jit Singh added, "We are delighted to bring the UFC – the fastest growing sport in the world – to India. India has a lot of appetite for new sports and we are confident that younger audiences will be attracted to the special programming of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the channel. Mixed martial arts require tremendous physical training, skill and strategy and India certainly has a lot of aptitude for the sport. We hope the property will be an inspiration to young India.”

TUF India is scheduled to air on Sony Six in 2013.