Viacom buying UK major network free 'Channel 5' UFC broadcasting partner (Fox deal-like) in the UK

Viacom Buying Channel 5 Broadcasting for $757M
abcnews.go.com - May 1, 2014



Viacom is buying Britain's Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. for 450 million euros (about $757 million), increasing its investment in U.K-produced content.

The media company said Thursday that the commercial public service broadcaster is watched by more than 80 percent of the U.K. population monthly. Viacom anticipates that Channel 5 will complement its pay TV networks that include Comedy Central and MTV.

The deal between Viacom International Media Networks and Northern & Shell Media Group, which bought Channel 5 in 2010, includes all brands and assets of Channel 5 Ltd. This includes 5(asterisk), 5USA, Milkshake!, Channel 5 and Demand 5.

Viacom Inc. said it will finance the transaction with existing cash balances.


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/viacom-buying-channel-broadcasting-757m-23544139

UFC lands 'significant' free television deal on UK's Channel 5 ahead of 'Gustafsson vs Manuwa' in London
mmamania.com - Mar 3 2014


Mark Nolan

Good news for you folks across the pond.

While a good portion of the mixed martial arts (MMA) fan base will have to sign up for "Fight Pass" to watch this weekend's UFC Fight Night 37 event, which takes place on Sat., March 8, 2014 inside the O2 Arena in London, England, fight fans in the United Kingdom (UK) can watch it for free on Channel 5.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made the announcement last week (read it here), noting that Channel 5 will broadcast the "Gustafsson vs. Manuwa" main card at 9 p.m., with "highlights" of the rest of the card through 11 p.m. local time.

MMA Fighting adds some context to the "significant" partnership.

Besides airing on BT Sport, the home of all UFC live events, Saturday's show will air from 9-11 p.m. on Ch. 5, one of the five major free-to-air stations in the country. It would be equivalent in some ways to the FOX deal in the U.S. Ch. 5 is the equivalent of a network station in the U.S., although it is No. 5 in the marketplace.
According to David Allen of the UFC, BT Sport, as part of its contract, will air the entire event live. Both channels will have the same fight feed, but each channel have their own separate in-studio coverage. The show will also be available live on Fight Pass, just as it is available in the U.S.

Not a bad deal, all things considered.

The timing couldn't be better, as UFC is planning to host a minimum of six "Fight Night" events overseas for its 2014 fight campaign, and recently re-upped its deal with BT Sport. In addition, it added local talent to the broadcast booth, including the aforementioned "Outlaw."





http://www.mmamania.com/2014/3/3/5466180/ufc-lands-significant-television-deal-uk-channel-5-gustafsson-manuwa-mma

 
You keep on buying up all the other competitor orgs and colluding to keep top talent from us... and well keep buy the networks you televise on!

Game, Set, & F***'n MATCH!!!

Awesome.

Zuffa is finding stumbling blocks on the way to their world domination.

 

While ufc is buying out orgs bellators backers are buying out broadcasting stations LOL


Bellator is the tortoise that will win in the long run.

This is HUGE news.

Zuffa is playing checkers and Viacom/Bellator are playing chess.

Does this mean Viacom will make money on UFC events or will they replace them with Bellator on Channel 5? Maybe they´ll put Bellator ads on the UFC events.

I'm wondering what this is suppose to mean as well.

Looking at the dates, the Viacom purchase article is March 1, and the UFC article is March 3. Deals aren't made in 2 days, and it is not suggested that the two deals necessarily have anything to do with one another, but the timing is curious.

nodogoshi wrote:I'm wondering what this is suppose to mean as well.

Looking at the dates, the Viacom purchase article is March 1, and the UFC article is March 3. Deals aren't made in 2 days, and it is not suggested that the two deals necessarily have anything to do with one another, but the timing is curious.

The OP was released May 01/14. The deal has been approved and will go ahead. The 2nd article was reference to the original announcement of the UFC-Channel 5 deal.

I imagine that there 'could' be some time left on the UFC deal although the second article doesn't state it. Not sure how that would go over fiduciary duty-wise for Viacom. Weird.