Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:45 pm EST
White says UFC doesn't need a network television deal
With the UFC getting major coverage on ESPN this weekend, does an EliteXC-like television deal come next? White said during the UFC 91 post-fight press conference that the UFC doesn't need network television.
"The networks are so strong they pretty much tell you the deal they're going to give you whether you like it or not. We don't need it. We don't need help from anybody"
White says the UFC is doing just fine with cable outlet SpikeTV:
"I'm happy as hell to be on SpikeTV, be there forever. I could care less."
Click below to listen to White talk about the UFC and television:
Will the UFC hit a ceiling in the next few years if it doesn't forge a deal with one of the networks? A deal with ESPN to get some programming on may be more effective than having to bow to needs and whims of network executives. It may damage the sport in the future if a UFC run on network television was to flop.
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Steve Cofield
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66 Comments
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And yes Dana is a f**king genius. Why settle for Network TV if the deal is not in their favor. Network contributed in sapping the life out of promotions. Elite XC and IFL are proofs...
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2: My response was not defending network tv, it was mostly addressing Dana's comment regarding someone ELSE making him say something stupid as if....and maybe a personal attack as to why they may not be looking at the UFC vary favorably right now...I don't watch mainstream TV, Nothing on. If there was a way to make both sides happy and get my favorite past time on tv so I don't have to watch the afor mentioned shows and don't have to pay 45.00$ to watch either i'm sorta thinking it might be a good idea..
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unless your 12, then daddy may be able 2 take u there
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: p
But I agreee with everyone Mrs. Hughes... I mean Ican2; UFC, and mma as a whole doesn't need network tv. If anything, network tv needs mma to put something decent on their network. Even though EXC suuuucked to mma fans- we still watched it, and it was the highest rated thing on network tv in years... so how great would their ratings be if they put on a decent show? All Hail Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta : )
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But what about the ratings when they showed Pride fight's on FSN.. They were getting really good ratings it was the front office that sucked, and they had a piss poor marketing group..Nobody bought into the IFL cause they had some of the same problems, Marketing and promoting Blew...The names were there as far as coaches, but if your trying to suck all the profit off the top before you make it, your never gonna succeed..that's where Dana has done a good job they kept putting the money back into the UFC and did there best to promo the fight'sand fighters..
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you have a poster of matt hughes over your bed
nuff said
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and i play the banjo HAHA
go figure
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i think that UFC wont be goin mainstream for awhile
people didnt even respect the last ppv
and i think UFC has found their own niche
with ppv and spike tv with
it appeals to the demographic that dana is searching 4
and he is content with that
i dont think he is pressed to be a mainstream puppet
sure it would be nice to watch free UCF shows on the reg
but most people dont respect or take mma seriously enough
true fans do, but when people see brock as a champ they think WWE
and other people who love boxing (nutcracker) see the stand up game in UFC as a joke
but really people need to realize it is what it is, two warriors in the cage with many different scenarios
Maybe people will come around after Penn vs GSP, but for now
i think dana white isnt concerned with mainstream media, as they themselves are not mma supporters
why try 2 push it down peoples throats and have them not respect it
when u can keep doing what u been doing, and not be a slave to the major networks
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I just moved to southern IN from FL (still not sure why); and I'm looking for an mma, or at least a decent martial arts school nearby... I've checked out a couple in the area, but not impressed. Mostly just kiddie stuff. I have a 1st deg. blk belt in tae kwon-do, and wrestling background from school. I really want to pick my training back up (preferably mma)... Any recommendations?
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but dont take any offense
if u know what u do and how u feel
dont worry about how others veiw it
real mma is all about respect
and i kno u might be blown cuz the brock stuff
and TUF show, but u gotta remember Dana is for one thing and thats $$$$$$$
of coarse idiots are gonna look at the situation all stupid
but for real i think it was a throwback 4 me and a new era
when ufc started it didnt matter who u werr or where u were from
u brought what skills and talent u have into the cage and u go from there
i think that is what brock did saturday, he is the face of a new HW division full of skill and youth
Randy is dun and the only reason i say that is age, he is still a great fighter
but he wont be able to contend with these new breeds
i think the game is evolving and the hughes, coutures, ortiz, and liddells helped build the foundation
but now are getting passed by due to younger and more well-rounded fighters
i look at saturday not as former WWE champ brock lesnar winning the title
but a yung, huge, powerful, fast, wrestler winning the title bringing it into a new era
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why was Brock's win "retarded"? cuz it was only his 4th fight? Randy won his 1st HW title in his 4th fight. Brock's still growing as a fighter, and even at his "beginner" level, he's enough of a pure athlete to win the HW title against a "legend"! Or is it cuz he's a former wwe performer? So he got out of college and went to wwe, made a ton of money, but found out it wasn't satisfying to him, so he decided to pursue "real" sports again... finally landing in mma and the UFC. So maybe Brock Lesnar is actually alot smarter than many people are giving him credit for...
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