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MMA News
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ProElite
PRO ELITE: MMA moves to broadcast TV as CBS deal announced this week
By Wade Keller, MMATorch editor
Feb 29, 2008, 07:03
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April 26 will be a historic date in the history of Mixed Martial Arts, as the ProElite promotion has inked a deal with CBS to broadcast four specials per year beginning that night.
"This is a sport on the rise," said CBS senior exec VP Kelly Kahl. "The wrestling numbers have softened a bit and this sport may be able to siphon off some of those fans. It's a lot more upscale than people realize. This was a way to kick up our Saturday nights. It's a perfect marriage."
CBS will pay ProElite for the programming, but retain all advertising rights. That's more prestigious for ProElite than if the MMA group was buying the time.
Four MMA telecasts are scheduled per year. ProElite had previously aired on Showtime, under the same ownership umbrella as CBS.
The announce team, according to Variety, has not been determined, and may come from ProElite or CBS Sports division.
The Feb. 16 edition of ProElite's "Elite XC" event drew its strongest rating to date.
Doug DeLuca, CEO of ProElite: "The sport has a bad perception. As you watch it and understand it, you realize you're dealing with world-class athletes. It was a natural fit. The guys at CBS are savvy. They liked the sport and have paid attention to it for a long time."
DeLuca said the writers strike -- in which the networks were clamoring for non-scripted programming -- was a "catalyst" in getting a deal done but "this was no sell job. They get it."
Full article link: Variety
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