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OTHER NEWS: Versus and DirecTV reach agreement, network back on satellite carrier today
Mar 15, 2010 - 5:45:57 PM OTHER NEWS: Versus and DirecTV reach agreement, network back on satellite carrier today

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

DirecTV subscribers, it's time to celebrate. After a six month squabble between the satellite carrier and the Comcast owned Versus network, Versus today announced that the two parties had come to an agreement and the network would be available today on the same programming package it was on when it was taken off DirecTV back in August of 2009.

The news comes just in time for this weekend's UFC on Versus event, as well as the upcoming NHL playoffs. While fans missed out on the WEC 47 event last weekend, the network will be available for the Brandon Vera vs. Jon Jones headlined card on Sunday, as well as future WEC events on the network.

"We are pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, in a press release Monday.

President of Versus Jamie Davis also commented on the news in the release, saying "We're excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts VERSUS back in millions of homes with DIRECTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule. We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more."

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the network will be available today, and may already be available in some homes as of the time of this writing.

Penick's Analysis: This is great news for NHL and MMA fans. There was news that a deal was imminent last week, but until this announcement had been made everything had been taken as rumor and speculation to that point. With the UFC and NHL playoffs coming to the network here soon it's no surprise that an agreement was finally reached, though considering Versus heads to the same place it was before one wonders what they had to give up to just get back onto DirecTV after the six month hiatus. Whatever the reason, it's a great thing for fans who have missed out on the great WEC cards that have come during that time period.