UFC
UFC reportedly looking to buy 60 percent stake of G4 network, Spike TV preparing to move on (UPDATED)
Jun 8, 2011 - 8:20:00 PM UFC reportedly looking to buy 60 percent stake of G4 network, Spike TV preparing to move on (UPDATED)

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC is in negotiations to wrest control of struggling video game network G4 from NBCUniversal, according to several published reports.

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday reported that the organization is in talks to buy control of the network, which would give the UFC their own distribution platform, along with further partnership with NBC and Comcast.

A separate report from MMAFighting.com reveals that it's a virtual certainty the organization does not stay with longtime home Spike TV, and G4 is a very likely new home for UFC programming.

Spike TV officials are already preparing for a 2012 without UFC programming, which will likely include moving Bellator Fighting Championships from MTV2 - which is also owned by Spike parent company Viacom - over to the network. Bellator would likely also be moved back to a weekday timeslot so as not to compete with the UFC.

G4 is currently available in approximately 59 million homes, and is not currently on satellite provider DirecTV. Spike TV is available in 99 million homes, but it's likely the UFC's ownership in G4 would bring the channel back to DirecTV, and bring back a comparable viewing base.

Penick's Analysis: The UFC having an ownership stake in a network would be huge. This doesn't necessarily mean it would be rebranded the UFC Network, but they would certainly be able to fill the channel with UFC programming and be able to put events on at their own discretion with owning it. It would also probably be a part of a larger reaching deal with other Comcast and NBC-owned properties, including their current relationship with Versus (soon to be NBC Sports). Though the channel isn't available in as many homes right now, that is something that can be built upon, and the UFC can make sure to get the word out to their fans as to where they can find their programming. Nothing is close to being a done deal here, but this is looking very promising, and could be a huge next step for the organization.

UPDATE: The New York Times now reports that the UFC is looking to purchase a 60 percent stake in G4. There's no word on how much the deal would be worth at this stage, and again nothing has been completed, but representatives from the UFC and NBCUniversal met in New York on Wednesday.