The UFC’s TV rights deal dilemma is beginning to heat up, and it’s not just Netflix and ESPN that are interested in doing business with the MMA promotion.
UFC has reportedly found themselves in a precarious situation with their current broadcast partner and could be planning to jump ship in a potential multi-billion dollar deal. Since announcing their interest in live sporting events, rumors have swirled linking the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Netflix, though the situation seems much more complicated than first thought.
According to UFC veteran Brendan Schaub, his inside scoop has informed him that the news being reported about UFC and ESPN’s fallout is false. Schaub gave his idea of what the sport will look like going forward.
“None of [the ongoing reports are] true,” Schaub said. “I have a very good inside source.”
“I said the UFC, they’re going to do what the NFL does where some of it’s on Amazon, Monday Night Football’s on a different network. Thursday Night Football, Sunday Football, they’re kind of on a bunch of different networks.”
Schaub then revealed what his source told him about the situation.
“That connected source from the New York Post isn’t accurate in any facet,” Schaub relayed from his source. “Netflix isn’t even the highest bidder at the moment.”
“Don’t be shocked if the pay-per-views and four big fight nights stay with ESPN and the Apex fights go to Netflix and/or Amazon.”
“If the UFC wants that mainstream 24/7 coverage, they stick with ESPN and the pay-per-views make sense there. The Apex shows will be on Netflix like WWE Raw.”
Related: UFC’s relationship with ESPN on the verge of collapse
Schaub later weighed in with his thoughts.
“Don’t get it twisted, the UFC is a proven pay-per-view success. They have a business model, they would never ever give that up and sign all their media rights deals to Netflix.”
Listen to Brendan Schaub’s comments on the UFC’s Netflix/ESPN/Amazon dilemma below.
