Dana Promises 'Big TV Deal' for Pride, But who?

[Beatts35]

Originally Posted by smoogy

Hell, when was the last time boxing was on one of the networks?

Boxing leaving major networks for HBO and PPV was the begining of the end of boxing being a part of american culture. boxings hey day was when abc and nbc carried all the big fights.

its funny how mma was build off ppv and now is breakinng into network tv.

[Clint]

Hear me out on this once but USA might be a good fit for Pride. Since Pride is produced in a little more of a prowrestling style if it where to follow (or lead into WWE) where people watching wrestling could catch the end or begining of it, some might stay on to see what it is. Naturally these fans will be sucky fans at first but some will start appreciating it.

[Beatts35]

Originally Posted by Clint

Hear me out on this once but USA might be a good fit for Pride. Since Pride is produced in a little more of a prowrestling style if it where to follow (or lead into WWE) where people watching wrestling could catch the end or begining of it, some might stay on to see what it is. Naturally these fans will be sucky fans at first but some will start appreciating it.

thats exactly why i thought of USA they used to put on great boxing events. and they've had a wrestling audience for quite sometime now. Pride would work as a great leading or post wrestling show. their formats really do compliment each other.

[Catalyst]

wow... I made a thread about this a long time ago and got flamed for making the suggestion... interesting how things can change so quickly... I thought those talks between Sakakibara and Vince McMahon a while back could have been about some kind of agreements over sharing coverage on USA or something...

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Catalyst

wow... I made a thread about this a long time ago and got flamed for making the suggestion... interesting how things can change so quickly... I thought those talks between Sakakibara and Vince McMahon a while back could have been about some kind of agreements over sharing coverage on USA or something...

See I don't want any connection between the two. That will blur the lines too much for the fans. I just think it would be a good idea to try and pull from the WWE's audience.

If I remember correctly you were suggesting more of a collaboration between them, which in my opinion would go badly. Although that could have been a different thread that I am remembering

[jamesg2323]

How about ESPN classic showing old Pride and UFC events. That would get more people exposed to MMA....I don't know how many people get that channel though.

[Beatts35]

I had had an idea a few months ago and posted it. I think now it is much more of a reasonable idea. I think that with the library that Zuffa has access to UFC/Pride/WEC/WFA. And with all the programming that they've produced with Spike. Zuffa could turn around at this point and team up with Viacom (company that owns Spike). They could launch their own network. Between all the old events and original content it wouldn't be to hard. then they would be able to maintan total control of their product. that could be the answer. and its really not that far fetched an idea. it just would either put them higher in the channel line up around comedy central and spike or way up their with VS.

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by Beatts35

I had had an idea a few months ago and posted it. I think now it is much more of a reasonable idea. I think that with the library that Zuffa has access to UFC/Pride/WEC/WFA. And with all the programming that they've produced with Spike. Zuffa could turn around at this point and team up with Viacom (company that owns Spike). They could launch their own network. Between all the old events and original content it wouldn't be to hard. then they would be able to maintan total control of their product. that could be the answer. and its really not that far fetched an idea. it just would either put them higher in the channel line up around comedy central and spike or way up their with VS.

This would make for a good revenue stream down the road, but a specialty cable channel would not help them gain mainstream exposure, just give the existing fans a custom tailored channel like The Fight Network. What they need is another basic tier cable channel like Spike on board for their PRIDE coverage.

[gsprulz]

I think its going to be ESPN. It kind of obvious now because there going to support us in their shows now. Being on that channel it will be impossible for anyone not to be interested because mma is the most competitve sport in the world. Ufc/Pride on sportscenter god that would be like a dream. I wouldn't be mad if it ended up on FOX but in the long run espn would get mma over as a secure sport in the world.

[binimac]

i think tnt could be a good fit. maybe
btw, i saw my first wec commercial on versus today. looks pretty bad ass. i think they do a decent job with the world combat leage