The UFC is marching forward with its international expansion, announcing a new broadcast deal with SuperSport on Friday.
On Friday, the UFC in conjunction with SuperSport announced a new broadcast deal that will see the promotion’s content airing in Sub-Saharan Africa. The multi-year broadcast partnership will kick off in 2019, and see DStv’s Premium satellite service carrying UFC content. Sub-Saharan Africa includes territory that lies south of the Sahara, and includes South Africa, where MMA has been growing of late (South Africa’s Don Madge recently made his UFC debut).
“We’re pumped to start broadcasts in January,” said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport. “UFC consistently delivers high-octane action and cuts across all demographics. It’s a modern sport that understands the need to entertain, which is perfect for SuperSport and an evolving consumer market.”
“We have such a strong roster of talented mixed martial artists coming through from across Africa that it is the perfect time for UFC to begin an exciting new relationship with SuperSport,” commented David Shaw, UFC Senior Vice-President International and Content. “The team at SuperSport are committed to building the UFC and we are looking forward to working closely with them in market to achieve our combined goals.”
The start of the deal will coincide with the promotion’s debut on ESPN next year, and underlines the continued importance of broadcast TV deals to the organization’s business model. No details regarding term or financial information were included in Friday’s press release.
