Fremantle jumps into MMA fray

Fremantle Media Businesses has signed a five-year global privileges cope with rising mma org Bellator Fighting Titles. Bellator is positioning itself instead of Ufc, which signed a lucrative TV privileges contract with Fox Sports Media Group in August. Viacom lately acquired a big part stake in Bellator and may begin airing its competitions in 2013 on Spike, whose UFC relationship is ending using the Fox deal. Bellator's competitions presently air on Viacom-possessed MTV2 and Epix2. "It's our belief that there's room for 2 unique MMA qualities to exist together available on the market both here locally and globally," Fremantle senior veep of worldwide content purchases and development Shaun Tahler told Variety. "There'll always be competition, and also the UFC, they're what they're. I do not think anyone's likely to not say they are not really no. 1 organization available. Nevertheless, we wouldn't have become into this as we did not think there is a distinctive selling chance." Fremantle will handle privileges for worldwide TV distribution in addition to certification, digital and ancillary privileges for the U.S. and worldwide marketplaces. Tahler stated the appeal for Bellator keeps growing thanks simply to the tournament-style approach that calls in your thoughts college basketball's March Madness. To that particular finish, Fremantle does not picture selling Bellator as library programming, but instead event programming which will air live whenever possible. If you will find home windows for Bellator's spring season, Fremantle will make the most of them, but fall 2012 continues to be primary target for worldwide distribution. "You will find there's great relationship with Spike and Viacom channels," Tahler stated. "We have distributed numerous their non-sports programming through the years. ... It is a great challenge along with a wonderful chance to roll this out correctly. You need to roll this out like a sport and never like a television program. People need to see occasions live." Fremantle's curiosity about Bellator continues to be lengthy-brewing and was just strengthened through the recent Bellator-Viacom deal. "Within this business, you may already know, it's nice to obtain validation from the major corporation," Tahler stated. "It had been the cherry on the top. It is a great story to inform for all of us when we are heading out there and selling this -- it's not only a man holding MMA fights inside a barn." Tahler noted that global curiosity about mma had been fostered by martial artists being drawn from regions all across the globe. "The incredible athleticism and intensity showed in most in our mma competitions result in any language," Bellator chairman, Boss and founder Bjorn Rebney stated. "With FME as our partner, we will have a way to showcase our high-intensity make of fighting to millions around the world.Inch Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com