Good news, if you don’t have DirecTV you will be able to see two live UFC events in 2010 on the Versus Network. Bad news, if you have DirecTV you will have to settle for a choppy Portuguese internet stream of the fights. Versus is giving a select amount of people more MMA in 2010, cross your fingers that you will be one of the chosen. Ariel Helwani has more since the dude literally has his hands in everything MMA.
“As part of VERSUS’ renewal deal, the network will air seven live WEC fights and two live UFC events in 2010, marking the first time that live UFC events will air on a national sports cable network. Also included in the renewal deal are digital media rights, giving VERSUS.com the ability to air one non-televised fight and behind-the-scenes footage from each live WEC Event. Details regarding when the first live UFC event will air on the network will be announced in the near future.”
That’s right, two UFC events you will not have to pay for coming in 2010. Of course for all you DirecTVians, you’re pretty much screwed. Here’s the DirecTV press release about the entire debacle.
“They (Comcast) regularly try to charge us amounts well in excess of what is fair and reasonable to carry the programming they own,”
“Their reason is obvious: They want to stifle competition from DirecTV. Comcast’s unfair terms undermines DirecTV’s ability to offer our customers the best possible value. If we simply accept these terms, we would have to absorb the unreasonable costs Comcast wants to charge us, and in turn we will be forced to increase the rates our customers pay. We do not want this to happen. In fact, Comcast has forced us to remove Versus because we would not accept the terms they demanded.”
Damn you DirecTV and your incredible HD service but lack of Versus Network. I would protest, but I don’t want to miss 49ers river-dance over the Arizona Cardinals tonight. [Source]
