Post by Bob Sapp on Mar 15, 2010 17:15:44 GMT -5
DirecTV & Versus Strike Deal, WEC/UFC Events Returning to Satellite Provider's Lineup
by Dann Stupp on Mar 15, 2010 at 5:00 pm ET
After more than a half-year blackout, the Versus channel is returning to DirecTV.
DirecTV and Comcast, owner of the all-sports Versus channel, today made the announcement stating, "Versus will return to the same DirecTV programming packages it was in at the end of August 2009."
Versus, home to World Extreme Cagefighting and now the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was dropped from the satellite-cable company's lineup on Sept. 1, 2009, after a dispute over carrier fees.
DirecTV boasts approximately 18 million subscribers and – thanks to some exclusive offerings such as the NFL Sunday Ticket – is popular with sports fans.
Terms of the new deal were not disclosed, though Versus has already been reinstated on the channel lineup.
"We are pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers," DirecTV executive Derek Chang stated.
A Versus executive echoed that sentiment while playing up the cable station's upcoming UFC on Versus 1 event, which airs this coming Sunday (March 21) live from Broomfield, Colo.
"We're excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts Versus back in millions of homes with DirecTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule," Versus president Jamie Davis stated. "We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more."
Versus began airing WEC events in June 2007 with WEC 28. Earlier this year, Zuffa LLC officials announced a few select UFC events also will air annually on Versus.
WEC ratings have had a noticeable dip since the loss of DirecTV homes. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported last week, this month's WEC 47 event drew just 370,000 viewers, the second-lowest WEC television audience in nearly two years. WEC and DirecTV officials had long maintained that a resolution with DirecTV was likely.
GREAT
ing news for me!
by Dann Stupp on Mar 15, 2010 at 5:00 pm ET
After more than a half-year blackout, the Versus channel is returning to DirecTV.
DirecTV and Comcast, owner of the all-sports Versus channel, today made the announcement stating, "Versus will return to the same DirecTV programming packages it was in at the end of August 2009."
Versus, home to World Extreme Cagefighting and now the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was dropped from the satellite-cable company's lineup on Sept. 1, 2009, after a dispute over carrier fees.
DirecTV boasts approximately 18 million subscribers and – thanks to some exclusive offerings such as the NFL Sunday Ticket – is popular with sports fans.
Terms of the new deal were not disclosed, though Versus has already been reinstated on the channel lineup.
"We are pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers," DirecTV executive Derek Chang stated.
A Versus executive echoed that sentiment while playing up the cable station's upcoming UFC on Versus 1 event, which airs this coming Sunday (March 21) live from Broomfield, Colo.
"We're excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts Versus back in millions of homes with DirecTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule," Versus president Jamie Davis stated. "We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more."
Versus began airing WEC events in June 2007 with WEC 28. Earlier this year, Zuffa LLC officials announced a few select UFC events also will air annually on Versus.
WEC ratings have had a noticeable dip since the loss of DirecTV homes. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported last week, this month's WEC 47 event drew just 370,000 viewers, the second-lowest WEC television audience in nearly two years. WEC and DirecTV officials had long maintained that a resolution with DirecTV was likely.
GREAT
ing news for me!
