Morning Report: ESPN executive not concerned about failing to close UFC deal during exclusive negotiating window

The UFC can formally begin fielding affords from potential broadcast companions on Tuesday after an unique negotiating window with ESPN involves a detailed.

Whereas the 2 sides reaching a brand new deal earlier than April 15 at all times appeared extremely unlikely as a result of aggressive nature of those broadcast rights offers, the UFC and ESPN have solid a profitable partnership over the previous seven years. That mentioned, the UFC is reportedly looking for over $1 billion per yr on a brand new broadcast rights deal — an enormous enhance from the $300 million per yr common that ESPN at present pays.

It’s not possible to know the way the entire state of affairs performs out but however ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro isn’t involved about failing to achieve a take care of the UFC earlier than different networks and potential streaming companions can begin bidding on the UFC.

“The unique negotiating window is expiring imminently, however I wouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into that,” Pitaro instructed Sports activities Enterprise Journal. “We’re not hyper-focused on that window.

“We all know that there’s going to be curiosity within the UFC and that’s nice for the game. It’s nice for them. However we stay inquisitive about making an attempt to determine one thing out with these guys.”

The ever-changing panorama of broadcast rights offers places the UFC in a really advantageous place with the corporate’s contract with ESPN coming to an finish on the shut of 2025.

No different main sports activities property was accessible till 2028 till ESPN really minimize ties with Main League Baseball again in February with that deal now additionally ending in 2025. Nonetheless, the UFC stays a really viable and worthwhile model, particularly as a result of schedule the place the promotion places on occasions yr spherical in contrast to baseball or most different skilled sports activities that function on a season lengthy foundation.

That purpose alone has prevented Netflix from getting concerned within the bidding for broadcast rights for different sports activities, however there’s no such concern with the UFC.

Initially signed as a five-year deal earlier than two extra years had been tacked on with the addition of pay-per-view broadcast exclusivity, Pitaro had nothing however reward for his working relationship with the UFC, however he additionally couldn’t predict the longer term about how these negotiations will finally play out.

“UFC has been actually good to ESPN,” Pitaro mentioned. “We launched ESPN+ in April of 2018, and actually the UFC property was the marquee property for ESPN+ at launch. Quick ahead to at this time, and it nonetheless is the marquee property for ESPN+.

“We additionally on the similar time imagine that we now have been an excellent associate to the UFC by way of our promotion, by way of our dedication to the game of blended martial arts and particularly the UFC throughout our studio programming throughout dot com, the ESPN app.”

Whereas Pitaro paints a reasonably image in terms of the symbiotic relationship between ESPN and the UFC, there have been some risky moments as effectively.

Maybe none greater than the turmoil surrounding the UFC 313 broadcast the place followers and even fighters grew more and more annoyed over the lack to buy or watch the pay-per-view. Afterwards, sources instructed MMA Preventing that UFC executives had been completely “livid” over the technical difficulties that plagued the published and that wasn’t the primary time it’s occurred.

There’s no telling how this all performs out simply but however critical discussions about the place the UFC goes subsequent begin on Tuesday after the unique negotiating window with ESPN involves a detailed.

Return. Alexander Volkanovski is as soon as once more the UFC featherweight champion.

Poop. Paddy Pimblett had a vulgar response after a confrontation with Colby Covington.

Tears. Amanda Nunes is about to hitch the UFC Corridor of Fame—and perhaps make a comeback?—and she or he let the feelings move in Miami.

Grudge. Yair Rodriguez needs a title shot subsequent, not Diego Lopes, however is aware of he and Lopes are destined to combat.

Deal. Dana White talks turkey with a brand new UFC broadcast deal on the horizon.

On to the Subsequent One: Matches to make after UFC 314.

UFC 314 post-fight present.

Relive the magic of the UFC 314 Watch Celebration.

UFC 314 post-fight scrums.

Subsequent.

Again to the drafting board.

Flying excessive.

Let the tears move, GOAT.

Recreation respect recreation.

The ability of those glasses must be studied.

The consummate skilled.

Yup.

Truthfully, not a nasty principle.

Face of a future light-weight champion?

Gilbert Burns (22-8) vs. Michael Morales (17-0); UFC Vegas 106, Might 17

Jamahal Hill (12-3, 1 NC) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6, 1 NC); UFC Baku, June 21

Kyoji Horiguchi (34-5, 1 NC) vs. Tagir Ulanbekov (16-2); UFC Baku, June 21

Curtis Blaydes (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (12-2-1, 1 NC); UFC Baku, June 21

Ismail Naurdiev (24-7) vs. Jun Yong Park (18-6); UFC Baku, June 21

Hamdy Abdelwahab (6-0, 1 NC) vs. Mohammed Usman (10-4); UFC Baku, June 21

Irina Alekseeva (5-2) vs. Klaudia Sygula (6-2); UFC Baku, June 21

Melissa Mullins (7-1) vs. Daria Zhelezniakova (9-2); UFC Baku, June 21

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