TVN Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have pinned a deal with Comcast to make the sports organization's fare available on the top cable operator's on-demand platform.
The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, covers a tri-tiered offering comprisiung UFC Free Zone, UFC Fight Zone and UFC Event Zone content dual mapped under a new category within Comcast's on-demand "Sports & Fitness" and "Movies and Events" categories.
Programmed and timed to promote the upcoming milestone pay-per-view event, UFC 100, Live July 11, Comcast is also placing UFC On Demand content in its "Top Picks" on Demand folder, as well as conducting several other special promotions for UFC 100.
The agreement increases UFC's on-demand reach by 17 million households to some 25 million overall.
UFC president Dana White is stoked about the deal and its timing.
"UFC has changed the fight business forever. Now we're going to shake up the VOD industry with UFC On Demand," he said in announcing the agreement. "This deal with Comcast will give millions of our fans what they've been waiting for 24/7 access to UFC content ...classic programming, fighter interviews, single fights, and live UFC events. And with the incredible fan response to the historic UFC 100 event coming up July 11, the timing for this couldn't be better!"
Added TVN chief sales and strategy officer Jim Riley: "UFC is leveraging the VOD platform in new, innovative ways and proving how video on demand not only supports customer retention and perceived value, but can also drive incremental affiliate revenue for UFC's live events, like next month's much anticipated UFC 100.. Comcast continues to enhance its VOD offering, and with the incredible popularity of the UFC brand, Comcast is clearly demonstrating the important role that sports can play in the VOD ecosystem."
Through its relationship with TVN, UFC's on-demand roster also includes Verizon FiOS, Insight, Bresman, Atlantic Broadband, WOW, Armstrong, Buckeye, Blue Ridge, Wace, Rogers, Shaw and Cogeco.
