The UFC has paved the way for its first ever event in mainland Europe by completing a long awaited German TV deal . After a almost 3 year wait since its last appearance on German TV, the Ultimate Fighting Champion has finalized a deal with one of Germany’s biggest broadcasters. According to a report by the Spiegel (via Baz Online) starting from 2009 the UFC will air its popular reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter” on German broadcaster “Pro Sieben”.ProSieben is the second biggest privately owned TV company in Germany and consistently of one the highest rating broadcasters on German TV. The channel is part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG group one of Europe’s biggest media conglomerates.
Pro Sieben relies heavily on foreign programming especially content form the US. Its the is the German broadcaster of numerous popular foreign shows including Desperate Housewives, ER, Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons and Two and a Half Men. Its also the home of the German version of American Idol. The popular channel is distributed in several other counties throughout Central and Eastern Europe including Austria and Switzerland.
The UFC last German TV deal ended in 2006 after it failed to come to terms with the German pay per view provider Premiere.
The report seem to confirm the news that the UFC will host its first event in Germany in mid 2009. According to reports from Bloody Elbow, Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell are early contenders to headline the show.
The Article from Spiegel doesn´t say anything about the deal being done. They are negotiating.
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