Are TSN and The Fight Network offering a joint bid for UFC TV rights?

With the UFC’s relationship with Sportsnet winding down, the gates appear to be open for another network to step up and become UFC’s Canadian broadcast partner.

TopMMANews first speculated that TSN and The Fight Network could offer a joint bid for the rights. Sources close to the situation have confirmed to Inthecage.ca that such a proposal is indeed in the works and a deal could be concluded within the next four to six weeks.

TSN has been bandied about as a likely destination for the UFC with Sportsnet bowing out. There is a degree of logic there due to the fact that they are Sportsnet’s largest competitor. But there were holes in that scenario, as TSN has never had what one would consider a warm attitude towards the sport. While they have had the broadcast rights to several smaller promotions including WEC, KOTC Canada, MFC and WSOF, the network always favoured showing the events on a tape-delay and in late-night hours. The sport has next to no coverage on the TSN website, with the odd bit of coverage being lumped into the “more sports” category. TSN has also always traditionally catered to an older demographic, while MMA’s marketing has been focused almost exclusively on 18-34 year old males.

The Fight Network getting UFC rights would be the best-case scenario for a MMA fan, as their coverage is the best in the country. The team of John Pollock, John Ramdeen and Robin Black have a wealth of knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm when discussing the sport. But The Fight Network remains a small property, tucked high up and away in the digital cable stratosphere. They do not carry the clout and more importantly the budget to make a bid that Zuffa would consider acceptable.

But a joint bid would appear to be a win-win scenario for both sides. From TSN’s vantage point, they get the opportunity to fill the hole in the broadcast schedule on Wednesday and Saturday nights that has been left by their loss of NHL coverage. They also get a property that is admittedly a niche sport, but one that focuses on a demographic that they may be under-serving. Farming out the coverage to the Fight Network crew assures not only that the broadcast and production will be up to TSN’s standards, but also allows them to “dip their toe” in the UFC water while allowing Fight Network to do most of the grunt work.

From The Fight Network’s side, the benefits are obvious. A joint bid with an entity as large as TSN instantly gives them a shot of credibility and the resources behind them to be taken seriously. The Fight Network could also become the home for UFC’s ancillary programming that TSN may not have the space or interest in showing, such as weigh-in coverage or offerings like “Best of WEC” and “Best of Pride”.

There is some synergy between the two networks already. John Pollock’s MMA Report is already carried on TSN Radio 1050, it wouldn’t appear to be that large of a stretch to see the two entities expanding their partnership into the television realm.

While the Fight Network crew would likely be the on-site crew at events, TSN would also likely want someone acting a host of the broadcast from their end. No name currently under TSN contract automatically comes to mind, but with UFC Central having been cancelled on Sportsnet, one could speculate that Joe Ferraro may be available to fill such a role.

Neither TSN or The Fight Network as a stand-alone entity seems to pass the smell test of a likely UFC suitor. But the two combined seem to cover the perceived weaknesses in an individual bid. Will it happen? The next two months should prove to be very interesting.