Dana White recently addressed the ongoing negotiations surrounding the UFC‘s next broadcast rights deal. He hinted at major changes ahead to keep up with future changes in how the sport will be consumed.
Fans and media continue to speculate about the UFC’s next broadcast partner after a strong run on ESPN. There has also been no indication that they’ll leave ESPN, but streaming giants like Netflix have become increasingly attractive options.
Netflix produced the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight and has since added to their portfolio. They became the home of the NFL’s Christmas Day games, major boxing events, and WWE Monday Night Raw.
In his latest appearance on FULL SEND PODCAST , White shared insights on how the landscape of content distribution has changed. He emphasized global reach and made it clear that it will be a deciding factor.
“The world’s going to change a lot in the next year with our [broadcast] rights deal.” White told FULL SEND PODCAST,” Depending on where we end up, but more than likely, we’re going to end up with a platform that is way more global than we are now.”
He added:
“We’re in the middle of talks. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Dana White Touts UFC’s Track Record with Media Partnerships
White also spoke about the UFC’s history and continued growth following each broadcast rights deal. Each step has brought more exposure and notoriety.
The UFC has gained national popularity in the United States and strong ties President Donald Trump. In fact, they’re set for another milestone, as Trump announced that they will host an event at the White House.
White told FULL SEND PODCAST that the UFC came from humble beginnings and have a proven track record of elevating their brand.
“Spike TV [is where] we started. From there, we went to Fox. From there, we went to ESPN,” White said, “We’ve leveled up every single time, and it made the sport bigger and bigger and bigger.”
Former Spike TV Producer Once Recalled Risks of Airing Dana White’s UFC
The UFC’s rise wasn’t guaranteed. Former Spike TV producer Kevin Kay once recalled the early risks associated with airing White’s UFC on the network.
In a clip from VICE TV’s docuseries ‘Dark Side of the Cage’, Kay reflected on the negative perception of the UFC. He recalled an intern pushing the idea for the network to take a chance on the MMA promotion.
Kay admitted being skeptical about airing the UFC on Spike TV, but finally gave in after seeing VHS tapes.
“[The intern] kept putting these VHS’ on my desk, saying, ‘You gotta see this. This is what every kid at NYU is watching and it’s called the UFC.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, get out of my office.’ Kay said.
He continued:
“I just took [the VHS tapes] home and I put them in. I just remember watching Royce Gracie at UFC 1, and it just blew my mind. But, there were a lot of things that were almost impossible to put on cable TV.”
The gamble paid off. Spike TV’s decision to air ‘The Ultimate Fighter‘ saved the UFC and changed its future forever.
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