BT Sport to lose UFC rights with global broadcasters Eleven Sports set to pick up MMA coverage in Britain
The UFC will screen its final show on BT Sport in December, with Eleven Sports - owned by Leeds United chairman Andrea Radizzani - set to pick up coverage in 2019
BT Sport has lost the right to show UFC from next year, with global broadcaster Eleven Sports set to pick up the mixed martial arts sport to add to its swoop for Serie A and La Liga football.
Eleven Sports, which is owned by Leeds United chairman Andrea Radizzani and run by former head of TV at BT Marc Watson, is due to launch two channels in the United Kingdom in August this year, with UFC set to be among the programme offering.
BT Sport has screened live UFC coverage since 2013, renewing their agreement in 2016 when the sport was on a remarkable rise in Britain and Ireland thanks to the emergence of Conor McGregor.
But with the continued absence of the Irish fighter, along with the departure of other leading names such as Ronda Rousey and Michael Bisping, BT Sport has said that it will not look to get itself into a bidding war when it comes to renewing the rights deal – opening the door for Eleven to seize full control of the coverage.
It's also believed that BT will lose its coverage of the NBA when its current deal ends in October.
"BT Sport remains the home of UFC and NBA at this stage, and we have long-term deals in place for our core content," a BT statement read.
"BT Sport customers will continue to receive great football, rugby and boxing next season among a wide range of sports, including every single match from rugby's Heineken Champions Cup."
BT spends around £1bn-a-year on its sports coverage, which includes Premier League football and the entire Champions League and Europa League live offering, which has lead to criticism from some of its investors for taking the wrong approach.
Speaking to the Financial Times, head of BT Consumer Marc Allera claimed that the company has moved on from its “emotionally driven start-up mentality” that saw it pay large fees following its creation five years ago.
"It's like a big football club in the transfer window. If a striker is worth £50m I won't pay £70m for him. At the wrong price, everything is expendable," he said.
BT will continue to show UFC in the UK until 3 December, with reports suggesting that Eleven Sports will pick it up thereafter. The channel already broadcasts to more than 17m paying customers in the United States, Italy, Singapore and Portugal among others, and the move sees them continue their rapid expansion this summer after securing the rights to Italian and Spanish football from BT and Sky Sports respectively.
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