UFC TV Rights Deal In The UK And Ireland Set To Move To Eleven Sports In 2019
The UK and Irish TV rights for the UFC look to be on the move at the end of the year.
The UFC TV rights in the UK and Ireland currently sit with BT Sport after a two and a half year renewal deal with the network was signed back in July 2016.
The TV rights with BT Sport will conclude at the end of 2018 and according to sources close to Jim Edwards of MMANytt.com, the rights will then move over to Eleven Sports.
The full details of the deal are vague at this time, but it’s believed that some of the events that will broadcast on the network will be made available to other channels on a licensing deal e.g. via Sky Sports Box Office or BT Sport Box Office.
The deal will see an end to the UFC’s five and a half year relationship with BT Sport.
Eleven Sports currently provide TV and/or digital services in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, United States and starting next month, the UK and Ireland.
The company recently announced the launch of two new channels for the UK and Ireland, Eleven Sports 1 and Eleven Sports 2, which will launch in August via an online streaming platform.
Our sources have told that by the time the deal is in place, Eleven Sports expect to be available via a newly launched television channel.
In a recent release, Eleven Sports noted that Eleven Sports 1 will be a dedicated football channel, while Eleven Sports 2 will provide premium fight sports, eSports and extreme sports channel.
More news to follow
