Band will broadcast the UFC on open TV from 2023; broadcaster will be entitled to 12 live events, in addition to having weekly programs bringing backstage of the fights
This week, the Band held a press conference to publicize the partnership signed with the UFC. As of 2023, the station will broadcast, throughout Brazil, the fights of the largest mixed martial arts event in the world, marking the return of the modality to open TV, something that has not happened since 2018.
The agreement guarantees the transmission of 12 live events, which will take place from January to December, between main and preliminary cards. In addition, there will also be simultaneous transmissions on digital, with exhibitions on the Bandplay app and on the Band.com.br website, and a program aired every Friday with previews of the fights and profiles of the most impactful athletes in the sport.
“I think that for Bandeirantes it is fundamental (the partnership), because we have our sport’s DNA, historically, since the 80’s. of the sport, so we have a lot of history and I think being the “home” of a great sport is important. This is a source of pride for us and we have to do even better. So any type of event that we have here, we will treat it in the same way, with all the coverage possible”said Denis Gavazzi, Sports director at Band.
In addition to the monthly live broadcasts, the public will be able to follow the main activities of Fight Week, which include ceremonial weigh-ins, press conferences, exclusive interviews and attractions that take viewers behind the scenes of the fights.
“Brazil is in its best phase (in the UFC), we have an average of 87 to 90 fighters and there are 600 worldwide. Brazil is almost 20% and of these 87, 30 fighters are Top-15 in the world. We have three belts, a belt dispute now in October, another in November, and we can end the year with five belts. Brazilians need to meet our idols! So open TV will certainly help a lot, not only TV, radio, newspapers… the entire Band group can help promote this sport”, stated Rodrigo Minotauro, former UFC fighter and ambassador.
“Formula 1, the biggest automobile event in the world, is in the Band. The NBA, which is the greatest basketball championship in the world, is also here. And now the UFC, the biggest fighting event on the planet, will be part of our schedule. It is important to show customers the opportunities that exist in the sports field and everything that can be generated with top brands”highlighted Cris Moreira, Grupo Bandeirantes’ commercialization director.
“Sport is made of idols, and sport only gains relevance, audience and repercussion when you have these idols and the viewer can recognize them. So, being able to show these athletes, these idols, these champions to the entire Brazilian territory… I think it’s fundamental for a brand like the UFC to be able to grow more and more”concluded Gavazzi.
Source: sportbuzz
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
