Spike TV and K-1 announce partnership for 2012-2013

Spike TV and K-1 announced a multi-platform partnership for 2012 and 2013.  The partnership begins September 8th with the K-1 World Grand Prix Championships from Los Angeles airing on Spike.com

Via Spike TV press release:

Spike.com’s 2012 coverage will include unprecedented access to K-1 events, from live streaming of the weigh-ins the day before the bouts, to locker room interviews, to live coverage of every fight on the card, including all the prelims. The four K-1 events in 2012 include:

September 8 – Los Angeles – U.S. Grand Prix Championship

October 14 – Tokyo, Japan – World Grand Prix Final

December 8 – Athens, Greece – MAX Final

December 26 – New York – World Grand Prix Final

The addition of K-1 to Spike TV’s lineup next year further establishes the network as the premier television destination for combat sports. Spike TV will debut Bellator Fighting Championships in January 2013 with a weekly live fight card featuring some of the best rising stars in the mixed martial arts world. K-1 is the largest kickboxing promotion in history. Since 1993, K-1 has presented professional live martial arts events in 38 countries, featuring the best and most accomplished athletes in the sport.

Payout Perspective:

With Bellator and TNA Wrestling, the addition of K-1 adds variety to Spike TV’s combat sports genre.  Spike definitely is providing content for its target demo of young males and it is not letting the end of its UFC library rights end its combat sports programming.  While it does not replace UFC programming (in terms of North America name branding and talent), it could spark some interest from combat sport fans.  The viewership of K-1 will depend on the quality of fights put on by the kickboxing organization. The online streaming has been a success with fans as many have adapted to Bellator airing its undercard on the site.  We will see how many check K-1 out this September.  On another note, I wonder how many fighters that tried out for K-1 will be on the LA card on September 8th?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Payout/~3/waBm8cGQ3RE/

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