UFC exec: We are about to announce TV deal in Russia
One of the last largest markets it has not done a deal in yet is Russia, but they are currently negotiating and expect to announce a deal soon.
Over the past several years the UFC has aggressively expanded it’s business internationally with TV deals in Japan, Europe, Brazil and several other countries. One of the last largest markets it has not done a deal in yet is Russia, but they are currently negotiating and expect to announce a deal soon:
Garry Cook, the former UFC executive vice president and managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa who recently became the UFC chief global brand officer, told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour that they are happy to finally enter Russia with a big television deal.
“We’re just about to announce a television deal in Russia. 55 million households,” Cook said. “We’ve never done an event in Russia. The growth is all of that, a global business is how you make sure you create relevant content in the U.S., relevant content for all the other markets, (…) creating more content, creating local heroes, national fame.
“The story is two people in combat. There’s gonna be a winner, there’s gonna be a loser. There’s no more drama than that. And that sells, wherever you are in the world.”