The UFC is in advanced negotiations with multiple Brazilian outlets for new broadcast deals that would kick off in 2023.
In March,
MMA Fighting reported that the UFC had signed a contract with Globo Media Group and Globo owned pay-per view channel Combate. Both sides are far from concluding a new agreement. Even though the UFC is planning on launching Fight Pass in the country starting 2023, the MMA organization still wants to ink a deal with a network television to continue to expand its brand in Brazil.
According to this week’s episode Trocacao Franca ., Band, Brazil’s fourth largest television network, has emerged as the frontrunner for replacing Globo. Band is investing heavily in sports over the past few years, recently expanding its deal with Formula 1 until 2025. The F1 rights in Brazil were owned by Globo for the past four decades. Band is also the owner of the rights to broadcast NBA games in Brazil on national TV.
UFC’s offer to Band includes 12 cards to air on network TV with Brazilian fighters in the main event. Brazilians have headlined from 12 to 16 UFC cards a year between 2018 and 2021, and eight main events already in 2022. Globo was offered the same deal, but wasn’t interested. ESPN Brasil, which currently airs Bellator events in the country, also had brief conversations with the UFC.
UOL is the number one website in the country, and the UFC has been talking to them. It’s still unclear what role UOL would play in the business, but Band’s website is currently hosted on UOL’s website.
While they aim for deals with traditional media in the country, the UFC is also investing in more modern avenues as they approach a deal with Brazilian sensation Gaules, one of the biggest Twitch streamers on the planet.
Gaules holds impressive numbers in terms of concurrent viewers records (708,000), total followers (3,6 million) and total views (405 million) on the streaming platform. Gaules has a sponsorship agreement with Nike and broadcasts NBA games via Twitch. According to TwitchTracker, the Brazilian streamer airs 22 hours of content a day with a total of 281,551 hours watched daily.
The UFC has just over 5 months remaining on its Globo contract, however, for the moment, they seem to be going in different directions with 2023..
