Asian MMA company ONE Championship doesn’t deny paying for their new UK TV deal with Sky Sports which starts on Saturday.
The deal was announced in December and launched with a live broadcast of ONE Fight Night 18: Superlek vs. Mahmoudi from Bangkok, Thailand, on 13 January.
The press release to announce the tie-up featured ONE’s much-trumpeted claim of being the largest MMA organisation in the world.
Asia Fighting contacted ONE and asked whether the organisation is paying for their latest TV deal.
“Re: the Sky Sports deal, Chatri went on record in our release,” a ONE spokesperson told AsiaFighting.
In the December press release, Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO, had said: “For years, our UK fans have been clamoring for ONE to be broadcast on one of the region’s major networks. Today, I’m excited to announce a new partnership with Sky Sports, the premier broadcaster for live sports in the UK and one of the most well-known sports networks in the world.”
ONE, which claims to have a greater TV reach and to be a bigger media property than Formula 1, now has the same British home as the motorsports league with Sky Sports also known for its coverage of the Premier League, English Football League and darts among a host of other sports.
F1’s current Sky Sports TV deal (2019-2024) is worth a whopping £1.18 billion.
The UK-based Netball Super League has previously paid to be featured on Sky Sports while highlight shows of international judo events were provided for free by the British Judo Association for many years.
Sky Sports declined to comment regarding their ONE deal when Asia Fighting reached out to them.
What is wrong with you? Why spread the hate and lies about ONE FC? Chatri has created out of nothing a global platform for martial artists to display their courage and skill. Why are you rooting for them to fail? Why spread all these FAKE NEWS? On what planet is a non-denial a newsworthy piece worth spilling ink on?? Have you lost your mind son?