M-1 Netherlands B.V. and its worldwide television consultant Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST) have appointed Total Sports Asia as its exclusive representative to the television, new media and home video rights to M-1 Events in selected Asian territories.
Billed as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts," the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by its partner, Affliction Entertainment, that showcases some of the best up and coming MMA fighters in the world. The show will be broadcast to over 80 countries around the world, including the United States (on HDNet), Russia (NTV), the United Kingdom (Bravo UK), Korea (SBS) and Australia(Fox Sports Australia).
The action-packed 2009 season will feature 16 teams from all over the world. Each team is made up of 5 MMA fighters, one from each weight class, and with it being produced in High Definition, the M-1 Challenge 2009 promises high quality entertainment.
TSA will represent M-1 in negotiation of all television, new media and home video licensing deals in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, the Indian Subcontinent, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The partnership has had an explosive start with a deal struck in China earlier this month. Guangdong TV will be the first broadcaster to air M-1 Challenge 2009 under this partnership with many more discussions in advanced stages.
Senior Vice President of Media at Total Sports Asia, Julian Jackson, said: “We are delighted to be working with one of the most prestigious and more importantly, the best produced, quality MMA series in the world.”
He added: “The fact that they have the involvement of Fedor Emilianenko, who is generally recognized as the best ever heavyweight in MMA makes M1 a much more compelling proposition”
BEST Executive Vice President Dennis Spencer said: “We are delighted to work with Total Sports Asia, as they are the ideal partner to bring M-1 Global to Asian audiences. The M-1 Challenge has been well received by television networks throughout the world and we believe that Total Sports Asia will enable audiences in Asia to embrace this property as well.
