NBC orders mixed martial arts series

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http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2834952020080328

By James Hibberd
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC is getting into the mixed-martial arts genre.
The network has ordered a new MMA series as a companion for its late-night “Poker After Dark” program.

“Strikeforce on NBC” will premiere April 12 and is billed as the first weekly MMA series to air on broadcast television. The half-hour program will air in wee hours, from 2 to 2:30 a.m.

MMA, where fighters of different martial disciplines compete in cage match bouts, has been a success for cable network Spike TV and is very popular as a pay-per-view event under the Ultimate Fighting Championships banner.
CBS is also getting into the genre, with four “CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights” specials scheduled to debut on Saturday nights starting May 31. And Comcast’s G4 network is developing an MMA series hosted by fighter Tito Ortiz.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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It’s interesting that neither of the two network shows are UFC based. Dana better get off his ass.

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If nothing else, I hope this means idiots will stop calling all MMA “UFC”…

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TiVo!

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I wonder when Dana will be willing to let go of all the creative etc. reins to finally get the coveted TV deal…

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God I hope so.

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Given the high probability of these shows sucking as much as fightgirls, never.

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Interesting, Strikeforce on NBC, EliteXC on CBS, and Strikeforce/EliteXC on Showtime.

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EliteXC are really gaining ground aren’t they?

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Except in regards to putting together reputable fights.