Las Vegas, NV (USA) and Mumbai, India – Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) – a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, announced their partnership to broadcast UFC programming in India and the rest of the sub-continent. MSM’s new sports channel – SIX, will deliver the world’s largest brand of mixed martial arts to Indian fans across the country by airing live UFC events, taped specials, and exciting bouts from the vast UFC library.
“When we went to India over a year ago I felt the market held enormous potential for the UFC,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman of UFC. “India has a long history of martial arts and traditional wrestling like Kushti. Indian athletes have also demonstrated worldclass levels in combat sports as evidenced by the country’s 2008 Olympic medalists in wrestling and boxing.”
“I’ve been saying for a few years that India would be next and it was just a matter of finding the right partner in the market. MSM has been a pioneer in India, broadcasting new sports franchises like the IPL. We’ve got big plans for India and MSM couldn’t be a better partner” said Dana White, President of the UFC.
“We are delighted to be bringing the best of the sport of mixed martial arts to India,” said Man Jit Singh, CEO of Multi Screen Media Private Ltd. “Mixed martial arts requires tremendous physical conditioning, skill and strategy and we hope it will be an inspiration to young India. We hope the programming that will be premiered on our Sports channel – SIX, will motivate a new generation to compete on the world stage in one of the fastest growing sports.”
