ONE Championship and Sky Sports seal exclusive broadcasting partnership for UK and Ireland
ONE Championship, the Singapore-based powerhouse in combat sports, has officially clinched an exclusive rights deal with pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports.
This strategic collaboration encompasses the UK and Ireland, bringing ONE events and ancillary programming to the forefront of Sky’s broadcast and digital platforms. The Comcast-owned network, recognised for its extensive sports coverage, aims to not only strengthen its offerings but also to reach and captivate new audiences through this multi-year partnership.
The agreement comes as a testament to ONE Championship’s continuous expansion on the international stage, following its successful venture with Seven in Australia earlier this year. The timing is crucial as it addresses a gap in the UK’s mixed martial arts broadcasting landscape, with other major promotions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Professional Fighters League and Bellator dispersed across various networks. UFC, for example, is aired on TNT Sports, while PFL and Bellator find their homes on DAZN and the BBC, respectively.
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship, expressed the long-awaited anticipation from UK fans, stating, “For years, our UK fans have been clamouring 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. This deal marks an important milestone for the celebration of martial arts and the continued expansion of ONE Championship’s global footprint.”
The collaboration kicks off with the much-anticipated ONE Fight Night 18, scheduled to air live on Sky Sports on January 13th at 1am GMT. This event not only marks the beginning of an impactful partnership but also promises to bring riveting martial arts action directly to the screens of viewers in the UK and Ireland. As the partnership unfolds, fans can expect an enriched and immersive experience of ONE Championship events through Sky Sports’ esteemed broadcasting platforms.
The exclusive rights deal signifies a significant advancement for MMA enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland, offering unprecedented access to ONE Championship’s sought-after content and further establishing the organisation’s prominence on the global stage.
Image credit: MAZA FIGHT GALLERY
