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New Developments in Direct TV vs. Fox Might Cost UFC Fans
by Matthew Roth on Oct 28, 2011 2:05 PM EDT in UFC Analysis
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: UFC President Dana White speaks to the media after the UFC on Fox: Velasquez v Dos Santos - Press Conference at W Hollywood on September 20, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
about 1 month ago: HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: UFC President Dana White speaks to the media after the UFC on Fox: Velasquez v Dos Santos - Press Conference at W Hollywood on September 20, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
The follow is a letter sent by DirectTV executive Derek Change to the FCC's Media Bureau Chief William Lake regarding Fox. For some background, there have been on going negotiations to keep the Fox suite of programming on DirectTV but with the deadline quickly approaching (November 1), Fox has started to run ads on their local channels informing customers that they will lose Fox unless they call DirectTV. It's a power play move that all networks do when they are in negotiations. Those of us in Austin have seen ESPN run similar commercials about the Longhorn Network. By contacting the provider, it allows the networks to nickel and dime at the negotiation table.
I want to alert you to a disturbing development that relates to the broadcast stations owned and operated by Fox Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("Fox"). Specifically, in the midst of a dispute over cable programming, Fox is using misleading advertising informing DIRECTV customers that "soon, in some markets, you may lose your local Fox station," even though our retransmission consent agreement does not expire for over two months. Furthermore while Fox continues to run these misleading ads, Fox has refused to provide us a separate offer for the continued carriage of its broadcast stations.
The first part of DirectTV's complaint is that Fox is misleading customers by letting them know that they will be losing the local Fox station. This not only shows bad faith but also leads to customers calling up DirectTV with complaints. The local network deal doesn't expire until the end of the year which means that Fox is running advertisements informing customers of impending doom when the reality is that they have plenty of time to iron out a new deal.
The carriage agreement between DIRECTV and a number of cable networks controlled by Fox Cable Networks, Inc. expired on September 30. Although the parties have been negotiating for months, Fox continues to demand that DIRECTV customers pay significantly more for the same channels they already receive. At present, DIRECTV is carrying this programming under an interim extension agreement. If a new deal is not reached, DIRECTV will suspend carriage of these cable channels on November 1.
The carriage agreement covers such channels as FX and Fuel, both of which are relevant to the UFC's deal with Fox. According to the complaint, Fox is attempting to raise the price for their carriage of channels. It's typical for most television negotiations, with ABC and NBC having done the same a few years back with Cablevision and Comcast. The deal technically expired but both acted in good faith with an extension agreement. However, with only four days remaining in October, it is likely these channels will get pulled until a new deal can be reached.
Even if the Fox cable channels are no longer carried on November 1, the broadcast stations are covered under a separate agreement, which does not expire until December 31. Fox, however, is running advertisements asserting that DIRECTV viewers "soon could even lose" the Fox broadcast stations in their local markets. One such advertisement ran in the widely-circulated Los Angeles Times editions for Sunday, October 23, a copy of which is attached hereto. In addition, Fox's television advertisements on its local broadcast stations state that viewers could lose local channels (showing clips from Glee and NFL games) that are not subject to this agreement. Ironically, at the same time it is airing these warnings, Fox has repeatedly refused to provide us with a separate offer for carriage of the Fox broadcast stations.
The Fox broadcast channels are the local Fox network, such as Fox 5 in New York. The deal isn't close to expiring and both parties have considerable time to reach an agreement. DirectTV feels that running advertisements during highly rated broadcasts is bad faith and misleading to customers. DirectTV also asserts that Fox hasn't made any effort to right the situation by providing an offer for Fox broadcast networks.
On the one hand, Fox has refused to negotiate in good faith for carriage of the broadcast stations. At the same time, it is informing DIRECTV customers that they may soon lose access to such stations, purposely conflating a potential November 1 deadline for cable programming with the additional loss of broadcast programming the delivery of which is assured through the end of the year. Fox is clearly abusing the public trust by its deliberate attempt to confuse and alarm consumers. Such conduct is certainly not what the Commission had in mind when it made Fox a steward of the nation's airwaves entrusted to serve the public interest.
DIRECTV still hopes to arrive at a fair agreement with Fox before its subscribers are deprived of any programming. In the meantime, we have demanded that Fox immediately stop running advertisements that mislead consumers by suggesting that DIRECTV subscribers may not be able to receive Fox broadcast stations. To date, Fox has failed to do so.
Because of Fox's actions, DirectTV is making the assertion that they (Fox) don't deserve to be a broadcast conglomerate. This is perhaps the most important section of the email as DirectTV is not only complaining about Fox's regards to the ongoing negotiations but also the fact that by refusing to negotiate and running commercials. they are no longer fit to serve the best interest of the viewing public. It's a huge allegation and one that the FCC won't take lightly.
So what does this all mean for MMA fans? Well for those with DirectTV, it is obvious that if a new deal isn't reached by January 1, 2012 they will miss out on a ton of programming on Fuel, FX, and Fox. The UFC is planning to air 34 live events next year with 13 being PPV which means that 21 of those will use Fox, FX, and Fuel as an outlet. The UFC is also planning to finally kick off The Ultimate Fighter for countries around the world. Those episodes will be aired on Fuel making it a channel that MMA fans need to have. On top of the international Ultimate Fighters, there will also be plenty of other programming on Fuel.
Obviously, there is still 60 days left for DirectTV and Fox to hammer out a deal. That's plenty of time and this shouldn't be a cause for concern at this moment. However, the fact that DirectTV has aired grievances with the FCC doesn't exactly bode well for the situation either. This is business as usual in the broadcasting business, we're just seeing the happenings first hand.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/28/2520814/ufc-new-developments-in-direct-tv-vs-fox-might-cost-fans
TJMMA T.Jay Thompson Doing CBS and NBC affiliates in Honolulu with Mike Cherry
40 minutes ago
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ProElite MMA’S Heavyweight Grand Prix Kicks Off in Moline, IL. at the I Wireless Center Nov. 5 Live on HD NET
Posted on October 24, 2011 by Pro Elite
Tickets for ProElite 2:Big Guns Are on Sale Now Starting at Just $30
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 24, 2011) – ProElite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is proud to present the first round of their Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament on November 5, 2011 from Moline, Il. This tournament consists of some of the best up and coming heavyweights in the world and the winner will be pushed into the upper tier of the heavyweight division.
Tickets for “ProElite 2:Big Guns” are on sale to the general public at the i wireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online(www.ticketmaster.com) and www.proelite.com
In the first bracket of the Grand Prix, 2009 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champ Mark Ellis (1-0) takes on the ever exciting Ryan Martinez (5-1). Mark made his MMA debut at Proelite 1 on August 27, 2011 with a thrilling win via rear naked choke against the very tough Jake Heun. The 6-foot-3, 25-year-old Ellis, who trains out of the famed American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California with the likes of current UFC Heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, 2-time Olympic wrestling and current Strikeforce Grand Prix finalist Daniel Cormier and a stable of other outstanding talent, looks to remain undefeated in his MMA career with an exciting finish in this upcoming bout. His opponent, Ryan Martinez, might have other plans
Making his Proelite debut in the upcoming Grand Prix, Ryan Martinez has not had a single fight make it to the final bell. Known for his exciting fights and go for broke fighting style, the 5-foot-11 wrestler hailing out of Greenley, Colorado wants to show the world he has arrived by taking out such a highly touted prospect in Ellis. In his last fight on August 20 of this year, Martinez choked Brandon Endriss unconscious (guillotine choke) in the first round (3:45).
Continuing on to the second match up of the Grand Prix, hard-hitting Justin Frazier (5-0) takes on Illinois own Jason Bosler (3-1). The 6-foot, 260 pound Frazier is a very heavy handed fighter with four of his five wins coming via first round TKO due to punches, including his last fight in on October 1, 2011 for Bellator Fighting Championships against Liron Wilson (1:50). Training out of Without Limits MMA in Batesville, Arkansas, Frazier is always looking for the finish and expects this contest not to reach the final bell. His opponent might be thinking the same thing but with the outcome being in his favor.
Hailing from Sandoval, Illinois, Bosler will be the home town favorite in this fight. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 264 pounds he has the power and submission skills to end the fight at any point. Training out of Finney’s HIT Squad with the likes of Strikeforce veteran Jesse Finney and world renowned coach Andre Benkei, Bosler has the skill set to advance in the Grand Prix tournament. His last bout came to a screeching halt at 1:46 of the first round when he knocked Steve Campbell out with a punch.
Headlined by former 2-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim
“ The Maine-iac” Sylvia (29-7) taking on Germany’s own Andreas “Big Daddy” Kraniotakes (12-4). Also on the card is another exciting heavyweight fight featuring former UFC heavyweight champion Andre “The Pitbull” Arlovski (16-9) versus 300+ fight veteran Travis “The Ironman” Fulton (247-48-10). Rounding out the Proelite 2 fight card is the returning Reagan Penn (1-0) to battle it out with Evan Cutts (2-0).
Proelite 2: Big Guns will be televised live on HD NET at 8 P.M. CST
ProElite Event Sylvia vs Kraniotakes on November 5th / 2011
i wireless Center
Moline, IL
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 07:00 PM
ProElite, Inc. (PELE.PK), will host its second major MMA event in 2011 at the i Wireless Center in Moline, Illinois on Saturday, November 5.
Two former UFC heavyweight champions will headline the main card, including the Quad Cities own giant Tim “The Maineiac” Sylvia (29-7) who will take on German-born heavyweight Andreas “Big Daddy” Kraniotakes (12-4). Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (16-9) will face off with Travis “The Ironman” Fulton (247-48-10). The card will also feature the debut of ProElite’s Heavyweight Grand Prix. The tournament will feature eight of the best young fighters in the world and will conclude after three events.
MAIN CARD
HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH
Tim SylviaAndreas Kraniotakes
HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH
Andrei ArlovskiTravis Fulton
HEAVYWEIGHT Grand Prix
http://proelite.com/events/
Programming reminder: Chuck Liddell on Hawaii Five-O tonight (Oct. 24) at 10pm ET on CBS
by Jesse Holland on Oct 24, 2011 10:17 AM EDT in UFC Programming
Yes, UFC Hall-of-Famer Chuck Liddell is fighting inside a ProElite cage.
That's because the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is making a special appearance tonight (Oct. 24, 2011) at 10 p.m. ET on Hawaii Five-O, the CBS television reboot of the hit 1970's police drama.
Liddell, who is no stranger to acting (or dancing) on TV, recently accepted an executive position within the world's largest fight promotion, becoming the new UFC Vice President of Business Development.
Tonight, however, he's back inside the eight walls of pain once again, in a "fight to the finish" against H-5 protagonist Steve McGarrett, played by Alex O'Loughlin.
Have Mohawk, will travel.
http://www.mmamania.com/2011/10/24/2510335/programming-reminder-chuck-liddell-on-hawaii-five-o-tonight-oct-24-on#storyjump
Anyone watching Hawaii Five-0 with @ChuckLiddell tonight? Wanna win stuff?
Posted on October 24, 2011 by Pro Elite
Here’s a behind the scenes picture of legendary MMA Fighter, Chuck Liddell in the ProElite Cage on tonight’s episode of Hawaii Five-0! Watch the show tonight for a trivia contest with a ProElite prize pack giveaway tomorrow!
http://proelite.com/blogs/2011/10/anyone-watching-hawaii-five-0-with-chuckliddell-tonight-wanna-win-stuff/
ProElite
@proelitemma ProElite
Anyone watching Hawaii Five-0 with @ChuckLiddell tonight? Wanna win stuff?: Here’s a behind… goo.gl/fb/FIvJl
49 minutes ago via Google
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HDNET is usually it's own channel and most likely will be a different on each Service. I am pretty sure its available on DirecTV, Dish Network and Shaw Direct as well as others. I guess the question is who your Service Provider? I do know millions of people are able to see it on a range of Service Providers but that being said it will depend on which one and some might not carry it as with a number of other stations. Anybody who does not get it should ask there Cable or Satellite Provider why not and encourage them to get it. I personally do have it and enjoy having it immensely along with millions of others.
Go ProElite!
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Tomorrow should be a very good day for ProElite with the added exposure with tonight's airing on CBS of the popular Hawaii Five-O series featuring a ProElite Event!
This should be great and it will be interesting to watch the interest in the company and the Stock rise with that as well as a Promotion of the Upcoming Event on Nov 5 / 2011 which is now well less than 2 weeks away!
I also expect again and probably even more heavily the upcoming Event will be Promoted on tonight's LIVE airing of INSIDE MMA on HDNET( which now broadcasts to over 25 Million homes ). Which again should add to the interest and hype for the Nov 5 / 2011 show!
Go ProElite!
Watch Chuck Liddell fight for Pro Elite on Hawaii Five-0
Jason Nawara
Oct 22 |13:59
Last Updated on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:17
Pro Elite keeps popping up in the strangest ways these last 24 hours wouldn't you agree? First Zeus 'accidentally' discovers that a Pro Elite ring girl is a highly regarded actress, now Chuck Liddell is even fighting under their Hawaiian banner on CBS. Power player, this TJ Thompson. Check out The Iceman's return to the cage in a featured bout on Hawaii Five-0 that looks like it ends in a double knock out?
http://www.middleeasy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6209:watch-chuck-liddell-fight-for-pro-elite-on-hawaii-five-0&catid=34:organizations
Agree all the way! Baroni is still a huge Fan favorite! He has remained popular as much for being a character out of the Ring as he is performer in the Ring known for his huge punching power but agree again on his Cardio is something that continues to be questioned.
If he manages to improve that he could work into being major contender in any organization on the Planet and has fought for the biggest including ProElite, UFC and Pride. He would be a very nice addition and add to the growing Roster and Fan Base of ProElite 2.0 and future Events.
Go ProElite!
Jennifer Swift Pro Elite now is blowing up on Facebook :) Almost 1,000 new friends today :)
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I agree Cat! I hope the NEWS is good for sure! We are all speculating on a bunch of things to happen with and for Pro as well the stock and we are all waiting on Big News of all sorts!
Hope it turns out to be great NEWS! We can all use it! I'm sure more News is on the way but you can never have enough or have it soon enough, so I am with you! Good News and Big or not it is all GREAT in my books! I think there are big days ahead for us all! All IMO of course!
Go ProElite!
Very Interesting! Makes me believe it may be true even more!
ProElite
proelitemma ProElite
Wow, did you know?: That the world headquarters for the people who manufacture these: is… http://goo.gl/fb/4o0pu
2 hours ago
in reply to @proelitemma ?
MMA On The Reg
@mmaonthereg MMA On The Reg
@proelitemma John Deere inspired ProElite Glove -
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proelitemma ProElite Wow, did you know?: That the world headquarters for the people who manufacture these:
is… goo.gl/fb/4o0pu
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http://proelite.com/blogs/2011/10/wow-did-you-know/
Wonder if there is a new Sponsor for this Event?
Go ProElite
ProElite Announces Eight Heavyweight Tournament Contestants
Written by Tom Ngo
October 18th, 2011
Shortly after announcing they had scored a broadcasting deal with HDNet, ProElite released the eight up-and-coming contestants that will be competing in their heavyweight tournament on November 5th.
The tourney’s pairings are as follows; Mark Ellis fights Ryan Martinez, Jason Bosler battles Richard Odoms, Chris Birchler faces Jake Heun and Walter Harris collides with Esteves Jones.
Todd Monaghan confronts a yet-to-be announced opponent in a heavyweight tournament reserve bout.
“When we say we’re looking for the next great heavyweight this was not a half-hearted search. We have eight guys from eight different regions of the country. We have both coasts, the South, Midwest, Southwest and Mountain region covered,” stated ProElite head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson.
“ProElite II: Big Guns” takes place inside the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois. A heavyweight battle between Tim Sylvia and Andreas Kraniotakes will headline the show.
Here is the card’s current lineup:
Preliminary Bouts:
Kelly Skeffington vs. Jonathon Thomson
Daniel DeCamp vs. Nick McClean
Todd Monaghan vs. TBD*
Main Bouts:
Eight-Man Heavyweight Tournament:
Mark Ellis vs. Ryan Martinez
Jason Bosler vs. Richard Odoms
Chris Birchler vs. Jake Heun
Walter Harris vs. Esteves Jones
Individual Bouts:
Waylon Lowe vs. TBD
Reagan Penn vs. TBD
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Fulton
Tim Sylvia vs. Andreas Kraniotakes
* – Heavyweight Tournament Reserve Bout
http://www.5thround.com/92898/proelite-announces-eight-heavyweight-tournament-contestants/
I agree and think SF as we know it is done. Realistically is there anyone on this planet that thinks Dana will give up anything and/or anyone that is worth anything to him to even give SF a chance?
Not a prayer!!!
He has stolen and bled the entire SF's roster already with more on the way and why would CBS or even more so ShowTime as a "Premium" Station and Channel want any part of that rotting carcass?
Nobody in their right mind would buy into the dead horse that is StrikeForce! It is done! The last major show did the 2nd worst in the history of Strikeforce Events since getting the ShowTime Deal. And this was not for lack of effort in their best attempt to put their very best foot forward with everyone and anything left and many if not most considered still top level MMA talent and still pretty big draws in themselves.
I say the New deal is done before the year is out and maybe well before! I think CBS and Showtime will be putting every offer possible on the table with ProElite in order to make a Deal!
I doubt they will want them to go anywhere else as CBS and ShowTime are already posed to do battle with the UFC and Fox. I am not so sure they want to go into that battle with the UFC and effectively Fox calling the shots and quite willing and ready to leave them the unloaded Derringer and probably even closer to Pea Shooter that is StrikeForce.
And lets look at the other end of things with the recent loss of Top Executive in form of Ken Hershman at ShowTime Sports who was responsible for bring MMA to CBS/ShowTime ( with the Deal initially with ProElite and later on with StrikeForce ), who Ken has gone to the Top position at HBO( I had already called HBO sometime ago as a strong potential Dark Horse ) and also keeping in mind ShowTime had already lost Manny Pacquiao with his Promoter Bob Arum on the Boxing front back to HBO.
Does ShowTime also want to lose MMA to it's top competitor in HBO much less leaving CBS do battle with Fox with nothing in the chamber? I think not but that just a big guess on my part.
It will be interesting for sure! And in the meantime in my opinion ProElite is doing very well with it's major TV Deal with HDNet and HDNetFights and it very well poised to make it's next big leap with the highest bidder! All GOOD for the company and the Stock!!!
Go ProElite!
Heavyweight Tournament Fighters Announced For ProElite2 Event
By Charttopper on October 18, 2011 in MMA Media News, ProElite
The eight participants of ProElite’s upcoming heavyweight tournament were named as part of the promotions announcement that they had reached a multi-fight broadcast deal with HDNet.
ProElite also announced the field for its eight-man heavyweight tournament. The bracket, filled with fighters ready for a wider audience, is highlighted by 2009 NCAA wrestling champion Mark Ellis of the University of Missouri. Ellis (1-0) will take on Ryan Martinez (5-1). In another opening-round battle, Richard Odoms of Texas faces Jason Bosler of Illinois. Jake Heun of Salt Lake City squares off against Chris Birchler of New Jersey. And, in the final matchup, Esteves Jones of Arizona will meet Walter Harris of Alabama.
“When we say we’re looking for the next great heavyweight this was not a half-hearted search. We have eight guys from eight different regions of the country. We have both coasts, the South, Midwest, Southwest and Mountain region covered,” ProElite’s Head of Fight Operations, T. Jay Thompson, said.
ProElite 2 is scheduled to take place on Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois.
The current fight card for the ProElite 2 event appears as follows:
Main Card
Heavyweight bout: Andreas Kraniotakes vs. Tim Sylvia
Heavyweight bout: Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Wiuff
Heavyweight Tournament bout: Mark Ellis vs. Ryan Martinez
Heavyweight Tournament bout: Jason Bosler vs. Richard Odoms
Heavyweight Tournament bout: Chris Birchler vs. Jake Heun
Heavyweight Tournament bout: Walter Harris vs. Esteves Jones
Welterweight bout: Reagan Penn vs. TBA
Lightweight bout: Waylon Lowe vs. TBA
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight reserve bout: Todd Monaghan vs. TBA
http://www.themmanews.com/heavyweight-tournament-fighters-announced-for-proelite2-event/
ProElite Signs Multi-Year TV Deal With HDNet
October 18, 2011
ProElite announced a new multi-fight, multi-year TV deal with HDNet last night during Inside MMA’s live broadcast debut on the network. The first ProElite televised event on HDNet will be “HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns”, taking place at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL on November 5th.
“After watching their first event in Hawaii, I could see ProElite was a great fit for HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This upcoming card has the perfect mix of marquee names and an innovative Heavyweight tournament that fight fans won’t want to miss!”
Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts in addition to an 8-man Heavyweight tournament to identify the up-and-coming talent among MMA’s heavy hitters.
“Our multi-fight agreement with HDNet elevates the ProElite brand to a national MMA audience with a preeminent broadcast partner,” said Paul Feller, President and CEO of Stratus Media Group and Chairman of ProElite. “This strategic partnership offers new opportunities for corporate sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this passionate and rapidly growing audience of ProElite fans.”
ProElite will soon announce its full fight card, which will include some of Quad Cities favorite fighters and emerging MMA talent. Tickets are now on sale at the iWireless Center box office and on ticketmaster.com.
Payout Perspective:
It had been long speculated that ProElite was in heavy talks with HDNet to televise their second event after reviving the ProElite brand earlier this year. After all, it made complete sense considering that Head of Fight Operations T.J. Thompson has been adamant about signing a TV deal which corresponded to the current stage of the reborn MMA promotion.
If you recall, Strikeforce also signed a similar TV deal with HDNet back in 2008, just before signing their monumental TV deal with Showtime and CBS just a few months later. The deal proved to be key to Strikeforce’s growth, as it catapulted them to the #2 MMA promotion in the U.S. and maintaining that title until being purchased by UFC’s parent company – Zuffa – earlier this year.
The November 5th event will host a prospect HW GP along with Arlovski vs Fulton and Sylvia vs Kraniotakes as the main events.
It is awesome! I am sure whatever the case may have been it is great publicity for the show( Hawaii five -0 ) as ProElite is on the rise big time as well as it is great to highlight ProElite and nobody should think for a single second that CBS itself isn't thinking in the near-long term as well.
Go ProElite!
Officially Announced on HDNet InsideMMA Broadcast Deal done with HDNETFights to Broadcast ProElite 2 - Nov 5 / 2011!!
http://mmajunkie.com/news/25704/hdnet-to-air-proelite-2-live-on-nov-5.mma
Go ProElite!
TimLeidecker Andreas @BDKraniotakes replaces @PedroRizzo1 against @TimSylvia in @ProEliteMMA 2 headliner live on @HDNetFights: bit.ly/nDG3E8 #MMA
1 hour ago
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http://twitter.com/#!/TimLeidecker
Tim Leidecker
@TimLeidecker Berlin, Germany
Owner Groundandpound.de / Columnist Sherdog.com
http://www.groundandpound.de/
Basic information available on the OTC Markets site.
Shares Outstanding 285,814,728 a/o Aug 15, 2011
Authorized Shares 500,000,000 a/o Mar 31, 2011
Go MSLP!
I'm thinking your right based on few things including the fact Pro is really promoting both Sylvia and Arlovski heavily in the poster with more to come from what I can see and yes Tim seems to confirm he at least believes he will be fighting also in Jan which I think like him or not he is still a huge name along with Arlovski.
I think we will see alot more and that the Nov 5 Event is going to take the Promotion and company it to the next level and will not be surprised to see a possible Dec Event materialize as I have heard there already have been some talks about that possibility.
They may use the Jan Event to create the Grand Prix Finals on the Super Bowl Weekend or immediately following. This in any case is all fantastic for the company with the Stars that will come out of the Events much less the already developing and existing on the growing list of ProElite Fighters. The is should again raise the company and it's profile to to new heights.
Go ProElite!
ProElite 2 poster for 'Sylvia vs Rizzo' on Nov. 5 in Moline, IL
by Geno Mrosko on Oct 12, 2011 4:01 PM EDT in
ProElite will be back and better than ever this upcoming Nov. 5 in Moline, Illinois, with its second mixed martial arts offering featuring a battle of former UFC heavyweight champions in Tim Sylvia vs. Pedro Rizzo.
Andrei Arlovski is also on the card, taking on the most active fighter in MMA history, Travis Fulton. And don't forget the eight-man heavyweight tournament!
http://www.mmamania.com/2011/10/12/2486181/proelite-2-poster-for-sylvia-vs-rizzo-on-nov-5-in-moline-il
Ultimate trust-busting championship
Oct 7th 2011, 6:52 by T.M.
IN 2000 the United States Congress passed the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a law that sought to protect boxers from unscrupulous promoters and sanctioning bodies. Because boxing has no single governing organization and its fighters are not unionized, promoters used to wield inordinate market power. As the industry’s “matchmakers”, they could refuse to arrange a fight, venue or broadcast deal unless boxers surrendered a disproportionate share of the proceeds and signed a long-term promotion agreement. The act tried to crack down on “coercive contracts” and level the field between fighters and promoters in negotiations. The law has rarely been invoked, but has occasionally provided some redress. Last month Fernando Guerrero, a rising middleweight boxer, filed suit against Prize Fight Promotions, alleging that the company failed to disclose proceeds of two of his televised bouts as the law requires.
However, the law only applied to boxing. In the decade since its passage, boxing’s primacy among combat sports in America has been challenged by the rise of mixed martial arts (MMA), formerly known as cage fighting. A Brazilian import, it incorporates a range of techniques, including boxing, jujitsu, wrestling and kickboxing, and originally had few regulations. In the 1990s its American promoters rebranded it and formalized its rules in an effort to fend off accusations of barbarity. MMA has since grown in popularity in both the United States and Europe, and has moved from fringe venues and the outer reaches of the cable television dial to snazzier sports arenas (usually attached to Las Vegas casinos) and broadcast networks.
When MMA was first brought to America, a number of promotion companies vied to organize events. But in recent years the industry has consolidated under the aegis of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which has bought up most of its rivals, including Strikeforce this March. In August UFC inked a $100m-a-year deal with the Fox network in the United States to begin broadcasting its fights in November.
As UFC has cleared out most competition within the MMA field, it has become a commercial threat to boxing itself. Boxing’s popularity has suffered because of poor marketing and perennial accusations of sleaze. The sport is trying to repair its image by forming a promoters’ association, which has emphasized the protections granted to boxers under the Muhammad Ali act. But that will not be enough to fend off UFC, which effectively declared war on boxing by scheduling its debut fight on Fox for November 12th—the same night that Manny Pacquiao, one of the world’s most popular boxers, will take on Juan Manuel Márquez, whom he has beaten twice before. Top Rank, the company promoting the fight, has signed a deal with HBO to charge viewers about $60 each to watch the Pacquiao-Márquez bout. Fight fans will now have the option to watch UFC at the same time for free.
As UFC has grown, it has increasingly found itself under the same scrutiny that boxing promoters once attracted. Much of the unwanted attention has come from the boxing world. Last week Bob Arum, Top Rank’s CEO, reiterated his accusation that UFC abuses its power over its fighters. “Because of the monopoly that UFC has,” he said, “they pay their fighters maybe 20% of the proceeds that come in on a UFC fight, and we pay fighters over 80%.” Although those figures are debatable, the best-known boxers certainly still command higher fees than do UFC’s biggest names. UFC has been known to “lock out” fighters over contractual disputes. In 2008, for example, UFC cut Jon Fitch, an MMA welterweight, who complained about having to sign a lifetime contract for the use of his likeness in video games. He was only brought back into the UFC fold after accepting the company’s terms. Dana White, UFC’s truculent CEO—whose appetite for a fight may well exceed that of his employees—has dismissed Mr Arum’s allegations. “Bob, you weren’t smart enough...to buy a company like [Strikeforce] and basically change the fight industry forever,” he said recently, “and now you’re crying antitrust? You guys sound like a bunch of crybabies.”
A less expected source of criticism has been Culinary Workers Union Local 226, a Las Vegas-based trade union that represents about 60,000 hotel and casino employees. In late August the union wrote to Richard Feinstein, the director of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Bureau of Competition, asking him to investigate UFC for what it alleges are widespread anti-competitive practices, including contractual restraints that unfairly limit fighters’ freedom of movement. The union does not claim that UFC has harmed it directly. But it is embroiled in a longstanding dispute with Station Casinos—a company whose controlling shareholders, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, also own UFC’s parent company. The union freely admits that its campaign against UFC is intended to gain leverage against Station Casinos—particularly by disrupting UFC’s efforts to be allowed to stage events in New York, where it is not yet sanctioned. But the government is taking the union seriously. On September 22nd an administrative judge at the National Labour Relations Board allowed more than 80 charges of unfair labour practices against Station Casinos to proceed to a full hearing.
In fact, UFC may already be the subject of an FTC antitrust investigation. Although the commission does not acknowledge its investigations until they have been completed, rival fight promoters say they have answered requests from the FTC for information about UFC. The $40m Strikeforce deal fell below the $66m threshold for an FTC investigation. But the commission could have launched one retroactively if it found evidence of abuse of monopoly power. Mr White has ducked questions about antitrust concerns, saying only that “there are a lot of people coming after us and taking shots at us.” (If he were to admit publicly that UFC was being investigated, the FTC would then be able to discuss the case as well). The FTC will issue a statement, usually after about six months, if it has investigated a company and not found grounds to proceed.
If UFC’s many rivals fail to weaken it through the executive branch, they can always turn to the legislature. It would take just a slight tweaking of the Muhammad Ali act to expand it to MMA as well, which would give fighters like Mr Fitch more leverage in dealing with the company. John McCain, the senator who sponsored the Muhammad Ali act, remains in office. He should probably expect a call from anti-UFC lobbyists sometime soon.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory/2011/10/competition-mixed-martial-arts
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by rich_chou
We’re looking for 2 “new” fighters to open up the show at the final Live Broadcast on October 19th. If you... fb.me/1b2A18wvX
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rich_chou Rich Chou @MattPhillips22 an announcement is coming soon
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And Yes I think Strikeforce is gone as we know it!
I think they may keep something around as their tier 3 Brand( with the UFC and UF( Ultimate fighter ) as the top 2 bar none ), call it the Challenger Series with old retiring fighters, other fighters with some losing streaks and very new unproven up and coming fighters for anyone that will watch in really small venues, will they promote it in any real way, not a chance!
But they may it keep it around just to say they did and didn't kill it as the entire world thinks they will do as the have with every other Promotion and Brand. They may also use it to keep some of the building government pressure off them that surrounds that acquisition and the big well know question of their other business practices.
Everybody knows where this going and I personally think the other players especially the other Networks are going to looking for top tier Partners to align and grow. In my view this going to heat up into a Major War with Networks Promoting this like never before.
I don't believe for one minute that CBS, ShowTime and ProElite are not looking at each other across the table right now and saying how can we make this work in big way and looking close a Deal as we speak. The writing is on the wall IMO for Strikeforce, UFC and CBS/ShowTime. And let's not forget that there are many others who will have big interests in Pro and what it has to offer as well including NBC, ABC, ESPN and HBO just to name a few.
CBS/ShowTime needs Pro as mush as Pro needs CBS/ShowTime. And I would argue that CBS/ShowTime may need Pro more as the UFC and Fox are heading their way and looking to tear into their market in addition to keeping their own and others will also be looking to grow and keep market base.
ProElite is their BEST option bar none and CBS/ShowTime will be doing everything IMO in their power to close a Deal as quickly as possible with them! Then let's really the games begin! The count down is on! Expect it any Time! IMO!
Go ProElite!