Syfy Becomes U.K. Home to BAMMA Live Events

LONDON: Syfy in the U.K. has entered into a deal for the exclusive broadcast rights to the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA), marking the channel’s foray into live event programming. 

Syfy picked up the U.K. broadcast rights to the BAMMA franchise in a deal that covers five country-wide live events in 2011. Syfy will broadcast live coverage of the events, which are held at arena-sized venues around the U.K. and feature top professional MMA fighters. The first event takes place in Manchester on February 26. In addition to the live broadcasts, Syfy will cover event highlights, fighter profiles and other BAMMA-themed programs. 

Jamie Morris, the director of channels for the U.K. at Universal Networks International, said: “BAMMA events are all about pushing limits, personal quests and overcoming barriers—all of which are themes that Syfy audiences enjoy and the right kind of content to broaden the Syfy offering. I am delighted to have secured this exciting new partnership which moves us into new areas of programming and further secures our position as the home of entertainment which takes viewers beyond the every day.”

Liam Fisher, the VP of business development at BAMMA, added: “Since our first BAMMA event in 2009, we have seen attendance grow with each and every event. In seeking a broadcaster, it was essential that we found a partner who could share our vision and bring our highly-anticipated and unique MMA events to an even bigger audience, and Syfy fits that bill. We are greatly looking forward to working together to create a platform to support and further the sport’s ever-growing popularity. 2011 is going to be a great year for MMA in the U.K.”