Comcast vs. Direct TV: the marketing power of MMA
For all those (can you hear me NY Assembly?) who continue to consider MMA a fringe fad and not a blossoming major sport, don't tell that to the media titans Comcast and Direct TV.
The cable giant Comcast just applied a rear naked choke on the satellite behemoth Direct TV. Comcast owns the sports cable channel Versus (who knew) that in turn has the exclusive broadcast deal with the WEC.
Versus aired on both Comcast and Direct TV until this week.
As WEC grew in popularity thanks to great talent, savvy match ups, strong production quality, ease of access (both cable and satellite) and excellent pricing (free to cable and satellite subscribers) Comcast was quietly taking Direct TV's back and sinking the hooks in.
Direct TV for a while had the dominant position with both HdNet fights and the WEC on Versus.
As Direct TV helped to promote both Versus and the WEC, Comcast started to squeeze.
Once the WEC became a legitimate contender with fighters like Faber, Brown Torres, Garcia, Cerrone, Henderson, Bowles etc.. Comcast pounced and pulled the plug on Versus and the WEC on Direct TV.
Without the WEC, Direct TV is trying not to tap.
MMA has proved that it can consistently reach that coveted and elusive 25-40 y.o. male demographic. And the last time I checked, more than a few women digg it too.
Major media is willing to fight for over the tremendous revenue stream created by high quality MMA. Maybe the New York Assembly will soon wake up and get in on the action...and the dough.
The cable giant Comcast just applied a rear naked choke on the satellite behemoth Direct TV. Comcast owns the sports cable channel Versus (who knew) that in turn has the exclusive broadcast deal with the WEC.
Versus aired on both Comcast and Direct TV until this week.
As WEC grew in popularity thanks to great talent, savvy match ups, strong production quality, ease of access (both cable and satellite) and excellent pricing (free to cable and satellite subscribers) Comcast was quietly taking Direct TV's back and sinking the hooks in.
Direct TV for a while had the dominant position with both HdNet fights and the WEC on Versus.
As Direct TV helped to promote both Versus and the WEC, Comcast started to squeeze.
Once the WEC became a legitimate contender with fighters like Faber, Brown Torres, Garcia, Cerrone, Henderson, Bowles etc.. Comcast pounced and pulled the plug on Versus and the WEC on Direct TV.
Without the WEC, Direct TV is trying not to tap.
MMA has proved that it can consistently reach that coveted and elusive 25-40 y.o. male demographic. And the last time I checked, more than a few women digg it too.
Major media is willing to fight for over the tremendous revenue stream created by high quality MMA. Maybe the New York Assembly will soon wake up and get in on the action...and the dough.
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