US media company CSI Sports wants to launch its pay-TV channel Fight Sports in Germany in October 2014, CEO Richard Miele told Broadband TV News.
“Germany is a key territory for CSI Sports because boxing is very popular in the country and regularly receives significant ratings on Friday even when it’s not the Klitschkos’ fighting,” said Miele. He didn’t disclose, however, details regarding distribution.
Miele also announced that Fight Sports has signed a multi-year agreement with promoter Dynasty Boxing to exclusively broadcast the professional fights of the first super heavyweight boxer from Asia to win an Olympic Medal, China’s Zhang Zhilei (197cm, 117kg). Zhilei will turn pro on August 8, 2014 with his first fight taking place in the USA and being broadcast live on Fight Sports in Asia.
Fight Sports launched on December 21, 2012 as a linear 24/7 HD network on cable, satellite and IPTV platforms. The channel specialises in fight sports and martial arts such as boxing, kickboxing, judo, karate and sumo. Many events are broadcast live. The line-up also contains classic matches featuring stars like Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Lennox Lewis and Oscar De La Hoya.
The rights catalogue includes HBO Championship Boxing, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and New K-1 Championship Kickboxing. The channel also screens reality series such as Discovery Networks’ Fight Quest and documentary series like Xtreme Martial Arts.
Fight Sports is currently available in two dozen countries throughout Europe and Asia. Most recently the channel launched in France with further carriage deals in Europe and Asia to be announced shortly.
