UFC and FOX sports will announce their long-term television deal at 1PM ET Thursday. The deal will mean the end of UFC on its long-time partner network Spike TV come 2012.
Spike TV, therefore, wanted to get its spin on the story by pre-empting the press conference with the news that it will end its broadcast of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series with season 14.
According to the Spike statement, “The Ultimate Fighter season 14 in September will be our last. We are increasing our commitment to distinctive, original series that we own such as Auction Hunters and Bar Rescue which are delivering on our goal to reach a broader audience. Our 6-year partnership with the UFC has been incredibly beneficial in building both our brands, and we wish them all the best in the future.”
In some very questionable “reporting,” some media outlets have said the cancellation was due to financials on the show no longer making sense. While it is true that UFC and Spike TV butt-heads over the terms of a contract renewal deal, leading to UFC looking elsewhere, it is not as if “TUF” is about to end.
It’s simply set to move to FX.
