Championship Kickboxing Comes to HDNet This May With “It’s Showtime”
Network Announces Multi-Year Deal with Europe’s Premiere Kickboxing Promotion
HDNet announced a long term deal with “It’s Showtime,” Europe’s leading kickboxing promotion provided by Fighting Spirit, the international fight sport programming distributor. “It’s Showtime” will make its HDNet debut with “HDNet Fights: It’s Showtime Lyon” on Friday, May 20 at 11:00 p.m. ET – immediately following the network’s broadcast of “The Voice vs. Hulk Hogan.”
In the main event of the evening, Badr Hari makes his much anticipated return to the ring against Tony Gregory. Plus, Tyrone Spong and K-1 MAX Champion Giorgio Petrosyan will also be in action.
Founded in 1998, “It’s Showtime” is known for attracting the biggest names in kickboxing and drawing some of the largest crowds in combat sports – regularly packing over 20,000 fans inside the Amsterdam Arena.
In 2011, the promotion will present ten events for HDNet from venues across Europe including the recently announced, “It’s Showtime- Fast & Furious 70 Max” grand prix on September 24 in the Forest National in Brussels, Belgium. Elite 70kg fighters participating in this prestigious one night tournament include Giorgio Petrosyan, Andy Souwer, Artur Kyshenko, Gago Drago, Murat Direkçi, Chris Ngimbi, Harut Grigorian and Pajunsuk Superpro Samui. Read more
Special Edition of HDNet’s Inside MMA to Provide Comprehensive Coverage of UFC’s Purchase of Strikeforce
Exclusive Interviews with Dana White and Scott Coker – This Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET
This week’s announcement that Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC (which owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand) purchased Strikeforce has stunned the mixed martial arts community. The move is arguably the most significant development in the sport since Zuffa’s acquisition of PRIDE in 2008, and solidifies Zuffa’s position as the largest MMA company in the world.
This week’s “Inside MMA” covers all the angles on this major breaking news story, including interviews with all the principals involved in the deal.
First, Mike Straka talks to UFC President Dana White about the acquisition and what it means for the sport then Bas Rutten and Strikeforce President Scott Coker discuss how the deal came together and where the promotion will go from here.
Also, Ron Kruck takes a look back at the two organizations and gathers reaction from the fighters about what this consolidation will mean for them.
“Inside MMA” is committed to giving viewers more insight into the top stories than any other outlet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Bas’ exclusive interview with Scott Coker goes deeper than anything you have seen so far. You’ve read the headlines and heard the sound bites, now tune in this Friday to go inside the story and find out what it means for the fighters, fans and the sport.”
“Inside MMA” airs this Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.
And, HDNet will post a special ONLINE ONLY edition of “Inside MMA” which will be available at http://www.hd.net/blogs/2011/03/inside-mma-511/ immediately following the telecast. Dominick Cruz, Phil Baroni, and Trevor Whitman will join Kenny and Bas to breakdown UFC 128, plus Ron Kruck has comments from Jon Jones and Shogun Rua.
HDNet exclusive first round coverage of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational
HDNet will provide live, exclusive coverage of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational. HDNet’s coverage of the first round includes four exciting match-ups featuring the following NCAA teams. On Tuesday, March 16, the George Washington Colonials will host the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at 7:00 p.m. ET. Then, at 9:00 p.m. ET, the Indiana State Sycamores will take on the St. Louis University Billikens in St. Louis.
On Wednesday, March 17, the Princeton University Tigers are at home against the Duquesne Dukes at 7:00 p.m. ET. At 9:00 p.m. ET it’s the Colorado State Rams versus the Morehead State Eagles in Kentucky.
Second and third round teams and broadcast times are TBD.
On Tuesday, March 16, the George Washington Colonials host the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at 7:00 p.m. ET and at 9:00 p.m. ET, it’s Indiana State vs. St. Louis University.
On Wednesday, March 17 the Duquesne Dukes take on the Princeton Tigers at 7:00 p.m. ET and at 9:00 p.m. ET, the Colorado State Rams take on the Morehead State Eagles.
This live national telecast is available in high definition only on HDNet. Fans who wish to see these games live should contact their cable or satellite provider to sign up for HDNet. More information can be found at the following link: http://www.hd.net/watch_at_home.html
How About Some Hi-Def Live Zoom-Zoom?
HDNet to Broadcast Two Mazda-centric Race Weekends
The optimistic cliche is that tough times produce new opportunities. The current economic situation is indeed a rough one for all segments of industry, especially the automotive world. The MAZDASPEED team has taken that as a challenge, and is pleased to announce a new TV partnership that will be kicked off with two big weekends of live high-definition coverage on HDNet in June and July.
The broadcasts will focus on a pair of weekends where multiple classes of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder will compete:
- Mazda Formula X at The New Jersey Motorsports Park – June 13-14
- Autobahn Grand Prix Presented by Mazda at The Autobahn Country Club – July 25-26
Both weekends will feature a Mazda triple-header with races on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring:
- Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered By Mazda
- Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear
- SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup
Each of the four broadcasts will be live for three hours (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT). The broadcast team will be led by veteran commentator Rick Benjamin and legendary race-driver Elliott Forbes Robinson.
“By focusing on two of our biggest Mazda-centric race weekends, we can offer a unique viewing opportunity. Frequently, support races are broadcast at a different day and time, and often on different networks. We know that the road racing fan who follows the Atlantic Championship also will enjoy the Star Mazda and MX-5 Cup races. Our partnership with HDNet will allow us to more closely share the on-track experience with fans around the country by giving them a three-race afternoon, and the quality of the programming and high-definition transmission means it’s nearly as good as being trackside. A big thank you to our series partners at Cooper Tires (Atlantic) and BFGoodrich Tires (MX-5 Cup) for helping to make this happen,” noted Mike Nakashima, Director of Marketing, Mazda North American Operations.
To kick off the partnership HDNet will broadcast the season opener from the 2009 Atlantic Championship season, the VISIT FLORIDA Grand Prix from Sebring, Fla., on Saturday, June 6 at 3:00 pm EDT. The Sebring Star Mazda race will also be broadcast on HDNet at a date and time to be determined.
Source: Mazda
March is a Monster Month of MMA Action on HDNet – Headlined by Affliction: Day of Reckoning
Explosive match-up between Fedor and Arlovski to air for the first time since the live pay-per-view event – exclusively on HDNet Friday, March 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET
For true MMA fans, HDNet is THE place to be this March as the network kicks off a full schedule of new MMA events, featuring the first cable network television broadcast of the blockbuster “Affliction: Day of Reckoning” event.
“Affliction: Day of Reckoning” was originally broadcast on pay-per-view and featured the long-awaited match-up between World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski.
HDNet will air “Affliction: Day of Reckoning” on Friday, March 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET. The broadcast is part of an exclusive long-term partnership to air Affliction Entertainment events on HDNet in North America.
“HDNet Fights continues its mission to bring the best fighters in the world to HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “After watching ‘Day of Reckoning,’ there is no doubt that Fedor is the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world. This event had the highest fighter payroll in MMA history – and the fighters delivered throughout the night.”
Also this March, HDNet will broadcast three new Mixed Martial Arts events.
On Saturday, March 14, at 9:00 p.m. ET HDNet will premiere “HDNet Fights Presents: HEIWA DREAM 7 Featherweight Grand Prix – 1st Round.” This event, taped in Japan on March 8, features Atsushi Yamamoto, Chase Beebe, Takafumi Otsuka, and Abel Cullum – plus the match-up between WAMMA World Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki and David Gardner.
Then, on Friday, March 20, it’s the debut of Sengoku as “HDNet Fights Presents: World Victory Road: Sengoku 7″ airing LIVE from Japan at midnight PT. The event will feature Hatsu Hioki, Hideki Kadowaki, L.C. Davis, Nick Denis, plus undefeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal takes on Ryo Kawamura. HDNet will also broadcast an encore presentation of this event at 10:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
Finally, on Saturday, March 28, “HDNet Fights Presents: FieLDS K-1 World Grand Prix 2009.” This is the first event in 2009 of the much anticipated K-1 World Grand Prix. HDNet’s partnership kicked off late last year with the K-1 World Grand Prix Finals and has featured the best K-1 fighters in the world through the K-1 Classic series – airing Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET. Participants for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 include Remy Bonjasky, Badr Hari, Semmy Schilt, and Peter Aerts. Timing for this live broadcast will be announced at a later date.
These events and much, much more round out a full month of MMA action this March – making HDNet THE television destination for MMA fans!
Source: HDNet