PFL International Events Streaming on Vice TV in US
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PFL (Professional Fighters League) and Vice TV Partnership
* Deal: PFL has partnered with Vice TV to broadcast PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and PFL Africa events in the U.S.
* Coverage: Vice will air eight more events from MENA and Africa throughout 2026.Subscribers will also have on-demand access to 50 hours of archived fights.
* why vice? PFL chose vice due to its “unique storytelling voice, passionate sports audience, and broad linear reach.”
* Vice’s Existing Sports Content: Vice TV already broadcasts BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, United Fight league, and Arena Football One, and recently premiered NFL Classics: After Further Review.
PFL’s US Rights Situation
* Current Deal: PFL’s current US rights deal with ESPN expires next year.
* ESPN’s Position: ESPN has renewed its deal with PFL several times (most recently in 2023) but recently lost the rights to UFC to Paramount in a massive deal ($7.7 billion for seven years).
* PFL’s Opportunity: PFL sees an opportunity to become a major player in the US market, especially now that UFC is with Paramount. They aim to present themselves as the second-biggest MMA promotion and offer a new format with more global events.
* Priority: Securing a new US media rights deal is PFL CEO John Martin’s top priority over the next 12 months.
* Validation: Martin views the UFC/Paramount deal as validation that MMA is now a mainstream sport.
In essence, PFL is leveraging its international growth (MENA and Africa) to strengthen its position in the crucial US market, particularly as ESPN looks for new MMA content following the loss of UFC rights.