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After more than a half-year blackout, the Versus channel is returning to DirecTV.
DirecTV and Comcast, owner of the all-sports Versus channel, today made the announcement stating, "Versus will return to the same DirecTV programming packages it was in at the end of August 2009."
Versus, home to World Extreme Cagefighting and now the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was dropped from the satellite-cable company's lineup on Sept. 1, 2009, after a dispute over carrier fees.
DirecTV boasts approximately 18 million subscribers and – thanks to some exclusive offerings such as the NFL Sunday Ticket – is popular with sports fans.
Terms of the new deal were not disclosed, though Versus has already been reinstated on the channel lineup.
"We are pleased that both sides were able to work out a satisfactory deal to bring this programming back to our customers," DirecTV executive Derek Chang stated.
A Versus executive echoed that sentiment while playing up the cable station's upcoming UFC on Versus 1 event, which airs this coming Sunday (March 21) live from Broomfield, Colo.
"We're excited that we were able to come to a fair agreement that puts Versus back in millions of homes with DirecTV in time for our busy spring programming schedule," Versus president Jamie Davis stated. "We look forward to super-serving these fans with NHL regular-season and playoff coverage, our first live UFC event and much more."
Versus began airing WEC events in June 2007 with WEC 28. Earlier this year, Zuffa LLC officials announced a few select UFC events also will air annually on Versus.
World Extreme Cagefighting officials obviously were relieved when DirecTV today announced their longtime cable home, Versus, has returned to the satellite cable provider's channel lineup.
More than six months has passed since the all-sports channel was pulled from the lineup after a dispute between DirecTV and Versus parent company Comcast.
WEC Vice President Peter Dropick today told the deal will benefit the fight promotion and its fighters. But he said the real winners are the fans, who will get the usual event broadcasts and even a special countdown show for next month's WEC 48 event.
"We're excited that Versus is back on DirecTV, and it allows the WEC fans to see our fights," Dropick said. "There are 14 million fans who were missing out for a few months, but we're excited that we're back up."
The WEC and Versus first teamed up in June 2007 with its debut broadcast, WEC 28, which drew 416,000 viewers. Despite steady growth – the WEC had a record-breaking WEC 34 event (1.54 million viewers) a year after that first airing – the five WEC shows since DirecTV pulled Versus from the lineup barely averaged that initial audience (435,200 viewers per event).
The depth of the fight cards and other factors likely partially to blame for the lower ratings, but DirecTV surely played a factor. But just as quickly as Versus went away, the cable station today returned.
"I wasn't at the table negotiating, but I know based on what I've heard that both parties were pleased with the agreement that they came to," Dropick said. "They flipped a switch, and Versus and WEC are back on DirecTV.
"It's great news for everybody. Most importantly, (it's great news for) the fans."
It's also great news for WEC fighters, who rely on that Versus deal to build their names in the sport. Dropick said plans are already underway for Versus to air a "Countdown to WEC 48" special, which will preview the company's April 24 debut on pay-per-view and the card's two title fights: WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber and lightweight champ Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone.
"We're in production on a countdown show that's going to feature Aldo and Faber, Cerrone and Henderson, which will premier on Versus," Dropick said. "So [the programming] is back up for all the WEC fans to see."
In addition to the WEC programming, DirecTV subscribers – which are traditionally more likely to be sports fans – can watch Sunday's UFC on Versus 1 event, which takes place in Colorado with a Brandon Vera vs. Jon Jones headliner. The UFC announced earlier this year that a few select UFC events will air on Versus in addition to its normal pay-per-view and Spike TV offerings.
Dropick said Versus' MMA lineup will get bigger and better now that the new deal is in place.
"It's only going to keep growing," he said.
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