Shocking news of the UFC's groundbreaking multi-year television deal with nationally syndicated network FOX burst through the pipeline Tuesday morning, and now only awaits an official on-the-record confirmation.
Conveniently, FOX Sports has an announcement to make. But not just any announcement. According to Sports Business Journal reporter John Ourand, FOX Sports has scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon, at which network executives will make "one of the biggest announcements in Fox Sports history."
The press conference is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT in Los Angeles, California. FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) Chairman and CEO David Hill is scheduled to attend, alongside FSMG Co-Presidents and COO's Randy Freer and Eric Shanks, and FX President John Landgraf.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it appears that the quartet intend to announce the network's reported broadcast deal with the UFC worth an estimated $90 million over seven-to-eight years. UFC president Dana White has long sought to expand his product to network television but has remained committed to the idea that a deal could only be done if the terms were right for the organization. On Thursday his wish may finally come to fruition.