OSN renews deal to bring MMA to MENA

OSN has renewed a multi-year deal with Electus International to bring Viacom’s Bellator MMA to MENA.

Under the leadership of veteran promoter Scott Coker, Bellator MMA is one of the fastest rising global sports franchises. This year, Bellator is averaging about 1 million viewers per event on Spike TV, a 26% increase over last year. In the last 12 months, the burgeoning league has enjoyed record attendance, incredible global expansion, increased sponsorship, and top notch additions to its roster.

Commenting on the deal renewal, Eddie Dalva, Executive Vice President, Content, Programme Enterprises and Bellator MMA, Viacom Global Entertainment Group, said: “OSN has been a loyal strategic partner for Bellator that has played a key role in Bellator’s explosive international growth.”

Andy Warkman, SVP Sports and Production, OSN, added: “Our focus is on providing exclusive and exceptional content for our customers. The partnership with Electus to bring Bellator to the region will be a true treat for action and mixed martial arts lovers in MENA. It is a perfect fit to the unexpected content that Spike provides, which has made it popular, especially among youth. We will continue to provide added value for our subscribers through our global partnerships.”

Upcoming events on Bellator include two of the biggest ever in franchise history, Bellator 179: Daley vs MacDonald from Wembley Arena in London and Bellator NYC: Silva vs. Sonnen from New York City’s Madison Square Garden in June. The global franchise has recently hosted jam-packed events in Budapest, Torino, Italy, and London.

Bellator is owned by American global mass media company, Viacom and is available in more than 91 million homes on Spike TV, as well as over 500 million homes in 150 countries worldwide. Additional exclusive Bellator content, Bellator preview shows, fighter profiles, and high-octane fight highlights run on Spike TV and Bellator.com. Next January, Spike rebrands as Paramount Network.