Bellator MMA makes push into Asia after Viacom secures TV rights, with live events on the cards
Viacom International Media Networks has announced that its subscribers in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Pacific Islands will be able to watch its mixed martial arts brand, Bellator MMA, fight events from January 2018.
The first Bellator event that MMA fans in SEA will be able to watch is Bellator 192 ‘Lima vs MacDonald’, on January 20, 2018.
The American media conglomerate acquired the rights from Electus International and will show the fights on its Paramount Channel. It is also looking at helping Bellator stage fight events in Asia in the future.
The first Bellator event that MMA fans in SEA will be able to watch is Bellator 192 ‘Lima vs MacDonald’, on January 20, 2018.
“The introduction of Bellator MMA on Paramount Channel is significant as we are amplifying Paramount’s focus on distinctive high-quality programming, offering viewers exclusive fight sports entertainment in addition to movies of various genres,” said Paras Sharma, the senior vice president and general manager for SEA at VIMN.
“More importantly, with the flourishing MMA scene and appetite for fight content in SEA, this addition can’t be more timely as we bring the pure adrenaline of Bellator to many MMA fans in the region.”
The MMA scene in Asia is currently dominated by the likes of One Championship and the UFC, while Bellator has held most of its events in the United States since 2008.