The future of UFC programming in the UK remains uncertain with broadcaster Setanta Sports’ financial situation looking bleak.

As previously reported, the Irish broadcaster, who currently have 1.2million subscribers, have to make a £35million payment to the Premier League by June 15 to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The Sunday Times reports that Setanta this weekend asked arch-rival BSkyB for a £50m advance payment on a deal that would have seen Sky wholesale Setanta to its own Sky Sports subscribers.

The deal, which was rejected, would have bridged the gap left by Setanta’s private-equity backers (Doughty Hanson, Balderton Capital and Goldman Sachs), who have so far offered to inject £50m into the company.

Earlier this month it was reported that Setanta needed to raise £100m by the end of May.

The rejection of the interest-free loan will mean that Setanta will hold further talks with rights holders, including the PGA golf tour and Scottish Premier League.

Setanta had initially asked for a 15-20 per cent reduction in terms, but now the broadcaster may look to reduce rights deals by up to 25 per cent.

As we reported back in March, Setanta Sports and the UFC signed a two-year agreement at the start of 2008 which saw Setanta Sports 1 become the exclusive home for all UFC programming.

While we don’t have confirmation on whether or not ongoing talks over rights include talks with the UFC, the ongoing problems with the broadcaster raises questions over the UFC’s future in the UK, who may find themselves looking for a new UK broadcaster in the next six months or so.

Providing the original deal is still in place, UFC’s contract with Setanta Sports would end in early 2010, making the New Year an even more interesting one for wrestling and MMA fans in the UK and Ireland.

Earlier this week, BSkyB made an offer believed to be around £160million for seven digital television channels owned by cable company Virgin Media.

The seven channels owned by Virgin include Bravo, which of course airs TNA Impact and TNA Epics, as well as monthly pay-per-views on a tape-delay basis.

Should the deal go ahead, it brings into question the future of TNA programming in the UK, with BSkyB airing WWE programming in the UK, which has been the case for over twenty years now.

WWE’s current five-year deal with BSkyB expires in January 2010, while TNA’s current deal with Bravo expires at around the same time.

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com