The modification in networks likewise comes after Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinosa was delegated in charge of Bellator MMA after a restructuring with executives at ViacomCBS.
Coker included that part of the benefit changing networks will be all Bellator cards airing actual time despite place. Lots of past Bellator occasions handled time delays with broadcasts on the west coast beginning later than the east coast feed.
The move follows Viacom and CBS finished a merger at the end of 2019 that brought the 2 business back together after splitting in 2006. Previously, CBS Corporation ran separately of Viacom, however now the 2 broadcast business have reunited, which opened the possibility for new network partners for Bellator.
CBS Sports Network presently keeps broadcast rights for various entities consisting of numerous significant college sports including football and basketball in addition to the UEFA Champions League, WNBA, Professional Bull Riders, PGA Tour protection and tennis.
Bellator mixed martial arts has a brand-new broadcast partner.
On Friday, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed that the ViacomCBS-owned promotion will be leaving the Paramount Network with future cards now airing on the CBS Sports Network rather. The prelims will now air on CBSSports.com in addition to YouTube.
” Viacoms commitment to mixed martial arts has been strong because 2005,” Coker stated on Friday. “Now due to the fact that of the merger were able to change over to a sports network.”
On Oct. 15, Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg will return to action against Arlene Blencowe with a 9 p.m. ET begin time. Finally, Oct. 29 will see a brand-new Bellator middleweight champion crowned as reigning welterweight king Douglas Lima moves up to 185 pounds to face Gegard Mousasi.
Bellator was the only sports residential or commercial property still airing on the Paramount Network previously.
The very first Bellator card to air on the CBS Sports Network will be on Oct. 1. That card will air at 4 p.m. ET in the United States with Paul Daley taking on against Derek Anderson in the primary event from Milan, Italy. The next event will occur on Oct. 10 from Paris, France with Cheick Kongo taking on Tim Johnson in the headliner.
One downside to the move is CBS Sports Network is available in far less families than the Paramount Network. Since 2015, CBS Sports Network was offered in around 61 million homes while Paramount Network boasts schedule to over 80 million households.
The switch isnt always a surprise after Spike TV was rebranded as the Paramount Network in 2018. Since that time, the Paramount Network has shifted its focus to primarily original scripted and unscripted material like the hit series “Yellowstone,” which had the greatest scores for any cable program throughout the summer.
