ONE Championship’s mission to bring its live events to more audiences worldwide just took a significant step.
The organization announced on Tuesday, December 12, that they have signed an exclusive TV deal with Europe’s largest sports broadcaster, Sky Sports, and it is set to lift off in January 2024.
The deal will see Sky Sports air ONE Championship events across TV and digital platforms to viewers in the UK and Ireland, beginning with ONE Fight Night 18: Superlek vs. Mahmoudi on Saturday, January 14.
Sky’s catalog of sports already includes Formula 1, cricket, golf, and Premier League football, so ONE’s plethora of martial arts disciplines will be a welcome addition to the broadcaster’s platform.
Speaking about the landmark deal, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said he was delighted to provide fans with a European home for ONE’s live shows.
“For years, our UK fans have been clamoring for ONE to be broadcast on one of the region’s major networks. Today, I’m excited to announce a new partnership with Sky Sports, the premier broadcaster for live sports in the UK and one of the most well-known sports networks in the world,” Sityodtong said.
“This deal marks an important milestone for the celebration of martial arts and the continued expansion of ONE Championship’s global footprint.”
According to Nielsen, ONE Championship is one of the top five global sports organizations in terms of digital viewership and engagement, and it has athletes from all over the world on its roster.
Sky Sports Director of Multi Sports Helen Falkus shared Sityodtong’s excitement and said the broadcasting giant was looking forward to offering audiences the chance to watch ONE’s events.
“We’re pleased to partner with ONE Championship to bring their full range of martial arts to Sky Sports for the first time. We hope to bring new fans to the world-class competitive formats on our channels, as well as reach new audiences for Sky,” Falkus said.
The deal marks a milestone year for ONE Championship and gives fans in the UK and Ireland plenty to look forward to in 2024, as the promotion has 61 events planned around the world, including four trips to the US as well as its debut event in Doha, Qatar.