The UFC will be making
its way to German television network ProSieben according to
freefightvideos.com. The website reports that the broadcaster that also
runs reality TV programming such as the German version of American
Idol, German Idol, will run UFC programming including the Ultimate
Fighter TV show.
The UFC 's move into Germany has been rumored for some time with the first site potentially Cologne, headlined by Randy Couture facing Chuck Liddell for a fourth time. Couture spent some time in Germany while he was in the military and can apparently speak the language.
The UFC has not had much success in Germany in the past, it had a partnership with the Premiere broadcast network which aired UFC PPV events but apparently poor ratings scuttled any future partnerships. With the additions of Marc Ratner, and Lorenzo Fertitta as full-time employees of the UFC, it is apparent that their plans of a global marketplace are firmly underway.