HDNet
HDNET TO SPONSOR FOUR LIVE 3D THEATRE BROADCASTS OF UFC® PAY-PER-VIEW EVENTS IN 2012
January 31 2012 1:08 PM ET
HDNET TO SPONSOR FOUR LIVE 3D THEATRE BROADCASTS OF
UFC® PAY-PER-VIEW EVENTS IN 2012
Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ:CIDM) announced today that HDNet will be the official sponsor of four, live 3D theatrical broadcasts of UFC® Pay-Per-View events in 2012 at nearly 75 Cinedigm affiliated theatres. Beginning with the live 3D broadcast of UFC® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT on Saturday, Feb. 4, HDNet will be the featured sponsor, giving the network increased exposure for its MMA programming including promotion of Inside MMA. In addition, HDNet personalities Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten will have a noticeable presence during 30-minute countdown shows that air in those theatres prior to the live broadcast of UFC Pay-Per-View events.
This news comes on the heels of UFC and Cinedigm announcing late last year the plan to bring the fastest-growing sport in the world to Cinedigm’s affiliated 3D theatres across the country, which include such circuits as Carmike Cinemas, Rave Motion Pictures, Kirkorian Theatres, UltraStar Cinemas and Galaxy Theatres.
“We’re giving fans the chance to watch UFC like never before – live and in 3D,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’re excited that HDNet will be the official sponsor of these 3D events with Cinedigm. It’s going to be a big year for the UFC and we can’t wait to give our fans the chance to see Pay-Per-View events live in theatres in 3D.”
“HDNet has always been the go to source for MMA fans – from fights to news – and partnering with UFC and Cinedigm on 3D is a natural fit to HDNet’s ongoing commitment to MMA,” HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon said. “This sponsorship is just one of many new, exciting, and cutting edge additions to HDNet and Inside MMA in 2012, from a brand new studio to more live events, exclusive highlights and on-site UFC coverage.”
The first 3D theatrical presentation, UFC® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDIT, airs live on Pay-Per-View from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. In the night’s main event, the fiery and unpredictable Nick Diaz battles knockout artist Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title. Plus, heavyweights Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Fabricio Werdum collide, while welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck meets powerhouse wrestler Mike Pierce.
For a list of theatres showing this event in 3D, visit www.ufc.com/3D
About Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® is the world’s premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC livePay-Per-View events annually around the globe. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. This year, FOX will broadcast four fight cards annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC’s signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in 150 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching over one billion homes worldwide, in 21 different languages.
UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over 460,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with nearly 1.9 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.
Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a UFC magazine, the best-selling UFC “Undisputed” videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Clubaffinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, and articulated action figures.
About Cinedigm
Cinedigm offers a new business model to exhibitors by enabling theatres to present engaging alternative programming including live 2D and 3D sporting events and concerts, shorts, cartoons, live Q&As, as well as branded entertainment. Recent releases by Cinedigm include the groundbreaking, LIVE 3D broadcast of The Foo Fighters performance, the worldwide LIVE 3D broadcast of the FIFA World Cup Championship, the BCS Championship in LIVE 3D, the Dave Matthews Band 3D concerts, and the sold out 3D PHISH concerts. Cinedigm has also released the KIDTOONS series for the past six years, a weekly family friendly matinee series that runs in over 165 theatres across the country. Cinedigm also provides a number of powerful software applications that enable exhibitors to enhance and streamline their daily operations. Additionally, Cinedigm offers precision marketing tools to dramatically increase exhibitor marketing effectiveness, including social media initiatives, targeted advertising and strategic public relations. Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. www.cinedigm.com [CIDM-G]
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
HDNet presents exclusive, innovative and original programming, including the network’s Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, “HDNet World Report,” and “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.
HDNet is your home for MMA, featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, “HDNet Fights” (www.hdnetfights.com). “Inside MMA” is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while “The Voice Vs…,” features Michael Schiavello going one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concert line-up through “HDNet Concerts,” now also presenting LIVE concerts in high definition. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring “Art Mann Presents,” “Drinking Made Easy,” “Deadline” and “Get Out!”
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS . The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, and facebook.com/HDNetFights and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet and twitter.com/hdnetfights.
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Press Contacts:
UFC
Chris Costello
702-588-5546
Cinedigm Public Relations
MBC
Maggie Begley
310-301-1785
Cinedigm Investor Relations
Addo Communications
Andrew Blazier
andrewb@addocommunications.com
Kimberly Esterkin
kimberlye@addocommunications.com
310-829-5400
HDNet
Amy Pfister









