Last-Minute Deal Brings UFC 144 to Free-to-Air TV Tokyo

Only five days before UFC 144, a Tokyo-based station has announced plans to broadcast a portion of the event on Japanese terrestrial television.

TV Tokyo, a free-to-air channel which specializes in anime programming, announced Tuesday that it will air a tape-delayed, 90-minute version of UFC 144 “Edgar vs. Henderson” on Sunday at 3:15 a.m. local time. The last-minute broadcast represents a free alternative to the UFC’s live airing on Japanese cable channel Wowow.

While TV Tokyo is the smallest of Japan’s major networks, its reach is considerably larger than that of the UFC’s cable partner. According to a 2011 release, TV Tokyo is viewable by over 32 million households, or about 70 percent of the Japanese population; Wowow reaches approximately 20 million households.

The Octagon was last seen on TV Tokyo in March 2010, when UFC Fight Night 21 aired in primetime via tape delay. The event, which saw former Pride Fighting Championships lightweight star Takanori Gomi take on Kenny Florian, reportedly drew between 3.5 and 5.25 million viewers.