Spike TV Partners with ‘Amazing Race’ Co-Creator for 2013 Bellator Reality Show
Bellator
Fighting Championships’ rumored reality show now has a heavy
hitter on board.
Spike TV announced Tuesday that it has partnered with “The Amazing Race” co-creator Bertram van Munster to produce a non-scripted series for the Chicago-based fight promotion that will debut in 2013. Network officials announced that the Emmy winner will serve as an executive producer for the series.
“Some of the most physically gifted and fascinating athletes in the
world fight in Bellator,” said van Munster in an official release.
“I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new
non-scripted series.”
Plans for the show were first revealed in November by Spike TV President Kevin Kay. Details regarding the series’ format have not yet been disclosed, but Kay told Sports Illustrated that the program would not follow a similar format to Spike’s previous MMA reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.”
“We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike,” said Bjorn Rebney, Bellator CEO.
Currently, Bellator airs on MTV2, another Viacom-owned cable station. The media conglomerate purchased a majority stake in Bellator last year, and it was announced soon thereafter that Spike TV would become the new home of the Chicago-based promotion in 2013.
Spike had previously partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but the parties were unable to negotiate a new contract last year. As a result, the UFC inked a new, seven-year deal with Fox Networks. UFC programming will cease to air on Spike at the end of this year, when the network’s right to rebroadcast the UFC library expires.
Spike TV announced Tuesday that it has partnered with “The Amazing Race” co-creator Bertram van Munster to produce a non-scripted series for the Chicago-based fight promotion that will debut in 2013. Network officials announced that the Emmy winner will serve as an executive producer for the series.
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Plans for the show were first revealed in November by Spike TV President Kevin Kay. Details regarding the series’ format have not yet been disclosed, but Kay told Sports Illustrated that the program would not follow a similar format to Spike’s previous MMA reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.”
“We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike,” said Bjorn Rebney, Bellator CEO.
Currently, Bellator airs on MTV2, another Viacom-owned cable station. The media conglomerate purchased a majority stake in Bellator last year, and it was announced soon thereafter that Spike TV would become the new home of the Chicago-based promotion in 2013.
Spike had previously partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but the parties were unable to negotiate a new contract last year. As a result, the UFC inked a new, seven-year deal with Fox Networks. UFC programming will cease to air on Spike at the end of this year, when the network’s right to rebroadcast the UFC library expires.
