American Forces Network to broadcast Bellator
Jul 14, 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Bellator Fighting Championships will expand its
reach to the more than 1 million brave American service men and
women, as well as Department of Defense and other US government
civilians and their families stationed overseas through a new
alliance with the American Forces Network.
Beginning this fall, all military personnel, Department of Defense civilian employees and their families stationed in 175 countries and territories overseas from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — and aboard 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea — will be able to watch all of Bellator Seasons 2 and 3 in their entirety via satellite broadcast.
The 24 Bellator broadcasts will air for 24 consecutive weeks every
Monday night at 9 p.m. “viewer time overseas” with Bellator Season
2 running from Sept. 6th to Nov. 22 and Bellator Season 3 running
from Nov. 29th to Feb. 14th.
Rights to air the broadcasts are being provided to the American Forces Network by Bellator free of charge.
The American Forces Network Broadcast Center distributes more than 210,000 hours annually of radio and television programming to its well-deserving audience via an encrypted satellite signal that accommodates nine separate television services and 11 radio services.
According to Jeff White, the AFN Broadcast Center Executive Director, Bellator’s addition to the line up is a feather in the cap for AFN Sports programming.
“Given the popularity of mixed martial arts with our young warfighters, we're very pleased to welcome Bellator Fighting Championships to the AFN sports line up,” White said. “Thanks to the support of the Bellator team, every week AFN viewers stationed around the world will be able to enjoy the action and excitement of some of the best fighters, pound for pound, in MMA.”
The alliance between Bellator and the American Forces Network was developed with the assistance of Engine Entertainment, the international TV production and distribution company.
“We are delighted to add the Bellator Fighting Championship to our AFN schedule,” said Corey Slutsky, Sports Director at the American Forces Network. “AFN provides a touch of home to U.S. military service members and their families deployed around the world, and we salute Bellator and Engine Entertainment for their support of the troops.”
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster.com.
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company with offices in Chicago. Bellator’s CEO/Chairman, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
About the Armed Forces Network Broadcast Center
The American Forces Network (AFN) is the brand name used by the American Forces Radio and Television Service. The AFN worldwide radio and television broadcast network serves American service men and women, Department of Defense and other US government civilians and their families stationed at bases overseas, as well as U.S. Navy ships at sea. AFN broadcasts popular American radio and television programs from the major U.S. networks. AFRTS, American Forces Network and AFN are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Beginning this fall, all military personnel, Department of Defense civilian employees and their families stationed in 175 countries and territories overseas from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — and aboard 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea — will be able to watch all of Bellator Seasons 2 and 3 in their entirety via satellite broadcast.
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Rights to air the broadcasts are being provided to the American Forces Network by Bellator free of charge.
“Bellator means warrior, and the finest warriors in the world today
are the brave American men and women who put their lives on the
line every day to defend and protect our way of life -- they are
the true heroes.” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “It
is an honor for Bellator to partner with the American Forces
Network and to be granted the opportunity to provide our broadcasts
for the enjoyment of these true warrior heroes.”
The American Forces Network Broadcast Center distributes more than 210,000 hours annually of radio and television programming to its well-deserving audience via an encrypted satellite signal that accommodates nine separate television services and 11 radio services.
According to Jeff White, the AFN Broadcast Center Executive Director, Bellator’s addition to the line up is a feather in the cap for AFN Sports programming.
“Given the popularity of mixed martial arts with our young warfighters, we're very pleased to welcome Bellator Fighting Championships to the AFN sports line up,” White said. “Thanks to the support of the Bellator team, every week AFN viewers stationed around the world will be able to enjoy the action and excitement of some of the best fighters, pound for pound, in MMA.”
The alliance between Bellator and the American Forces Network was developed with the assistance of Engine Entertainment, the international TV production and distribution company.
“We are delighted to add the Bellator Fighting Championship to our AFN schedule,” said Corey Slutsky, Sports Director at the American Forces Network. “AFN provides a touch of home to U.S. military service members and their families deployed around the world, and we salute Bellator and Engine Entertainment for their support of the troops.”
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster.com.
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company with offices in Chicago. Bellator’s CEO/Chairman, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
About the Armed Forces Network Broadcast Center
The American Forces Network (AFN) is the brand name used by the American Forces Radio and Television Service. The AFN worldwide radio and television broadcast network serves American service men and women, Department of Defense and other US government civilians and their families stationed at bases overseas, as well as U.S. Navy ships at sea. AFN broadcasts popular American radio and television programs from the major U.S. networks. AFRTS, American Forces Network and AFN are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Defense.
