Versus Pins Down Another MMA Deal

(Multichannel News) _ Versus Tuesday adds its second mixed-martial-arts franchise to its lineup in as many weeks, announcing that it will televise the inaugural season of the World Combat League.

Versus will televise at least 27 hours of WCL action in primetime during 2007 beginning with a Jan. 25 event, according to the network. The WCL -- created by martial-arts icon and actor Chuck Norris -- consists of eight teams representing two divisions.

Last week, the Comcast-owned network announced that it would televise content from the World Extreme Cagefighting franchise.
"World Combat League is an important addition to our expanding portfolio of competitive genres, and it follows the network's ambitious growth in the category," Versus vice president of programming, international and strategic planning Victoria Quoss said in a prepared statement. "We hope Chuck Norris' iconic stature in the martial-arts world, coupled with the nonstop action of the sport, will appeal to our core viewers but also bring in a broader audience to the network."

Source: dtv.broadcastnewsroom.com