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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC is moving away from Spike TV at the conclusion of this year, though they will have some presence on their longtime cable partner throughout 2012. With their only live sporting programming on its way out, Spike is taking steps to replace that lost content with the creation of a new position in the company of senior vice president, sports and multi-platform programming.
Spike TV announced on Tuesday that they have hired Jon Slusser for that position, and according to the press release, Slusser "will be charged with creating live, multi-platform, socially driven events with convergent opportunities for Spike TV’s expanding male audience." Additionally, "his focus will be on identifying sports and events that are a strategic fit for the brand."
Spike plans on continuing to be a home of live mixed martial arts events, and the press release states that their "extensive" plans for airing that content will be announced in the near future. It's seen as an inevitability that Bellator Fighting Championships will be moved to the network, though the terms of their deal to air UFC content through next year will not allow them to air other live MMA events yet.
Along with live sports programming, Spike hopes to add more "non-traditional" live content, such as their live coverage of E3 and ComiCon from this year. Slusser previously "served as senior vice president of Spike Digital Entertainment, a group which he helped create that includes Spike.com, GameTrailers.com, UltimateFighter.com and GameTrailers TV – a weekly TV show on Spike TV where he also served as executive producer."
"Spike is committed to creating distinctive live programming that delivers viewers on a multitude of platforms including television, online, mobile, social networks, and tablets,” said Spike TV President Kevin Kay. “We believe Jon's entrepreneurial spirit and forward thinking leadership in multi platform programming makes him the perfect guy to identify and build emerging franchises for us.
Penick's Analysis: This is what Spike needs to do in order to move forward as a network beyond the UFC. They can in some respects reinvent themselves as a home for more live content than they have currently, and once the deal with the UFC is completed they can also begin airing other MMA content such as Bellator. Slusser moving into this newly created position should hopefully bring about some good things for Spike as a network with the UFC no longer calling it their home.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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