Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD bag telecast rights for Kumite 1 League

Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD have come on board as broadcast partners for the newly set up homegrown MMA league – Kumite -1 League. The deal was inked at a closed door meeting held between Mohammedali Budhwani, Promoter, Kumite 1 League & CMD, Toyam Industries Ltd, and Sony ESPN on September 8, 2018. 

Talks have been on with Sony ESPN for over two months before the fruition of this deal. Through both the leading sports channels, Kumite 1 League will reach 8 countries where Sony ESPN has a presence: Indian Sub Continent - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives. Mike Tyson has been named Mentor for the League. Tyson will tour India to promote the League and will be present at the fight night. 

Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD will run a live telecast of the fight night, which will be held in NSIC Dome, Mumbai on September 29. Tyson will fly into the country ahead of time to meet and encourage the fighters. On the fight night, he will officially launch Kumite 1 League and kick-start the fight. 24 celebrated MMA fighters from the world over will take part in the League. 

Commenting on the Sony ESPN broadcast deal, Budhwani said, “It gives us immense pleasure to be telecast live on Sony ESPN. As broadcast partners, they have shown immense support and have an inherent understanding of MMA. I am confident with Mike Tyson as our Mentor and Sony ESPN as our broadcast partners, we will take giant strides in popularising MMA and making the sport one to reckon with as we cut across nations and languages.” 

Alongside Sony ESPN, Kumite 1 League has struck various international deals to mark their entry into the global arena. Through OTT, IPTV, Satellite, Cable and Terrestrial platforms, Kumite 1 League’s launch and fight night will be available now in over 80 countries and 8,557,000 households.