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MUMBAI:
The International Fight League, Alfred Haber Distribution
and Fox Sports Net has announced that the American Forces
Network will begin airing IFL Fight Night beginning
in July on a weekly basis.
The
coverage on AFN will be in addition to the IFL's United States
deals with IFL Battleground on MyNetwork TV and Fight
Night on Fridays at 11 pm on FSN.
"We
are very pleased that servicemen and women around the globe
will now be able to see our world class coaches and athletes
on a regular basis," said IFL co-founder and CEO Gareb
Shamus. "This TV deal, along with our recent partnership
with the USO, reaches a key fan base for the sport, and we
are looking forward to continuing to grow our relationship
with the military in every way we can."
IFL
programming will also be seen starting in July on CanWest
Global in Canada, who will distribute the shows on their Global
X-Treme Sports Channel and MBC, the leading free-to-air Pan-Arab
news and entertainment channel in the Middle East and parts
of Africa.
Defense
Media Center executive director Jeff White said, "Mixed
martial arts programming has tremendous appeal to our military
audience serving overseas. And IFL is particularly appealing
in that it's a team-oriented sport that reflects the international
flavor of our uniformed services."
"Many
in our audience are seasoned veterans in several of these
specific fighting styles, including wrestling, karate, Taekwondo,
kickboxing, judo and jiu-jitsu. We're grateful to the IFL
and Alfred Haber Distribution. The fact that Mr. Shamus and
Mr. Haber have allowed the American Forces Network to distribute
the IFL is yet another example of America's commitment to,
and support of, our military men and women overseas"
added
White.
The
deal with AFN is the latest in a series of partnerships between
the IFL and the military. Earlier this month the IFL launched
an awareness partnership with the USO, with the two organizations
working together on a series of goodwill and multimedia projects
year-round.
IFL
coaches and athletes recently entertained over 3,000 servicemen
and women as part of 'Fleet Week 2007,' and have held clinics
with servicemen and women in Chicago, Everett, Washington,
and New London, Connecticut.
The
next IFL event will be held 2 August, at Continental Airlines
Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., the IFL's championship semi-finals.
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