MUMBAI: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Televisa Networks have announced an exclusive distribution agreement to air UFC programming in 20 Spanish speaking countries in Latin America. A 24 hour, seven day a week UFC channel featuring martial arts programming including premiere live UFC events will be launched soon. The new subscription network will be available later this year. The partnership between Televisa and the UFC is in response to fan demand throughout Latin America.

Viewers across Latin America, except Brazil, will have access to more than 20,000 hours of content including Championship fights and over 35 live events per year and legendary fights from the UFC, Pride FC, WEC and Strikeforce. The UFC Channel will also feature original programming such as reality series, all broadcast in Spanish.

Zuffa, is the parent company of UFC. Zuffa owner, co-founder Lorenzo Fertitta said, "The launch of the UFC Channel will be a game changer for our sport and its fans throughout Latin America. We are giving millions of fans across the region complete access to all our live events and programming for the first time. UFC is the fastest growing sports organization in history and with the strength of Latin America?s premier media group Televisa, the UFC Channel will become the fastest growing sports network in television history."

Televisa Networks GM Bruce Boren said, "The new UFC Channel occupies a coveted position in both sports entertainment and lifestyle ecosystems. Through live fights, UFC classic bouts, Strikeforce, Pride, and other related content for the mixed martial arts fans, this 24/7 channel further strengthens Televisa Networks? offering."

UFC has been growing in popularity at a rate never-before-seen in the professional sports world; its television programming is already available in over 800 million homes in more than 145 countries, in 28 different languages. UFC action airs exclusively on Sony Six in India.

Until the launch of the new channel, Televisa has the rights to air UFC content in 20 countries in Latin America, excluding Brazil, starting June 2013.