UFC in Discussions to Purchase Controlling Interest in G4 Network from Comcast

I’m not sure how I feel about this.  Even though I’m an MMA fan, I don’t want to see them mess with the G4 lineup.  If the UFC takes over I’m afraid they will turn the entire network into an MMA channel, then we would lose shows likes AOTS and X-Play.  Also, where would I go to get my daily Cheaters and Cops fix?  The UFC should just start its own network.

Several reports have surfaced stating that UFC officials are in talks with Comcast to purchase a controlling interest in the G4 network.

The UFC has long flirted with the idea of starting their own network, but it appears they may be on the cusp of buying one instead.

Reports began surfacing on Wednesday that UFC officials were in talks with Comcast to purchase the G4 network.

Comcast took over NBC Universal in early 2011 with a buyout from GE for $13.8 billion. Since that time, different NBC affiliates have undergone changes under the new ownership and this would be the first major sale since they took over.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, later confirmed by the New York Times, the UFC is in talks to take over the struggling network, which is currently available in approximately 60 million homes.
The New York Times later reported that UFC officials were seeking to purchase 60 percent or more in a controlling interest of the G4 network.
The UFC has confirmed that they were in talks to secure a new TV deal because their current contract with Spike TV runs out at the end of 2011. While UFC president Dana White recently stated that they’ve had a great relationship with Spike over the years, the organization was open to exploring all options.

“Negotiations are negotiations, doesn’t matter who you’re talking to. I have a lot of respect and a lot of good relationships over at Spike TV, and we’ve been with them for a long time. They built us; we built them. We’ll see how the whole thing goes,” White said in May just after UFC 130 ended.

The negotiations between the UFC and Spike TV have been ongoing for quite a while, but according to sources money is at the heart of the matter as to why the two are not coming together on a new deal. The New York Times additionally reported that the UFC was seeking a $325 million a year fee for the network to continue broadcasting its programming.

Reports are that Comcast officials and UFC officials were meeting on Wednesday to discuss a possible deal.

G4 as a network has taken several hits over the past few years with dwindling numbers in the ratings, although they primarily serve the powerful 18-34-year-old male advertising demographic. The network lost a deal with DirecTV, which struck another blow to their viewership, but the UFC and Zuffa have had a longstanding relationship with DirecTV that could mend some fences if deal gets done.

A 2008 report by Variety stated that G4 was struggling in television ratings, but their cross format with content on the internet and podcasts gained much better numbers.

The UFC has long discussed moving content more and more to the internet and areas like mobile devices, and the G4 network along with its viewing base appears to be the most tech savvy crowd in the television world.

G4 as a network has also embraced mixed martial arts over the years, running several segments on the sport on the popular “Attack of the Show” program, as well as running a feature called “MMA Chokehold” where hosts and fighters break down the biggest bouts and make fight picks.

The network mostly boasts rehashed programming, but with original shows like “Attack of the Show” and the video game focused “X-Play,” G4 does play perfectly into the UFC’s brand of demographics and programming.

G4 host Blair Butler, who has done several segments with MMAWeekly.com over the years, has stated that there is a symmetry between what the network does and the sport of MMA. They have long embraced the sport, and with the UFC in charge and with shows like “The Ultimate Fighter,” as well as UFC live events on the network, that would only grow.

While no deal is done, the UFC being in talks to purchase the network could all but seal the deal that they will not be back on Spike TV beyond 2011. Although in the ever volatile world of television, anything can change the channel.

http://mmaweekly.com/ufc-in-discussions-to-purchase-controlling-interest-in-g4-network-from-comcast

E3 Microsoft

Microsoft's press conference just ended and I have to say I'm a little disappointed.  For the second straight year they pretty much jammed the Kinect down our throats.  Some of the Kinect stuff was cool, but the rest I really didnt care for.

Here are a bunch of videos from the conference:

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Halo 4

Mass Effect 3

Modern Warfare 3

Tomb Raider

Ikea Heights

A little while ago I was listening to Joe Rogans podcast, and they were talking about this internet show that came out a while ago called "Ikea Heights", so I checked it out and thought it was pretty funny.

The show is actually filmed in a Ikea, and whats funny about it is its filmed when the store is open, so when you watch it you will see customers walking by looking at them wondering wtf they are doing.

So in your free time check it out.  The episodes are short.

Here is the first episode.

Anchor from Blackbeard ship recovered

Saw this story and thought it was pretty cool, so I thought id share.

(CNN) -- Dead men tell no tales, but the sea does, as shown Friday when an anchor was recovered from the wreckage of pirate Blackbeard's flagship.

An expedition off the North Carolina coast hoisted the nearly 3,000-pound anchor, one of three belonging to the Queen Anne's Revenge.

Crews were working in just 20 feet of water, according to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

The Queen Anne's Revenge is believed to have run aground in the shallow waters off Beaufort in 1718. The ship was discovered in 1996, with piecemeal recovery of artifacts intensifying only a few years ago.

Beachcomber stumbles upon historic shipwreck

Staff from the department's Underwater Archaeology Branch are focused on "conducting a detailed assessment of the main mound to determine strategies for dis-assembly and recovery," according to the Queen Anne's Revenge website.

Conservation of the anchor may take four years.

The expedition is trying to score a trove of 18th-century goods, which will be used to educate the public and raise awareness of underwater preservation efforts. The site has already yielded more than 250,000 artifacts, including cannons, gold, platters, glass, beads, shackles and rope, according to the state.

The largest exhibit of fully conserved artifacts from the shipwreck will open at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort on June 11, the Department of Cultural Resources said in a statement.

Captain Kidd was funded by London's elite

An article published in March on the Smithsonian website said the Queen Anne's Revenge was found to have about 225,000 pieces of lead shot and at least 25 cannons, many of them still loaded.

Romanticized in history books as a notorious ruffian, Blackbeard, born in Britain as Edward Teach, terrorized Atlantic seafarers from the shores of the American colonies to the Caribbean.

In November 1718, the captain, believed to be in his late 30s, died in combat against British naval forces. He was on board another vessel, Adventure.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/27/north.carolina.blackbeard/

First Post In A While

Ok so this is my first post since March.  I stopped doing the blog because I was getting a lot of work for school and I felt like doing a blog was just something else I had to do, but now that the semester is over with I have a lot of free time so im going to start blogging again.

I dont really have anything to say right now, so enjoy the first image from "The Dark Knight Rises".  Its Bane btw.

Jon Jones Stops a Thief Hours Before His UFC 128 Fight

Ok this is pretty awesome.  Basically a few hours before his TITLE FIGHT at UFC 128, Jon Jones went to a park to meditate and he saw someone steal something from a car and took off.  So Jones and his trainers chased after the guy, caught him, and held him down until the police arrived.

Full Story:
NEWARK, N.J. -- Jon Jones has a specific fight day ritual. He likes to visit a spot with some natural beauty to feel the energy of nature. It's supposed to be a peaceful time, a way to collect his own power and find his focus.

On Saturday afternoon, his peaceful spot turned to chaos. Jones found himself in the middle of a robbery, and along with coachesGreg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, helped apprehend a thief.

Jones said he and his coaches were just getting dropped off at a park in the nearby city of Paterson when his co-manager Glenn Robinson warned them that the area was known for its crime. The trio shrugged it off and was no sooner out of the car when they heard screaming. Before Jones even realized what was happening, Jackson and Winkeljohn took off after the perp, who had allegedly smashed a windshield and stolen a GPS unit. Jones, who ironically had the career ambition of becoming a police officer before turning to MMA, quickly followed them.

"I got these gazelle legs, and I'm running, and next thing you know, I catch up to my coaches," he said. "I said, 'What do we do? We going to catch this guy?'"

Jones said it was then he "put the jets on" and sprinted past his coaches.

"The guy looks back, he sees me," Jones said. "You know I'm 6-foot-4, and I said, 'You know I'm going to catch you, right?'"

The thief tripped over his own feet and as he tried to regain his footing, Jones kicked his ankle out, figure-foured his legs and helped hold him until the police came for the easy collar.


Jones said it was then that one of the cops realized who he was.

"The policeman said, 'What? What are you doing here? Aren't you fighting tonight?'" Jones said.

Jones then returned back to the woman who had screamed for help, and she thanked him and told him God would be with him as he fought.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/20/jon-jones-takes-unexpected-turn-as-crimefighter-before-winning-u/

O yeah, Jon Jones also dominated Shogun to win the belt.

American Pie Reunion Planned

Im not sure if this is a good or bad thing.  I guess we will just have to wait to see how it turns out.

Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott and Eugene Levy will reportedly reprise their roles from the original American Pietrilogy for another feature film installment in the comedy franchise. 

American Pie became a direct-to-DVD cash cow for Universal after the original trilogy ended with 2003's American Wedding. This new film, which TheWrap claims will go before cameras May 24, will mark the franchise's return to the big screen. 

TheWrap says "Universal in negotiations with Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari and Jennifer Coolidge. The studio is hoping to bring back most of the original cast." 

Harold & Kumar veterans Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg wrote the script for American Pie 4 and will also direct.


http://movies.ign.com/articles/115/1156052p1.html