UFC's new UK and Irish television partner, BT Sport, unveils pricing structure

BT Sport, which UFC officials announced earlier this week as its new U.K. and Irish television partner, has unveiled the pricing structure for its three-channel lineup.

The upstart company will give the UFC a bigger presence in the region with live event broadcasts and traditional highlights shows, as well as new specialty programming geared around the U.K. and Ireland.

The launch is slated for Aug. 1, when the UFC’s current deal with ESPN UK expires. The UFC-BT Sport deal runs three years.

BT Sport, which will operate two of its own branded channels (BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 2) as well as the recently acquired ESPN UK, is available for free to BT broadband customers, officials today announced.

Prices for non-customers start at £10 per month. However, for £15 a month, fight fans can get BT Infinity broadband service, which includes the channels. Additionally, if customers sign up before Aug. 1, HD is free for 12 months.

Sky customers can add the channels for £12 a month (plus a £15 activation fee). However, prices haven’t been announced for Virgin customers.

ESPN UK has been home to the UFC since 2009 but rarely made the organization a priority – despite the emergence of local fighters such as Michael Bisping, Ross Pearson, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett. The paid-subscription model didn’t prove financially viable for ESPN, which ultimately sold its assets to BT Sport.

As previously reported, in addition to the UFC, BT Sport has closed or is finalizing deals with sports organizations such as Premier League and Scottish Premier League football, Premiership Rugby, the Women’s Tennis Association, MotoGP motorcycle racing, NASCAR and more.

The first UFC event to air on BT Sport will be UFC 163 on Aug. 3.

For more on UFC 163, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Michael Bisping)