Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Friday, 22nd May 2009
M-1 Netherlands B.V. and its worldwide television consultant Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST) have appointed Total Sports Asia as its exclusive representative to the television, new media and home video rights to M-1 Events in selected Asian territories.

Billed as the “World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts,” the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by its partner, Affliction Entertainment, that showcases some of the best up and coming MMA fighters in the world. The show will be broadcast to over 80 countries around the world, including the United States (on HDNet), Russia (NTV), the United Kingdom (Bravo UK), Korea (SBS) and Australia(Fox Sports Australia).

The action-packed 2009 season will feature 16 teams from all over the world. Each team is made up of 5 MMA fighters, one from each weight class, and with it being produced in High Definition, the M-1 Challenge 2009 promises high quality entertainment.

TSA will represent M-1 in negotiation of all television, new media and home video licensing deals in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, the Indian Subcontinent, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The partnership has had an explosive start with a deal struck in China earlier this month. Guangdong TV will be the first broadcaster to air M-1 Challenge 2009 under this partnership with many more discussions in advanced stages.

Senior Vice President of Media at Total Sports Asia, Julian Jackson, said: “We are delighted to be working with one of the most prestigious and more importantly, the best produced, quality MMA series in the world.”

He added: “The fact that they have the involvement of Fedor Emilianenko, who is generally recognized as the best ever heavyweight in MMA makes M1 a much more compelling proposition”

BEST Executive Vice President Dennis Spencer said: “We are delighted to work with Total Sports Asia, as they are the ideal partner to bring M-1 Global to Asian audiences. The M-1 Challenge has been well received by television networks throughout the world and we believe that Total Sports Asia will enable audiences in Asia to embrace this property as well.


About M-1 Global
M-1 Global has been one of the leading global organizations in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) since its establishment over a decade ago. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner include the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski (former UFC Heavyweight Champion) and Alistair Overeem (current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion). M-1 owns media rights to the M-1 Challenge, Affliction “Banned” and Affliction/M-1 Global Day of Reckoning events.

About Total Sports Asia: TSA is Asia’s leading independent full-service sports marketing, management and consulting company, specializing in media rights distribution, sports TV production, sponsorship and events management. TSA’s past and present business associates include Sports Federations, Events and Sports Clubs like USTA, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid FC, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, Liverpool FC, Formula 1, Moto GP, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Royal and Ancient St Andrews Golf Club.

TSA’s core business activities are Media Rights and Sales Distribution, TV Production, Licensing and Merchandising, Sponsorship Sales Activation, Consultancy and representation and Golf Course Design and Management consulting facilitation. TSA operates out of seven regional offices located in Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Mumbai, Delhi, and Tokyo and is head-quartered in Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.TotalSportsAsia.com.