PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE LAUNCHES PFL STUDIOS TO PRODUCE CONTENT FOR TELEVISION, DIGITAL AND MOBILE PLATFORMS
Four New Original PFL Studios Series for 2020 will Air on ESPN Platforms, Including
“The Randy Couture Story,” Detailing the Inspiring Journey of the MMA Legend
& PFL Broadcaster
16-Time Emmy Award-Winning Producer and Director George Greenberg and
PFL Chief Digital Officer Daniel Ghosh-Roy, Former Complex Networks Executive, to Lead
PFL Studios With Offices in New York and Los Angeles
NEW YORK (June 8, 2020) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the first organization ever to present MMA through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format, today unveiled PFL Studios, a fully integrated global media division of the Professional Fighters League producing original MMA content for all platforms including television, digital and mobile.
All long-form PFL Studios content will be led by 16-Time Emmy Award-winning producer and director George Greenberg, while PFL Chief Digital Officer Daniel Ghosh-Roy will produce short-form content across digital platforms. PFL broadcast partner ESPN will distribute the original series for 2020 across ESPN platforms, including a six-episode docuseries on MMA legend and PFL broadcaster Randy Couture.
“We’re excited to launch PFL Studios with our partner ESPN and continue to grow our league by providing MMA fans with compelling, year-round storytelling,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League. “Demand among media partners and MMA fans is there for premium combat sports content across all platforms, and MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. Drawing inspiration from my time with NFL Films, our mission at PFL Studios is to harness the power of great storytelling and behind-the-scenes access to deliver fans original content that has never been seen in MMA.”
“The PFL unique sports-season format is designed to create stars, and we’re excited to showcase the emotional and physical journeys of our incredible athletes,” said Greenberg. “My team and I at PFL Studios look forward to expanding our relationship with ESPN through unique storytelling in MMA, beginning with four new original series across ESPN platforms in 2020. From Inside The Season to The Randy Couture Story, we will deliver rich, episodic stories that will captivate sports fans.”
Four New Original Series From PFL Studios Airing on ESPN Platforms
PFL Studios' first original program to hit ESPN this month will be “Fantastic Finishes,” a fast paced, highlight-driven, seven-episode series reliving memorable knockouts and slick submissions across all six PFL weight classes. The series finale is a one-hour Top 40 finishes special. Fans can also look forward to bonus knockout coverage from past PFL and WSOF stars including Justin Gaethje.
Also debuting in June is “Inside The Season,” a 10-part series providing fans with unprecedented access and insight into the inevitable ups and downs of an eight-month season. New fighter interviews, never-before-seen fight footage, access to fighter locker rooms, takes from journalists, and commentary from announcers will contribute to a fresh, in-depth look at the 2019 PFL season.
PFL’s “A Champion’s Journey” tells the grueling and inspiring stories of Kayla Harrison, Lance Palmer, Ray Cooper III and other elite fighters who survived five fights in eight months to be PFL Champion on New Year’s Eve. MMA star and PFL newcomer Rory MacDonald will also be featured in the eight-part series slated for a September start, as he prepares for a 2021 run at a title.
Finally, “The Randy Couture Story” will indulge viewers with details of his inspiring journey from wrestling standout to MMA legend. His career contributions extend beyond the cage, from work with veterans to roles in Hollywood. Starting in September, hear from the man himself, and an eclectic range of characters that helped shape his unique story.
PFL Studios Develops Short-Form Content For Digital Channels
PFL Studios will continue to develop short-form original programs for digital channels. These MMA-themed custom content series and campaigns for major brands resonate with the fastest growing and most engaged fans in the world. Inside The Knockout, Powered by Presidente, is a weekly series telling the story behind the best knockouts from the PFL 2018 and 2019 seasons. Run it Back, Powered by Presidente, is a weekly series reliving PFL’s biggest fights through interviews with its top fighters as they watch back their best moments. Additional series will launch in the coming weeks.
About Professional Fighters League
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) presents MMA for the first time in the sport-season format where individual fighters control their own destiny, competing in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship. PFL’s differentiated format and exciting fights sparked breakout growth for the league. PFL events are broadcast live in primetime on ESPN2 and ESPN+ in the United States and distributed to 160 additional countries around the world on premium sports networks.
Follow PFL on Instagram (@PFLmma), Twitter (@ProFightLeague), and Facebook (/PFLmma).
