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ESPN STAR Sports and Resorts World™ Sentosa Form 3-Year Exclusive Partnership with the launch of the MARTIAL COMBAT Asia s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship
Posted on : 05 October 2009


5 October 2009, Singapore: Asia s top sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), today announced a 3-year exclusive partnership with Resorts World™ Sentosa to create, stage and broadcast a range of world-class sporting events in Singapore, kicking off with the launch of the inaugural MARTIAL COMBAT Asia s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship in 2010.

The MARTIAL COMBAT will feature a grand total of twelve events comprising 60 action-packed fights featuring some of the most popular and celebrated Asian fighters and many ranked fighters from around the world. It will receive an unprecedented amount of television coverage from ESS in excess of 60 hours, making it the largest MMA broadcast in Asia. The first leg of events, scheduled on 14-15 May 2010, promises to be a star-studded event showcasing non-stop action, inside a ring, from some of the biggest fighters in the region and from around the world. This will be the first-ever MMA event till date to receive television coverage in 24 different countries in Asia, extensive online support through www.espnstar.com and mobile initiatives through mobileESPN.

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said, We are very pleased to join hands with Resorts World™ Sentosa to kick start a great sports entertainment initiative which we believe has a lot of potential in becoming a signature sporting event in Asia. I am confident that with our event management expertise coupled with the strength of our television networks and digital platforms, sports fans at the resort and across the region can look forward to a highly engaging and entertaining experience .

Miss Andrea Teo, Vice President of Entertainment for Resorts World™ Sentosa said: "We believe that through the MARTIAL COMBAT Asia s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, this professional sport will scale new heights and groom talented fighters into household names. Having a mega tourism destination like Resorts World™ Sentosa as a venue, will definitely lend buzz to the fights.

As Singapore s only island-integrated resort, Resorts World™ Sentosa is set to woo tourists with its collection of attractions and hotel offerings. There will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors, ranging from musical and theatrical to sporting events. The MARTIAL COMBAT Asia s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship will be held at the resort s Compass Ballroom. The wide array of event facilities and the professional expertise available at the resort are valuable assets in being able to produce high-quality and attention-grabbing events.

This partnership brings together the strengths of ESPN STAR Sports Event Management as Asia s #1 sports event organizer and the brand new venue and facilities of Resorts World™ Sentosa. Resorts World™ Sentosa is scheduled to open in early 2010 and is owned by Genting Singapore. The S$6.59-billion venture will include South-east Asia s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world s largest marine life park, six hotels, a casino, and a host of retail, dining and entertainment options. ESS s Events Management has managed and promoted more than 1,000 high-profile sporting events around Asia, such as the KIA X Games Asia, KL World 5s, 9 Ball Tour, the FEI Endurance Race, the Standard Chartered FIH Men s Junior World Cup & Aviva Ironman 2009.

MMA is already one of the world s fastest growing sports and has dominated the North American pay-per-view scene as the most watched sport since 2006. Its unique combination of a full contact combat sport which also allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, leads to a mass appeal amongst different types of martial arts. In addition to MARTIAL COMBAT Asia s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, ESS will broadcast a select number of programming from other MMA events from around the world in 2010.


About ESPN STAR Sports

ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world s leading cable and satellite broadcasters. As Asia's definitive and complete sports broadcaster and content provider, ESPN STAR Sports combines the strengths and resources of its ultimate parent companies Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.) and News Corporation Limited (STAR) to deliver a diverse array of international and regional sports to viewers via its encrypted pay and free-to-air services.

ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier live sports from around the globe 24 hours a day to a cumulative reach of more than 310 million viewers in Asia. ESPN STAR Sports has 17 networks covering 24 countries, each localised to deliver differentiated world-class premier sports programming to Asian viewers. This includes ESPN SEA, ESPN China, ESPN Hong Kong, ESPN India, ESPN Malaysia, ESPN Philippines, ESPN SEA 2, ESPN Taiwan, MBC-ESPN (Korea), STAR Sports Asia, STAR Sports Hong Kong, STAR Sports India, STAR Sports Malaysia, STAR Sports SEA 2, STAR Sports Southeast Asia, STAR Sports Taiwan, and STAR Cricket.

On the ground, the ESPN STAR Sports Event Management Group manages and promotes premier sporting events around Asia. ESPN STAR Sports aims to reach consumers at any time, any place and through all new media platforms, both internet and mobile. The multi-lingual, online platforms, espnstar.com, espnstar.com.cn and espnstar.com.tw and footballcrazy.tv interact with millions of users providing them with in-depth sports news, results and competitions. Developed for the sports fan that is constantly on the move, mobileESPN and STAR Sports Mobile delivers differentiated mobile content targeted at its various audiences. mobileESPN enables the serious sports fan to follow their favourite sports more closely than ever before with a combination of specially produced video news clips, in-depth news coverage and analysis. STAR Sports Mobile aims to provide interactive and entertaining opportunities to engage with sports, delivering exclusive video excerpts from leading football clubs Arsenal and Liverpool as well as highlights from STAR Sports original programmes covering opinions, instructional tips and the latest online game reviews.

About Resorts World™ Sentosa

Slated to be one of the world s most exciting family destinations, Resorts World™ Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with fun-filled offerings for the entire family.

Taking pride of place on Singapore s resort island of Sentosa and spanning 49 hectares of lush greenery, this S$6.59 billion (US$4.2 billion) destination will be home to Southeast Asia s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world s largest Marine Life Park, and a destination spa ESPA.

Besides attractions, Resorts World™ Sentosa offers six hotels and full conference and meeting amenities. Entertainment performances include the Crane Dance the world s largest animatronic performance - set out at the Resort waterfront. Guests to the Resort can also choose from dozens of shopping and dining options at the Resort s bustling Strip, FestiveWalk.
Resorts World™ at Sentosa will have its soft opening in early 2010.

For more information, please contact:

Elgen Kua (ESPN STAR Sports)
DID: +65 6216 6034
Email: kuae@espnstar.com

Ng Puay Leng (Resorts World™ Sentosa)
DID: +65 6577-9766
Email: puayleng.ng@rwsentosa.com



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