Spike TV Launches Co-Viewing App for Bellator MMA

RMN Digital | March 1, 2013 | Americas, Consumer, Entertainment, Masses, Mobiles, Regions | No Comments

Spike TV has launched “Bellator MMA” for iPad and iPhone, giving fans the chance to experience mixed martial arts with a co-viewing MMA app.

The app is available on the App Store free on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com/BellatorMMA.

When the Bellator cage door closes and the gloves touch, the app works in concert with the live Spike broadcast to supply fans with real-time fight data only available through the app.

Developed from the ground up to make watching live fights more immersive, viewers will have the ability to track expansive fighter analytics and participate in the on-air broadcast.

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As “The 4th Judge,” fans can score rounds with the help of real-time statistics powered by CompuStrike, a service providing data in 26 categories from arm strikes to submission attempts.

“We see this second-screen as a game-changer. The results from the app will actually become part of the on-air discussion. There’s nothing like that in all of sports television,” said Jon Slusser, senior VP, Sports and Multiplatform Events, Spike TV.

Viewers will be able to have their opinions known during the live telecast. The Bellator broadcast team of Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock will announce the results of viewers’ polling to see how fan opinion compares to their own as well as the official cageside judges. “The 4th Judge” voting will not factor in the actual judges’ decisions.

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The app features historical statistics for every fighter, pre-fight fan picks, and “Favorite Fight of the Night” polling, which will be sharable via social networks.

The Bellator MMA app also gives fans the opportunity to watch exclusive videos, and dig deep into fighter biographies. “Bellator MMA” airs live on Spike TV Thursday nights at 10:00pm ET/PT from venues all across North America, featuring many of the world’s best mixed martial arts fighters.

Spike TV partnered with Omnigon Communications, a digital solutions company specializing in the sports, media and entertainment industries, to create the app.

Bellator MMA is the world’s leading tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization.

Photo courtesy: Spike TV / Bellator MMA