Big issue with this logic is why would a subsidiary being conned renew that deal? Why would a subsidiary's management that's dumb enough(in a business that's doing terribly, ESPN that is) to be conned still be in office seven or eight years from now. This logic is correct for quite a few years, issue is what happens next and how much of a PPV audience will be left when that sweet deal(inevitably because of how sweet it is)comes to an end. Remember the Fox deal didn't get renewed, UFC found a better deal, who's to say that will happen next time if the PPV's are worth like a quarter of what they were when ESPN signed on?
I think this deal can work out good and free the UFC from being beholden to casuals and drive the quality of the product up. But this could end up being a long term disaster. ESPN ain't doing good right now, any executives who've made Dana any sort of promises for a long term committment could be gone tomorrow, I know he's dealt with that before on Spike. Issue with this deal is it could make the UFC dependent on an unsustainable arrangement to survive, cause the ESPN plus thing is going to reduce an already shrinking PPV base.
RIP Frankie
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