First UFC – Here’s Art Davie’s pitch to SEG

Here is the “pitch” letter Art Davie sent to Semaphore Entertainment Group in April 1993 that got the Pay-Per-View TV company interested in the first UFC. Davie had already been turned down by Showtime and HBO, but ESPN was giving it consideration. This simple three-page executive summary contained the highlights of the tournament concept for a mixed match franchise; and was sent to Campbell McLaren, the Vice-President of Programming at SEG.

SEG had been looking for a franchise property; as they had been producing “one-offs.” You can read all about it in the book IS THIS LEGAL? the inside story of the first UFC by Art Davie and Sean Wheelock, published by Ascend Books and due in book stores the first week of July.

Original pitch letter for show pg.1

 

Original pitch letter for show pg.2

Original pitch letter for show pg.3 (2)

Campbell McLaren was so impressed with this simple outline that he sent Davie a plane ticket to come to New York City and discuss a deal. The first UFC was off and running. Read all about it in IS THIS LEGAL? the inside story of the first UFC from the man who created it. Available in bookstores July 2014.