Spike TV is gearing up for next year's arrival of Bellator Fighting Championships.
Officials today announced a new unscripted reality show that will feature Bellator fighters, though details of the series are under wraps for now.
"The Amazing Race" co-creator and Emmy winner Bertram van Munster will be involved in the one-hour show, which debuts in 2013 on Spike TV.
Bellator CEO and Chairman Bjorn Rebney recently told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) the organization was considering a reality show for Spike TV. He also said Spike TV will host Bellator specialty programming, such as historic fights and event previews, when it moves from MTV2 to Spike TV in 2013.
"We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike," Rebney today stated.
Officials said they expect the new series to appeal to both MMA fans, as well as reality-TV enthusiasts.
Elise Doganieri and van Munster will serve as executive producers for the new series. Spike TV executives Sharon Levy and Tim Duffy will oversee the project for the network.
Spike TV aired the first 14 seasons of the long-running and ground-breaking UFC reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter." However, due to the UFC's new deal with the FOX family of channels, the series moved to FX this year and was rebranded as "TUF: Live."
Due to the UFC-Spike TV contract, Bellator can't move its live shows to Spike TV until 2013. Currently, its events air on a fellow Viacom-owned MTV2, and prelims air on Spike.com. However, Spike TV will be the primary home for all Bellator content in 2013.
