TFN Global takes Fight to Europe

Canadian investors to help international effort

By BRENDAN KELLY

MONTREAL -- TFN Global, owner of Canuck pay channel The Fight Network, has raised several million dollars from a group of Canadian investors, which it plans to use to bow the network in other countries.

Toronto-based TFN also announced that it has acquired U.K. network The Wrestling Channel from Dolphin Television and is rebranding it as The Fight Network U.K.

Like The Fight Network in Canada, the British channel will feature mixed martial arts, boxing, wrestling and kickboxing, with a particular focus on Euro-based coverage.

"We think there's a very large market in the U.K. for what we do," said TFN Global CEO George Burger, a former senior exec at Alliance Communications. "It's growing all over."

Burger said The Fight Network will set-up channels in several European countries in the coming months. Many will be joint ventures with local players.

The new Canadian investors in TFN include former Alliance CFO Judson Martin, Goldfarb Intelligence Marketing CEO Martin Goldfarb and veteran broadcast exec Gary Slaight. Capital Canada helped arrange the private placement and has been retained by TFN Global as its investment banker.