THQ Inc. : THQ and Zuffa Announce Transition of Ultimate Fighting Championship Videogame Rights
06/04/2012| 04:45pm US/Eastern

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THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Zuffa, LLC, today announced that they have
reached an agreement resulting in Zuffa licensing to Electronic Arts
Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) the right to publish videogames based on the Ultimate
Fighting Championship® (UFC®) brand, effective
today. The agreement results in an undisclosed cash payment to THQ.
Additionally, THQ will continue to publish its existing console and
mobile titles through March 31, 2013.
"Over the last three years, THQ has delivered best-in-class,
all-encompassing experiences to MMA fans, sports enthusiasts and
fighting gamers around the globe with its UFC Undisputed™
series. We want to thank them for their stewardship of our brand," said
Dana White, President, UFC. "We look forward to joining forces with EA
to leverage their sports platform, and expand our brand in the video
game space."
Brian Farrell, THQ's Chairman and CEO, commented, "We have relished our
relationship with UFC over the last several years and believe that the
UFC gaming brand is in great shape. THQ's more focused strategy moving
forward meant that transferring the license to EA made sense to all
parties. We would like to thank UFC for their great support and
partnership and wish EA all the best moving forward."
About Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev.,
UFC® is the world's premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC
live Pay-Per-View events annually around the globe. In 2012, FOX will
broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®,
UFC's signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. UFC content is
also distributed commercially to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand
Promotions in the U.S. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over
149 countries and territories, reaching a half a billion homes
worldwide, in 20 different languages.
UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting
over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one
of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional
sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over
400,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is
one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with
more than 1.7 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC
continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports
league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.
Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a magazine, the
best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ,
UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals,
branded apparel, trading cards, and articulated action figures.
About THQ
THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher
of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products
for all popular game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and
the Internet. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells
product through its global network of offices located throughout North
America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its
products may be found at http://www.thq.com/.
THQ and its logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
THQ Inc. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of
THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"),
including, but not limited to, expectations with respect to the transfer
of the UFC license from THQ to Electronic Arts. These statements are
based upon management's current beliefs and certain assumptions made by
management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements,
including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal,
political, and technological factors affecting our industry, operations,
markets, products, or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk
factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial
results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2011 and subsequent
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and particularly the discussion of
trends and risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by
law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks
or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any
revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this press release.

Lisa Mueller
THQ Investor Relations
818-871-5125
or
Angela
Emery
THQ Corporate Communications
818-871-8650
or
Caren
Bell
UFC VP Communications
702-588-5574
© Business Wire 2012
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