'Ultimate Fighter' show prompts records exemption

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Pointing to a need to protect proprietary information, the Florida Senate on Thursday approved broadening a public-records exemption in an issue stemming from "The Ultimate Fighter" television show.

Senators voted 35-5 to approve the bill (HB 381), which had already passed the House and is now headed to Gov. Rick Scott.

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Senate sponsor Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, said the bill stems from the taping last year in Florida of "The Ultimate Fighter" by the mixed-martial arts company Ultimate Fighting Championship. Matches were taped and shown at later dates.

A Senate staff analysis said UFC contended a broadened public-records exemption for proprietary business information was needed because of concerns that the results of the taped matches could become public before the broadcasts.

Hutson and other supporters of the bill made similar arguments this week and said production of such shows are economic development.

The Florida State Boxing Commission regulates mixed martial arts and maintains records related to the industry.

"If you don't have the business, that's fine,'' Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon said. "But if you're going to have it, you have to protect the people that are making the investment from being exposed to having the drama and punchline of what they're trying to do."

But Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, criticized the bill.

"Now we're doing a public-records exemption because we don't want a reality TV show ending to be revealed before the show airs,'' Clemens said. "I just think that's the wrong reason to do a public records exemption."