• Hollywood Reporter, Friday, February 16, 2007 12:30 PM

Spike TV has signed a deal with Major League Eating to air four competitive-eating events this year, starting with "MLE: St. Patrick's Day Chowdown" on March 17. The inaugural event will take place in Savannah, Ga., and will involve traditional Irish fare, like corned beef and cabbage and beef tongue in the preliminaries before going on to green donuts in the final round. Spike will air same-day tape of the event from 7-8 p.m.

"Guys are hungry for new and exciting sports on television that satisfy their craving for gut-busting action," says Spike TV general manager Kevin Kay said. "Spike TV is proud to be the new television home of competitive eating." Networks, including ESPN, Discovery Channel and MTV, have in the past aired programs with competitive eaters or competitions like MLE's Nathan's Famous July 4th International Hot Dog Eating Championship.

ESPN has broadcast that live from Coney Island in New York since 2004, but this marks Spike's first foray into the "sport" and the first multi-event television deal for MLE.

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