The UFC has struck a new seven-year broadcast rights agreement with Paramount worth $7.7bn.
For the first time, the UFC will move away from the pay-per-view (PPV) model, starting in 2026. Instead, Paramount+ will exclusively broadcast 13 annual “marquee number events” (UFC 317 for example) in the US, as well as 30 UFC Fight Night events on the streaming platform.
A select number of events will also be simulcasted on CBS, enabling UFC to keep a partial presence on terrestrial TV. For UFC numbered events replacing PPVs, Paramount+ will come with no additional costs other than the $7.99 monthly subscription.
The UFC believes this shift to an exclusive streaming partner and dropping of the traditional PPV model will “unlock greater accessibility” for UFC fans globally and “drive engagement” for further subscriber growth for Paramount+.
The deal is worth $1.1bn per-year for the UFC, meeting UFC President Dana White’s projections. The previous broadcast rights deal with ESPN, set to end in 2026, was worth $550m per-year.
White insisted in press conferences in recent weeks that the intention for the next broadcast rights deal was to make the UFC “more global” and leverage the worldwide reach and customer bases of streaming services.
“This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset,” said Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO Group in the press release.
“Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realisation of our strategy. We believe wholeheartedly in David’s vision and look forward to being in business with a company that will prioritise technology as a means to enhance storytelling and the overall viewing experience.”
Paramount: A new sports streaming player
A new UFC broadcast deal was imminent, laid out in TKO Group’s second quarter results, with TKO President Mark Shapiro stating it was a priority for the rest of the year.
With WWE’s 10-year international streaming deal with Netflix for WWE RAW, TKO appears to be aiming both of their most valuable assets to push for new international growth.
According to Broadband TV News, Paramount+ has over 77.7 million global subscribers, which increased with 4.1 million new subscribers in the second quarter of this year, rising 15% year-over-year.
Paramount Global was recently acquired by SkyDance in an $8bn merger that promised to be a “world-class media and technology enterprise” backed by significant funding. It appears acquiring the US rights for the UFC was the first action upon this mission.
“Rarely do opportunities arise to partner on an exclusive basis with a global sports powerhouse like UFC – an organisation with extraordinary global recognition, scale, and cultural impact,” said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount.
“Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms. Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win.
“We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the US, and potentially beyond.”
