UFC announces major $7.7billion broadcast change after long-running saga as boss Dana White praises ‘historic deal
Mixed martial arts' premier promotion's American broadcasting rights had previously been held by ESPN, which first acquired them back in 2018.
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But the UFC have opted NOT to renew its deal with the broadcaster, which is set to expire at the end of the year.
All UFC fights will now be aired on Paramount+ after the two entities reached a seven-year deal worth a whopping $7.7BILLION.
That's FIVE TIMES the amount ESPN paid to initially acquire the UFC's broadcasting rights.
And in a stunning change of business model, the promotion has ABANDONED its pay-per-view model for the first time in its 32-year history.
That means fans will be able to access all 13 numbered events - in addition to the other 30 Fight Night cards - for the price of a yearly Paramount+ subscription fee.
UFC President and CEO Dana White said: "This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes.
"For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View Model, making it more affordable to view the greatest fights on a massive platform.
"This deal puts the UFC among the biggest sports in the world.
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"The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport."
Paramount CEO David Ellison said of the deal: "I couldn't be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark.
"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.
'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 U.S., and potentially beyond.'
TKO Group headhoncho Ari Emmanuel said: 'This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC.
"Solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset.
'Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realization of our strategy.
"We believe wholeheartedly in David's vision and look forward to being in business with a company that will prioritize technology as a means to enhance storytelling and the overall viewing experience.'
The first event of the UFC & Paramount+ era will take place in mid-January.
Traditionally, the UFC have kicked off new broadcast deals with a mammoth fight. So expect the same thing to happen early next year.
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