TKO lands a huge streaming deal for UFC with an unexpected partner
Reports about where the mixed martial arts brand's product would live when its current deal with ESPN ends after this year largely focused on existing TKO partners like Netflix and ESPN, but — with its own acquisition by Skydance now finalized — it was Paramount that landed domestic rights for UFC. The contract is for seven years at $1.1 billion per year (the ESPN deal, which ends in December, was reportedly for $450 million annually). It also effectively ends the PPV, the foundation of the promotion since its inception in the early 1990s.
The UFC's new contract with Paramount begins this upcoming January, and will bring 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually to the Paramount+ streaming service. Some of the numbered shows (which are designed to be higher quality and were priced higher under the previous PPV model) will also be simulcast on CBS.
Here's the press release, with the usual excited quotes from the dealmakers…
PARAMOUNT AND TKO ANNOUNCE HISTORIC UFC MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT
PARAMOUNT TO BECOME EXCLUSIVE HOME OF UFC IN THE U.S.
Beginning in 2026, all UFC numbered events and Fight Nights will stream live on Paramount+, with select marquee fights simulcast on CBS
LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, ('Paramount') (NASDAQ: PSKY) and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. ('TKO') (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company, today announced a seven-year media rights agreement in which Paramount will become the exclusive home of all UFC events in the U.S.Starting in 2026, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC's full slate of 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights via its direct-to-consumer streaming platform, Paramount+, with select numbered events to be simulcast on CBS, Paramount's leading broadcast network.
As part of the agreement, UFC and Paramount will move away from UFC's existing Pay-Per-View model in favor of making these premium events available at no additional cost to the expansive U.S. subscriber base of Paramount+. This shift in distribution strategy will unlock greater accessibility and discoverability for sports fans and provide an important catalyst for driving engagement and further subscriber growth for Paramount+. Paramount intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S. as they become available in the future.
'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 organization 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 U.S., and potentially beyond.'
'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, TKO. '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.'
'Paramount is a platinum partner with significant reach,' said Mark Shapiro, President and COO, TKO. 'Our new agreement unlocks powerful opportunities at TKO for years to come – meaningful economics for investors; expanded premium inventory for global brand partners; and deeper engagement for UFC's passionate fanbase. Just as importantly, our athletes will love this new stage.'
UFC is the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. UFC events take place year-round with approximately 43 live events annually, delivering more than 350 hours of live event content. In the U.S., UFC has approximately 100 million fans who are highly engaged across linear, digital, and social platforms. Further, UFC is one of the few truly global sports properties, with programming reaching nearly 950 million broadcast and digital households across more than 210 countries and territories in 50 languages, as well as a roster of approximately 600 of the world's best male and female MMA athletes representing 75 countries.
The seven-year term, which begins in 2026, has an average annual value ('AAV') of $1.1 billion. The contract's payment schedule is weighted more toward the back end of the deal.
React below, scripted and unscripted fight fans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
12 minutes ago
- Business Insider
CFRA Remains a Hold on Ballard Power Systems (BLDP)
CFRA analyst Brooks Idlet reiterated a Hold rating on Ballard Power Systems today and set a price target of $1.90. The company's shares closed today at $1.80. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. According to TipRanks, Idlet is ranked #7842 out of 9897 analysts. In addition to CFRA, Ballard Power Systems also received a Hold from Roth MKM's Craig Irwin in a report issued today. However, on the same day, TD Cowen maintained a Sell rating on Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP). The company has a one-year high of $2.28 and a one-year low of $1.00. Currently, Ballard Power Systems has an average volume of 8.6M.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
CubeSmart Announces Pricing of 5.125% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2035
MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CubeSmart (NYSE: CUBE) (the 'Company' or 'CubeSmart'), the third-largest owner and operator of self-storage properties in the United States, today announced that its operating partnership, CubeSmart, L.P. (the 'Operating Partnership'), priced an offering of $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2035 (the 'Notes') in an underwritten public offering. The Notes were priced at 98.656% of the principal amount with a yield to maturity of 5.295%. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by CubeSmart. The offering is expected to close on August 20, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Operating Partnership expects to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its unsecured revolving credit facility and for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment or repurchase of certain of the Operating Partnership's other outstanding indebtedness. Wells Fargo Securities, BofA Securities and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Regions Securities LLC and US Bancorp are acting as senior co-managers for the offering. Barclays, BMO Capital Markets, Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Truist Securities are acting as co-managers for the offering. This offering will be made under CubeSmart's existing automatic shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on March 3, 2023. The offering of the Notes will be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, when available. The prospectus supplement related to this public offering and accompanying prospectus will be filed with the SEC. Copies of the prospectus and related prospectus supplement for this offering may be obtained by contacting: Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, by email at wfscustomerservice@ or by calling toll-free at 1-800-645-3751; PNC Capital Markets LLC, by email at pnccmprospectus@ or by calling toll-free at 1-855-881-0697; or BofA Securities, Inc., by calling toll-free at 1-800-294-1322. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About CubeSmart CubeSmart is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. As of June 30, 2025, CubeSmart owned or managed 1,532 self-storage properties across the United States. According to the 2025 Self Storage Almanac, CubeSmart is one of the top three owners and operators of self-storage properties in the U.S. The Company's mission is to simplify the organizational and logistical challenges created by the many life events and business needs of its customers through innovative solutions, unparalleled service, and genuine care. The Company's self-storage properties are designed to offer affordable, easily accessible, and, in most locations, climate-controlled storage space for residential and commercial customers. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions and other information that is not historical information. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'estimates,' 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'anticipates,' or 'intends' or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Such statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, future events and actual results, performance, transactions or achievements, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance, transactions or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on or construe any forward-looking statements in this press release, or which management or persons acting on their behalf may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events or as guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the dates otherwise indicated in such forward-looking statements, as applicable. All of our forward-looking statements, including those contained in this press release, are qualified in their entirety by this statement. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this press release. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the risks and uncertainties referred to in this press release and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequent filings with the SEC. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following: the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for an offering of securities; adverse changes in economic conditions in the real estate industry and in the markets in which we own and operate self-storage properties; the effect of competition from existing and new self-storage properties and operators on our ability to maintain or raise occupancy and rental rates; the failure to execute our business plan; adverse consumer impacts and declines in general economic conditions from inflation, tariffs, rising interest rates and wage stagnation including the impact on the demand for self-storage, rental rates and fees and rent collection levels; reduced availability and increased costs of external sources of capital; financing risks, including rising interest rates, the risk of over-leverage and the corresponding risk of default on our mortgage and other debt and potential inability to refinance existing or future debt; counterparty non-performance related to the use of derivative financial instruments; risks related to our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes; the failure of acquisitions and developments to close on expected terms, or at all, or to perform as expected; increases in taxes, fees and assessments from state and local jurisdictions; the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfill their obligations to us or their pursuit of actions that are inconsistent with our objectives; reductions in asset valuations and related impairment charges; negative publicity relating to our business or industry, which could adversely affect our reputation; increases in operating costs, including, without limitation, insurance, utility and other general expenses, which could adversely affect our financial results; cybersecurity breaches, cyber or ransomware attacks or a failure of our networks, systems or technology, which could adversely impact our business, customer and employee relationships or result in fraudulent payments; risks associated with generative artificial intelligence tools and large language models and the conclusions that these tools and models may draw about our business and prospects in connection with the dissemination of negative opinions, characterizations or disinformation; changes in real estate, zoning, use and occupancy laws or regulations; risks related to or consequences of earthquakes, hurricanes, windstorms, floods, wildfires, other natural disasters or acts of violence, pandemics, active shooters, terrorism, insurrection or war that impact the markets in which we operate; potential environmental and other material liabilities; governmental, administrative and executive orders, regulations and laws, which could adversely impact our business operations and customer and employee relationships; uninsured or uninsurable losses and the ability to obtain insurance coverage, indemnity or recovery from insurance against risks and losses; changes in the availability of and the cost of labor; other factors affecting the real estate industry generally or the self-storage industry in particular; and other risks identified in the prospectus supplement relating to this offering and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Given these uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except with respect to such material changes to our risk factors as may be reflected from time to time in our quarterly filings with the SEC or as otherwise required by law, we are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by securities laws. Because of the factors referred to above, the future events discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Company Contact: Josh SchutzerVice President, Finance(610) 535-5700
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
If You'd Invested $1,000 in Pfizer (PFE) Stock 3 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today
Key Points Those who invested in Pfizer three years ago and hung on are not thrilled. They would have done much better with a simple S&P 500 index fund. Still, Pfizer today offers a fat dividend and plenty of growth potential. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer › Wondering how well you'd have done if you'd invested in pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) three years ago and hung on? Well, I'm afraid the answer isn't pretty: If you'd investing $1,000 in Pfizer on Aug. 8, 2022, hung on and reinvested dividends, that sum would have been worth $585 on Aug. 8, 2025. Ouch! For some context, during those same three years, the S&P 500 index of 500 of America's biggest companies averaged gains of roughly 17% per year, turning $1,000 into $1,615. Here's some good news, though: Stock investors need to look forward much more than backward. Trailing returns are in the past. What matters most for current Pfizer investors and would-be Pfizer investors is how the company will perform from here on. And Pfizer's future is looking promising. Some investors have been disappointed in Pfizer when they've compared recent results to those from the past. But those past years were exceptional boom years thanks to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and Paxlovid COVID-19 treatment. Those were in great demand, but demand has fallen. Others worry because some of Pfizer's big sellers, such as Eliquis, Ibrance, Inlyta, Xeljanz, Xtandi, and Vyndaqel, are coming off patent protection in the next few years. Pfizer has been planning for that, and investing in its pipeline, which features more than 100 active programs -- many of which are in oncology. Pfizer has also been getting additional approvals for its drugs, and it has been cutting its costs in an effort to boost profitability. Finally, Pfizer is a dividend-paying stock, with a whopping recent dividend yield of 7%. So as you invest in Pfizer and wait for its investments to pay off, you'll be rewarded. Should you invest $1,000 in Pfizer right now? Before you buy stock in Pfizer, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Pfizer wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,119,863!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 11, 2025 Selena Maranjian has positions in Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. If You'd Invested $1,000 in Pfizer (PFE) Stock 3 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
