UFC and Paramount seal historic $7.7 billion streaming deal for 7 years, moving away from ESPN
UFC lands an unprecedented seven-year, US$ 7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount, boasting the largest agreement in mixed martial arts and sports streaming history. The seven-year media rights deal negotiated by UFC will see the fight promotion depart the pay-per-view arena and transition away from its previous agreement with ESPN, effective from 2026.
The deal provides Paramount immediate exclusivity on all UFC events, over 13 major numbered events and 30 weekly Fight Nights, primarily through Paramount+, along with some featured title fights simulcasting on CBS.
How the deal reshapes the UFC viewing experience
A new deal means that UFC fans will no longer need to cough up for additional premium PPV access for their biggest shows. All UFC content in the U.S., then, would be available through a Paramount+ subscription, but at no extra cost beyond the eventually expected standard Paramount+ subscription costs.
That is a huge change from the $500 million per year average under ESPN with a pay-per-view dependent model. UFC President Dana White called the deal a
"huge victory for fans and athletes"
and said it would lead to
"lower prices and wider availability."
What the deal means for Paramount's strategy and TKO's global ambitions
The deal also marks a bold bet on live sports as a subscriber magnet for Paramount, now run by Skydance. UFC is seen as a 'unicorn sports asset' by CEO David Ellison, which helped plug a big hole in summer programming and strengthen engagement on both linear (CBS) and streaming (Paramount+) platforms.
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The annual average disbursement of about $1.1 billion over seven years highlights the level of capital commitments the company is making toward marquee content. But Paramount also secured rights to create original UFC content that would be on both the cable and streaming platforms, which could demonstrate various aspects of the brand and narrative beyond just live events.
The deal highlights an increasing emphasis on global media rights expansion for TKO Group Holdings, UFC's parent company.
TKO has shifted gears toward streaming partners that can deliver global scale and reach, and Paramount's infrastructure is certainly capable.
Paramount's strategic content shift, supported by Skydance's recent merger and UFC's renewed global streaming orientation, together signal a dramatic new era for MMA content delivery- one based on accessibility, integration, and expansive visibility.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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