News Summary
Paramount has entered a groundbreaking seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement to stream UFC events exclusively in the United States starting in 2026. This strategic move positions Paramount+ as the exclusive platform for live UFC events, including 13 pay-per-view events and 30 Fight Nights each year. The deal significantly boosts UFC’s media income and enhances Paramount’s content offerings, aimed at attracting more subscribers. With UFC’s dedicated fanbase, this partnership is expected to elevate Paramount+ as a premier destination for combat sports enthusiasts.
Paramount Secures $7.7 Billion UFC Streaming Rights Deal in Los Angeles
In a significant development for sports media rights, Paramount announced a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement to broadcast Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events exclusively in the United States beginning in 2026. This deal represents a major shift in UFC’s media strategy and positions Paramount as a key player in live sports streaming.
Key Details of the Agreement
The multi-billion-dollar deal ensures Paramount+ will serve as the exclusive streaming platform for all UFC events nationwide, featuring 13 numbered pay-per-view events and 30 Fight Nights annually. Additionally, some UFC events will be simulcast on the CBS broadcast network, increasing accessibility for viewers across different platforms.
The arrangement marks a substantial boost to UFC’s media rights revenue, with an average annual value of approximately $1.1 billion. This figure elevates UFC’s media income to levels comparable with major sports leagues such as Major League Baseball (MLB), which earns roughly $1.8 billion, and the Olympics, generating around $1.3 billion annually. The UFC deal surpasses revenues from leagues like the NHL, which secures approximately $635 million, and the PGA Tour, earning around $700 million. The agreement brings UFC close to March Madness and Nascar, both earning about $1.1 billion each per year.
Implications for UFC and Streaming Strategy
UFC will continue selling its international media rights through IMG, an agency estimating these deals at approximately $250 million annually. Unlike other sports leagues that rely heavily on centralized broadcast production, UFC maintains control of its own broadcast operations, preserving the integrity and branding of its events.
This strategic move significantly increases UFC’s current media rights revenues, which are estimated at $350 million per year from ESPN. The ESPN deal currently includes a pay-per-view component, which will be phased out under the new Paramount agreement, aligning UFC’s revenue model with subscription streaming and broadcast rights instead.
Market and Industry Context
The timing of the deal comes shortly after the approval of a merger between Skydance Media and Paramount. The merger’s completion enhances Paramount’s ability to leverage sports content for subscriber growth and broader media engagement. David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance Media and son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, emphasized the importance of sports rights within this broader strategy.
Initially, there was consideration to develop the UFC media rights package through partnerships involving companies like Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. However, Paramount ultimately secured the rights, signaling a focus on consolidating sports content within its streaming platform.
Impact on the Streaming Platform and Subscribers
As of July 31, Paramount+ reported approximately 77.7 million subscribers, a figure that trails behind competitors such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The UFC rights deal is expected to bolster Paramount+’s content portfolio and attract sports fans to subscribe or stay subscribed, driving potential growth in the platform’s user base.
Paramount CEO David Ellison highlighted sports rights as a critical component of the company’s broader effort to increase engagement and subscribers. With UFC’s dedicated fanbase, the partnership aims to enhance discoverability and offer exclusive content, positioning Paramount+ as a go-to platform for combat sports enthusiasts.
Additional Developments and Future Plans
UFC President Dana White announced plans to host a UFC event at the White House around July 4, 2026, which could be broadcast on CBS as part of the partnership’s broader content strategy.
Following the announcement, TKO Holdings’ stock increased by over 10%, reflecting investor confidence in the value of the UFC media rights. Conversely, Paramount’s stock experienced a slight decrease amid market fluctuations, despite the strategic significance of the deal.
Summary
This landmark agreement underscores a strategic shift for both UFC and Paramount+, focusing on enhancing viewer accessibility and discoverability through exclusive streaming. The deal not only represents a substantial increase in media rights revenue but also positions Paramount+ for sustained growth amid competitive streaming and sports broadcasting markets.
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Additional Resources
- Las Vegas Sun: Paramount Secures UFC Streaming Rights
- Wikipedia: Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Forbes: Dana White on UFC Streaming Deal
- Google Search: UFC Streaming Deal
- Bloomberg: Paramount Buys UFC Rights
- Google Scholar: UFC Media Rights Deal
- TV Technology: Paramount Inks UFC Rights Deal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: UFC Broadcasting
- Sherdog: Dana White on UFC Events
- Google News: UFC Streaming Rights
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