❓WHAT HAPPENED: Skydance’s Paramount has signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with TKO Group for exclusive U.S. media rights to UFC matches, starting in 2026.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Paramount, TKO Group, UFC, and Paramount Chairman David Ellison.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The deal begins in 2026, announced Monday, following Paramount’s recent acquisition of Skydance.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Partnering with a company that puts our premium content front and center without extra charges is a game changer,” said TKO President Mark Shapiro.
🎯IMPACT: The deal doubles UFC’s previous annual revenue and shifts the sport away from the pay-per-view model, aiming to boost viewership and subscriber growth.
Skydance’s Paramount has inked a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with TKO Group, securing exclusive U.S. media rights for all Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events starting in 2026. This move signals a pivotal change in the mixed martial arts (MMA) landscape, shifting the industry leader away from the pay-per-view (PPV) model.
The agreement designates Paramount+ as the exclusive platform for the UFC’s 13 annual pay-per-view events and 30 “Fight Night” events. Select UFC bouts will also air on CBS during Saturday prime-time slots.
Financially, the deal will see Paramount committing to $1.1 billion annually—twice the $550 million per year from the previous ESPN contract. TKO President Mark Shapiro hailed the partnership as revolutionary, stating, “Partnering with a company that puts our premium content front and center without extra charges is a game changer.”
Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison underscored the deal’s strategic value, noting, “UFC’s year-round content is a powerful tool to drive engagement, revenue growth, and subscriber acquisitions for Paramount+.” He also indicated plans to pursue international UFC rights.
This agreement follows Paramount’s recent merger with Skydance and its firing of leftist talk show host Stephen Colbert. UFC President Dana White is a prominent supporter of President Donald J. Trump, who has attended a number of UFC events both as a candidate and as a sitting president.
.@POTUS makes an electric entrance at UFC 314 in Miami 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AgW46VypOI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2025
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