The UFC has secured a large deal for its new house.
On Monday, the UFC introduced that Paramount will change into the unique house of all UFC occasions within the U.S. in a seven-year deal beginning in 2026. The deal is for an annual common worth of over $1.1 billion a 12 months, in accordance with a press launch.
Within the settlement, the UFC will finish its present pay-per-view mannequin and now characteristic these 13 premium occasions on Paramount+. Choose numbered occasions may also be simulcast on CBS. The streaming service may also distribute 30 Struggle Nights per 12 months.
As a part of the settlement, UFC and Paramount will transfer away from UFC’s present Pay-Per-View mannequin in favor of creating these premium occasions obtainable at no extra value to the expansive U.S. subscriber base of Paramount+. This shift in distribution technique will unlock better accessibility and discoverability for sports activities followers and supply an necessary catalyst for driving engagement and additional subscriber development for Paramount+. Paramount intends to discover UFC rights exterior the U.S. as they change into obtainable sooner or later. – TKO and Paramount press launch
“I couldn’t be extra excited to hitch forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark. Hardly ever do alternatives come up to companion on an unique foundation with a worldwide sports activities powerhouse like UFC – a corporation with extraordinary world recognition, scale, and cultural impression,” mentioned David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, in a press release. “Paramount’s benefit lies within the expansive attain of our linear and streaming platforms. Reside sports activities proceed to be a cornerstone of our broader technique — driving engagement, subscriber development, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch occasions to our platforms is a serious win. We stay up for delivering this premium content material to tens of millions of followers within the U.S., and probably past.”
The transfer to Paramount means the UFC’s relationship with ESPN formally ends in 2025. The UFC had been on the community since 2019 and was reportedly making $450 million per 12 months in that deal.
