UFC Abandoning Pay-Per-View Scheme in $7.7B Media Rights Agreement with Paramount
In a major shakeup for the sports world, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced a seven-year, exclusive U.S. media-rights deal worth $7.7 billion with Paramount+ and CBS. The agreement, which starts in 2026, marks the end of UFC’s decades-long pay-per-view (PPV) model in the U.S.
Under the terms of the deal, 13 marquee numbered UFC events and 30 UFC Fight Nights will be streamed live on Paramount+ each year. This shift to a subscription-based model means that fans will no longer have to pay additional costs to watch UFC numbered events. In fact, all UFC content, including preliminaries, will be accessible through a Paramount+ subscription.
Select numbered events will also be simulcast on CBS, Paramount’s flagship broadcast network, to reach a broader, free-to-air audience. This move aims to provide greater accessibility to UFC content without the need for a Pay-Per-View model.
The deal, which averages about $1.1 billion paid annually to TKO Group (UFC’s parent company), adds UFC to Paramount+'s roster of live sports, which includes NFL and UEFA Champions League. The streaming service hopes that this move will drive subscriber growth and advertising revenue.
The agreement covers only domestic U.S. rights, with Paramount considering international rights as they become available later. UFC fights have aired on ESPN Plus since 2019, but this new deal signals a significant change in the way UFC content is consumed in the U.S.
UFC president Dana White called the deal "incredible for UFC fans and our athletes." Ariel Emanuel, TKO Executive Chair and CEO, described the deal as a "milestone moment." The UFC's new agreement is worth $1.1 billion annually, and TKO Group Holdings' stock price has increased by 10.23% to $180.00.
With this deal, the UFC joins the ranks of sports giants on a streaming platform, setting a new standard for sports broadcasting in the digital age.
[1] The new agreement is a seven-year deal with Paramount+. [2] Paramount will distribute 13 major UFC events and 30 Fight Nights through Paramount+. [3] Fans will not incur additional costs to watch UFC numbered events. [4] The UFC will no longer use a pay-per-view model starting in 2026. [5] Select UFC events will air on CBS.
- This deal between UFC and Paramount+ spans over seven years, starting in 2026.
- Under this agreement, Paramount+ will stream 13 major UFC events and 30 UFC Fight Nights each year, eliminating the need for fans to pay additional costs for UFC numbered events.
