UFC Partners with Paramount for Major Broadcast Deal
Say farewell to pay-per-view events.
Paramount has announced a historic $7.7 billion agreement to acquire UFC broadcasting rights over the next seven years, beginning in 2026. This means UFC events will be available exclusively through Paramount+ subscriptions, with select events also airing on CBS.
UFC president Dana White expressed enthusiasm about the deal, stating, “This groundbreaking agreement with Paramount and CBS is fantastic for UFC fans and our fighters. For the first time, US fans can enjoy all UFC content without relying on pay-per-view, making it much more affordable to catch the biggest fights across major platforms. This deal solidifies UFC’s status among the top global sports leagues.”
Currently, ESPN holds the UFC rights, utilizing a pay-per-view model that TKO Group president Mark Shapiro believes is outdated.
ESPN and Disney have managed UFC rights for the last five years, with an average annual payout of $500 million.
The Disney contract is set to expire at the end of this year.
According to CEO David Ellison, the SkyDance-Paramount partnership wrapped up last Thursday, enabling TKO Group, which owns both UFC and WWE, to finalize the agreement relatively swiftly.
Paramount and CBS have established ties with the NFL, which could elevate mixed martial arts within the sports broadcasting landscape.
Ellison noted, “Paramount has an impressive sports portfolio that includes the NFL, UEFA, Masters, and March Madness. There’s often a lull in summer sports, but now you’ll find a robust offering on both Paramount+ and CBS.” CBS will also air the Super Bowl in 2028 during its second year of partnership with the UFC.
Earlier this year, there was speculation about a potential UFC link to Netflix and a possible update from ESPN.
Reports suggest Paramount may also be looking to acquire international UFC rights, in addition to its upcoming US rights.
This announcement follows WWE’s recent five-year deal valued at $1.6 billion with ESPN, which includes a premium live event stream on its new consumer app.
