Source: Yahoo Finance
The battle for sports media rights has taken another major turn. Paramount has signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement to become the exclusive U.S. broadcaster and streamer for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Under the deal, all 13 of the UFC’s high-profile numbered events and 30 “Fight Night” cards will be available on Paramount+, with select marquee bouts also airing on CBS. Unlike the traditional pay-per-view model, Paramount+ subscribers will be able to watch these events at no additional cost — a move set to shake up how combat sports are consumed.
This announcement comes shortly after Paramount completed its long-anticipated merger with Skydance Media. For UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings, the partnership represents a significant jump in annual media revenue compared to its previous arrangement with Disney’s ESPN, which was worth about $550 million per year.
The shift away from pay-per-view highlights how streaming services are seeking frequent, high-value live content to attract and retain subscribers. Sports, one of the last major drivers of mass live viewership, has become the centerpiece of an intense bidding war between media companies and tech giants.
Recent industry moves show just how competitive this space has become. ESPN recently secured a major deal with the NFL, taking over NFL Network and other media properties, while also granting the league a 10% equity stake in ESPN. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Prime Video entered the NBA broadcasting mix after Warner Bros. Discovery lost a key deal amid rising rights costs.
With billions of dollars in play and an evolving media landscape, more shakeups in sports broadcasting are inevitable — and Paramount’s UFC deal may be just the beginning.
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