Inside the Record-Breaking Agreement
Paramount UFC Deal, fresh off its high-profile merger with Skydance, has struck a monumental $7.7 billion agreement to secure exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The deal, announced on August 11, 2025, reshapes the way American audiences will watch the sport — and marks the end of UFC’s long-standing pay-per-view (PPV) model.
Starting in 2026, Paramount+ will stream all UFC events in the U.S., including 13 major numbered cards and 30 annual “Fight Night” events. To expand viewership, several marquee bouts will also air on CBS, bridging streaming convenience with the reach of broadcast television.
At roughly $1.1 billion per year, the agreement is more than double the UFC’s previous deal with ESPN, valued between $500–$550 million annually. The ESPN partnership will conclude at the end of this year.
The End of Pay-Per-View in the U.S.
Perhaps the most disruptive element of the deal is the elimination of UFC’s PPV sales model in the U.S. — a system that once charged fans up to $80 for a single event.
Going forward, every UFC fight will be available at no extra cost for Paramount UFC Deal+ subscribers, making the sport significantly more affordable and accessible.
UFC President Dana White called the change “a historic turning point,” emphasizing that fans will now have “unlimited access to the biggest fights without the steep price tag.” Industry observers expect this will widen the UFC’s fan base and boost athlete visibility.
A Strategic Play for Paramount Skydance
For Paramount UFC Deal Skydance, this is the first major rights acquisition since finalizing its $8.4 billion merger on August 7, 2025. CEO David Ellison described the UFC deal as a central piece of the company’s plan to reposition itself as a leader in premium live sports content.
Ellison noted that UFC’s year-round schedule fills key programming gaps — especially in summer — and complements Paramount’s sports portfolio, which includes rights to the NFL, UEFA Champions League, the Masters Tournament, and NCAA March Madness.
The company also aims to leverage its combined streaming and broadcast ecosystem to deepen subscriber loyalty, while targeting $2 billion in operational cost savings. The Paramount UFC Deal–UFC partnership is being positioned as both a growth driver and a cost-efficiency catalyst.
TKO Group Gains Long-Term Security
The seven-year agreement provides TKO Group Holdings — parent company of UFC and WWE — a predictable, multi-billion-dollar revenue stream, strengthening its negotiating power in other markets.
TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro praised the departure from PPV, calling the Paramount UFC Deal–CBS exposure “a distribution breakthrough” that will help UFC further embed itself in the U.S. sports mainstream. Analysts predict TKO will now focus on expanding international media rights and potentially replicating this subscription-first model abroad.
Implications for Fans and the Sports Media Market
- For Fans: Every UFC fight becomes part of a standard Paramount+ subscription, eliminating costly one-off purchases.
- For the Media Industry: A clear shift from transactional sports pricing to subscription-driven models, fueling competition for live sports rights.
- For Business Strategy: Paramount bets UFC’s loyal fan base will boost subscriber numbers and engagement, while TKO secures consistent revenue and global expansion opportunities.
A Turning Point in Sports Broadcasting
The move aligns with a broader trend of streaming services investing heavily in exclusive sports rights to differentiate in a crowded market.
For Paramount, UFC becomes a flagship property that drives year-round viewership and distinguishes its offering from rivals like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney’s ESPN+.
The financial scale of the deal highlights the enduring value of premium live sports in the streaming era. While scripted entertainment faces saturation, sports deliver live, unpredictable, and culturally resonant content with high advertiser appeal.
Looking Ahead to 2026
When the deal takes effect, UFC fans in the U.S. will enjoy a seamless, no-extra-cost model combining Paramount+ streaming with CBS’s national reach.
The shift is expected to disrupt traditional sports broadcasting economics while offering fans unprecedented access.
For Paramount, it’s more than a media rights win — it’s a bold bid to redefine its position in the entertainment hierarchy. For UFC and TKO, it’s a gateway to greater exposure, stronger revenues, and a potential new global blueprint for combat sports distribution.
