Introduction
UFC Broadcasting Rights: Historic Deal Reshapes ufc-where-to-watch Landscape By BBC Sports Business Correspondent The landscape for viewing the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to undergo its most significant transformation in decades, following the announcement of a landmark media rights agreement that fundamentally alters the sport’s economic model in the United States. The parent company of the UFC, TKO Group Holdings, has secured a seven-year, $7. 7 billion (£6. 1bn) deal with Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, beginning in 2026. Crucially, the agreement mandates the elimination of the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) structure for all marquee events, positioning Paramount+ as the exclusive home for every live UFC card in the US, while select numbered events will receive crucial exposure on the CBS broadcast network. This move effectively ends the era of per-event purchasing for premium fights, substituting it for an all-inclusive subscription model that experts say reflects broader consumer behaviour shifts across the global sports media industry. Under the terms of the new agreement, which is valued at an average annual value (AAV) of $1. 1 billion, Paramount+ will exclusively stream the UFC’s full slate of approximately 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Night cards annually. This represents a substantial doubling of the AAV compared to the previous deal with Disney's ESPN, which pioneered the current hybrid model combining a streaming subscription (ESPN+) with an additional per-event PPV purchase.
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The decision to integrate all premium content directly into the subscription service is a dramatic strategic play, designed to maximise subscriber growth for Paramount+ while offering the UFC a high-value, guaranteed revenue stream independent of individual event performance. Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer of TKO Group Holdings, highlighted the perceived obsolescence of the old model following the announcement. "The pay-per-view model is a thing of the past," Mr Shapiro stated, suggesting that the industry is moving decisively towards bundled, flat-rate access. "Paramount is a platinum partner with significant reach. Our new agreement unlocks powerful opportunities at TKO for years to come—meaningful economics for investors; expanded premium inventory for global brand partners; and deeper engagement for UFC's passionate fanbase. " This pivot reflects a growing challenge faced by high-priced, episodic purchasing structures in the age of content aggregation. Analysts suggest the high cost of individual PPV events—often close to $80 in the US—has contributed to piracy and deterred casual viewers from participating. Jenna West, an associate analyst for media at GlobalData, noted that consumer preference is driving this change. "The traditional PPV model for sporting events is facing significant challenges as consumer preferences shift towards all-inclusive streaming services," she observed.
"Younger audiences in particular are gravitating towards subscription-based models that offer comprehensive access to content without the burden of episodic payments. " While the immediate impact is concentrated on the US market, where the deal takes effect upon the expiration of the current ESPN contract at the end of 2025, the global ufc-where-to-watch map remains complex and fragmented. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, for example, the UFC maintains partnerships with broadcasters such as TNT Sports, which distributes content via its digital platform, discovery+. Other major territories, including Australia, Canada, and Brazil, rely on unique broadcast arrangements, often involving a mix of cable networks and territory-specific streaming services. However, Paramount has indicated an explicit interest in exploring UFC rights outside the US as existing international deals become available for renewal, suggesting that this subscription-first revolution may eventually spread across global markets. The transition, while generally viewed as positive for US fans by removing the friction of the additional PPV cost, also raises questions about visibility and fighter compensation. While the new model guarantees stable, highly lucrative revenue for the promotion, the structure of fighter payouts—which traditionally included a share of PPV buys for top-tier athletes—will necessitate a re-evaluation within TKO. Furthermore, ESPN’s dedicated promotional machinery, which consistently cross-promoted UFC across its vast ecosystem of sports programming, will be replaced by Paramount’s own promotional strategy, which will focus on driving viewers to its Paramount+ streaming service. Strategic media consultant Patrick Crakes, who has previously worked closely with the UFC, believes the move demonstrates a fundamental shift in media company priorities.
“The UFC was able to ditch PPV in the US on its own terms,” Mr Crakes explained. “The pay-per-view business over the past four or five years has been in steady decline. This move reduces the risk that comes with PPV through its lucrative Paramount deal, which also guarantees primetime exposure for select numbered events on CBS. ” Ultimately, the $7. 7 billion transaction reinforces the UFC's status as a 'must-have' global sports asset, cementing the trend where premium live sports content is increasingly utilized by streaming giants not as a standalone revenue driver, but as a crucial tool for subscriber acquisition and retention. The decision sets a new financial benchmark for mixed martial arts rights and places significant pressure on other combat sports to reconsider their own reliance on the traditional, high-friction pay-per-view distribution method.
Conclusion
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