Paramount becomes exclusive host for UFC events in $7.7 billion 7-year agreement

Big news for MMA fans – Paramount just announced a whopping 7-year, $7.7 billion deal to become the new exclusive home of UFC events starting next year. Under this freshly inked agreement, it looks like Paramount+ will soon become the go-to spot for catching all of the UFC’s top-tier numbered events and “Fight Nights” – an exciting shift away from their existing pay-per-view model.

It seems this exciting partnership with UFC will give fight fans across America better access than ever, expanding the reach of mixed martial arts straight into the living rooms of fans nationwide. Streaming these events exclusively through Paramount’s platforms like Paramount+ and simultaneous broadcast on CBS.

In Paramount’s statement, David Ellison, the chairman and CEO, talks about the expansive reach that their platforms offer, hinting that UFC’s high-energy matchups are sure to drive engagement, subscriber growth, and create lasting loyalty among viewers. Mark Shapiro, TKO’s president and COO, predicts that UFC fans will be thrilled to catch all the action on this “new stage.”

As it stands, UFC events currently broadcast on ESPN, running through the end of 2025, featuring tiered pricing models for fans. However, with the move to Paramount, watching the matches could get simpler and more affordable for the fans, promising access to all the action for a monthly subscription fee rather than numerous pay-per-view purchases.

While some regulatory hurdles had to be cleared for this significant partnership to happen, with a merger between Paramount and Skydance, it appears that things have settled smoothly. The deal represents a major leap forward in streaming sports entertainment, setting Paramount at the cusp of a sprawling new platform for its viewers – providing sports content across all genres.

On the entertainment front, TKO also houses the WWE juggernaut and has been hammering out agreements for live streaming its exclusive events. With Disney getting into the mix, an agreement was announced where ESPN will be the exclusive home for all WWE premium live events – no small feat. Financial details may be sparse, but it’s clear that this deal spells exciting times ahead for both WWE and ESPN fans.

All in all, it looks like the worlds of MMA and WWE are set to become more accessible and thrilling than ever before thanks to these groundbreaking streaming partnerships!