US EditionParamount buys UFC rights in $7.7 billion, 7-year deal in first major move post-Skydance merger
UNITED STATES, AUG 11 – Paramount will stream all UFC events in the U.S. on Paramount+ without pay-per-view fees, paying $7.7 billion over seven years starting in 2026, the companies said.
- Paramount completed its merger with Skydance Media last week and secured exclusive U.S. media rights to UFC in a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal starting in 2026.
- The acquisition follows the 2023 merger of UFC and WWE into TKO, which signed a separate five-year, $1.6 billion ESPN deal for WWE rights last week as Paramount assumed control under new leadership.
- Paramount will stream all 43 annual UFC events—13 marquee numbered cards and 30 Fight Nights—via Paramount+ at $12.99 a month without additional pay-per-view fees, with select events simulcast on CBS.
- Paramount CEO David Ellison emphasized the rarity of opportunities like acquiring UFC, describing it as a unique and highly valuable sports property that emerges only every ten years, and highlighted the strategic importance of securing the entire UFC portfolio amid limited upcoming sports rights availability.
- This distribution shift aims to increase accessibility and subscriber growth for Paramount+ while Paramount intends to pursue UFC international rights as they become available.
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