Paramount Secures Exclusive UFC Streaming Rights in $7.7B Deal

Paramount+ has secured a $7.7 billion, seven-year streaming deal for UFC rights in the US, marking the first major move by new CEO David Ellison. The deal includes all 13 UFC events and 30 Fight Nights, with select events simulcast on CBS. The deal builds on Ellison's commitment to invest in high-quality exclusive content, as sports content becomes a cornerstone of media strategy.

Paramount+ has secured a $7.7 billion, seven-year streaming deal for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rights in the United States, marking the first major move by new CEO David Ellison. The agreement, announced on Monday, includes all 13 UFC marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights per year, with select events simulcast on CBS. This deal reflects Ellison's commitment to invest in high-quality exclusive content, as sports content becomes increasingly important in the media landscape.

Under the terms of the deal, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC's full slate of events on its streaming platform, Paramount+. This shift from the traditional pay-per-view model aims to make UFC programming more accessible to a broader audience. The agreement is valued at an average annual rate of $1.1 billion, with events being offered at no additional cost to subscribers.

The deal is a significant strategic move for Paramount, which recently completed its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. The new CEO, David Ellison, has emphasized the importance of live sports in driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty. By securing UFC rights, Paramount+ aims to bolster its content offerings and compete more effectively with other streaming services like Netflix and Disney.

The UFC, owned by TKO Group Holdings, has a robust global fanbase, reaching roughly 100 million U.S. fans and nearly 950 million households worldwide. The addition of UFC events to Paramount+ is expected to attract a significant number of sports enthusiasts and contribute to the platform's subscriber growth.

While the specifics of the international distribution of UFC events remain unclear, the deal opens the possibility for Paramount to pursue rights in other markets as they become available. The UFC's year-round programming, including marquee events like UFC 300 and weekly Fight Nights, is a valuable asset that could further enhance Paramount+'s content offerings.

The deal comes at a time when the media landscape is evolving rapidly, with cord-cutting accelerating and streaming services vying for exclusive content. Paramount's acquisition of UFC rights is a strategic move to stay competitive and capitalize on the growing demand for live sports content.

References:

[1] https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/45943325/paramount-tko-group-reach-7-year-deal-all-ufc-events-us
[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/paramount-ufc-streaming-rights-1.7605923
[3] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ufc-to-paramount-plus-under-ellison-pay-per-views-1236341387/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/aug/11/paramount-pays-77bn-us-rights-deal-ufc-skydance-media
[5] https://apnews.com/article/ufc-tko-paramount-ultimate-fighting-3804114c82e30e0359605b16105ff6bc