Paramount Skydance Surges 8.4% Despite 325th-Busiest Trading Volume as UFC's $7.7 Billion Streaming Pact Drives Strategic Shift

On August 12, 2025, Paramount Skydance (PSKY) surged 8.40% despite a 37.02% decline in trading volume to $330 million, ranking 325th in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with a major media rights agreement involving UFC, which announced a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to stream its content exclusively on Paramount+ starting in 2026. The pact replaces UFC’s pay-per-view model with a subscription-based approach, integrating 13 major events and 30 Fight Nights into Paramount+ without additional fees. The agreement also includes potential future rights to UFC’s international programming and simulcasts on CBS for select events.

Paramount’s strategic shift highlights its focus on expanding streaming revenue and competing with rivals. UFC CEO Dana White emphasized the deal’s benefits for accessibility and athlete exposure, positioning the partnership as a milestone for the sport. The move aligns with Paramount’s broader efforts to strengthen its content library, including the pending $28 billion Skydance merger awaiting FCC approval. While regulatory hurdles and local news concerns remain, the UFC deal underscores Paramount’s commitment to leveraging high-profile sports franchises to drive subscriber growth and ad revenue.

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