Fresh Off Skydance Deal, Paramount Lands UFC Rights in U.S. With Seven-Year, $7.7 Billion Deal Starting in 2026, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC via Paramount while select events will be simulcast on CBS. By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Monday, August 11, 2025 - 9:57 am
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On the heels of completing its landmark merger with Skydance, Paramount has inked a sever-year, $7.7 billion deal with TKO Group to acquire exclusive U.S. rights to all UFC events beginning in 2026. Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC's full slate of 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights via its direct-to-consumer streaming platform, Paramount , with select numbered events to be simulcast on CBS, the Paramount-owned broadcast network.
The seven-year term, which begins next year, has an average annual value of $1.1 billion with the contract's payment schedule weighted more toward the back end of the deal. Paramount also says it intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S. as they become available in the future.
As part of the agreement, UFC and Paramount will move away from UFC's existing Pay-Per-View model in favor of making these premium events available at no additional cost to the expansive U.S. subscriber base of Paramount . According to a joint announcement, TKO Group believes this shift in distribution strategy will unlock greater accessibility and discoverability for sports fans while Paramount sees it as an important catalyst for driving engagement and further subscriber growth for Paramount .
I couldn't be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark. Rarely do opportunities arise to partner on an exclusive basis with a global sports powerhouse like UFC - an organization with extraordinary global recognition, scale, and cultural impact, says David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount. Paramount's advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms. Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy - driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC's year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win. We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the U.S., and potentially beyond.
This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset, says Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO, TKO. Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realization of our strategy. We believe wholeheartedly in David's vision and look forward to being in business with a company that will prioritize technology as a means to enhance storytelling and the overall viewing experience.
Paramount is a platinum partner with significant reach, says Mark Shapiro, President and COO, TKO. 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. Just as importantly, our athletes will love this new stage.
UFC events take place year-round with approximately 43 live events annually, delivering more than 350 hours of live event content. In the U.S., UFC has approximately 100 million fans who are highly engaged across linear, digital, and social platforms. On a global level, the premier MMA organization's programming reaches nearly 950 million broadcast and digital households across more than 210 countries and territories in 50 languages, and boasts a roster of approximately 600 of the world's best male and female MMA athletes representing 75 countries.
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Fresh Off Skydance Deal, Paramount Lands UFC Rights in U.S. With Seven-Year, $7.7 Billion Deal Starting in 2026, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC via Paramount while select events will be simulcast on CBS. By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
