Paramount to become exclusive home of UFC in U.S. in $1.1 billion deal

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK - Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY), a prominent player in the media industry with annual revenue of $28.76 billion, and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:TKO) announced Monday a seven-year media rights agreement that will make Paramount the exclusive distributor of UFC events in the United States starting in 2026.

Under the agreement, Paramount will stream all 13 UFC numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually on its Paramount+ platform, with select marquee events simulcast on CBS. The deal marks a significant shift in UFC’s distribution strategy, moving away from the current pay-per-view model to make premium events available at no additional cost to Paramount+ subscribers.

The agreement has an average annual value of $1.1 billion over the seven-year term, with payments weighted toward the later years of the contract.

"This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset," said Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO, in the press release statement.

The partnership represents a major content acquisition for Paramount as it seeks to drive subscriber growth for its streaming service. UFC currently reaches approximately 100 million fans in the U.S. and broadcasts to nearly 950 million households globally across more than 210 countries and territories.

David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, stated that live sports continue to be a cornerstone of the company’s broader strategy, driving engagement and subscriber growth.

The deal begins in 2026, giving both companies time to prepare for the transition from UFC’s current media distribution arrangements.

In other recent news, Paramount Global reported its earnings for the second quarter of 2025, showcasing a strong performance with an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.46, which exceeded the forecasted $0.35. However, the company’s revenue slightly missed expectations, coming in at $6.85 billion compared to the anticipated $6.87 billion. In a significant corporate development, Skydance Media and Paramount Global completed their merger, forming a new entity named "Paramount, a Skydance Corporation," which will trade on the Nasdaq as "PSKY." This merger combines Paramount’s extensive content library and global distribution network with Skydance’s production and technological strengths. Prior to the merger’s completion, Skydance Media announced the new board for Paramount Skydance Corporation, which includes 10 director designees led by David Ellison as Chairman and CEO. The board is strategically composed of experts from the media, technology, and finance sectors. These recent developments mark a transformative period for the company.

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