Paramount, owned by Skydance, has secured a significant seven-year streaming deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States, worth approximately $7.7 billion. This marks a major strategic move by the newly merged media giant, led by CEO David Ellison.
Beginning next year, Paramount+ will exclusively broadcast the full lineup of 13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights in the U.S. Additionally, select numbered cards will be simulcast on Paramount’s CBS network. Ellison emphasized the importance of investing in premium exclusive content, citing its crucial role in driving subscriber growth.
The agreement underscores the growing significance of sports content, particularly live event rights, in the media landscape as the trend of cord-cutting gains momentum. Competitors like Netflix and Disney have also made similar deals to enhance their offerings. Netflix, for instance, secured a $5 billion deal for WWE Raw and added NFL Christmas Day games, while Disney’s ESPN extended its rights with various sports leagues.
Ellison praised the addition of UFC events to their platforms, highlighting the organization’s global appeal. Paramount will pay an average of $1.1 billion annually for the rights, providing these events at no extra cost to subscribers and moving away from the traditional pay-per-view model. The company also expressed interest in securing UFC rights in other markets when they become available.
While Paramount+ subscriptions start at $6.99 per month in Canada, it remains uncertain if Canadian viewers will have access to UFC fights on the platform. Sportsnet has held exclusive UFC rights in Canada since 2024, including Fight Nights and other events. Notably, the Paramount deal is not expected to impact Canadian viewership, with Sportsnet continuing to offer UFC content at an additional cost.
UFC hosts approximately 40 live events annually, attracting around 100 million fans in the U.S. and nearly 950 million households globally. Its lineup features flagship events like UFC 300, regular Fight Nights, and popular reality shows such as The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series.
Recently, Paramount Global and Skydance Media completed their $8.4 billion merger and appointed Ellison as CEO, concluding a complex deal process that faced regulatory and shareholder challenges.
