UFC ends pay-per-view model with Paramount deal
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has ended itS pay-per-view model by signing a seven-year exclusive media rights deal with Paramount, starting in 2026. UFC’s parent company, TKO Group, announced the milestone agreement, solidifying UFC’s status as a leading global sports entity.This deal comes after Paramount Global’s recent approval to merge with Skydance Media, with David Ellison as chairman and CEO. UFC events will now be available on Paramount Plus, a streaming service with subscription plans significantly cheaper than the previous pay-per-view cost of $79.99 per event. UFC, founded in 1993, has grown into the largest pay-per-view provider worldwide. President Donald Trump has been a prominent UFC supporter and plans to host a UFC fight on the white House lawn to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.
UFC ends pay-per-view model with Paramount deal
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, announced Monday it had received the media rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, ending the sporting event’s pay-per-view model.
UFC’s parent company, TKO, signed a seven-year contract with Paramount to air its events exclusively. This deal will begin in 2026.
“This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset,” TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said.
“Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realization of our strategy.”
The new contract follows Paramount Global’s approval from the Trump administration to merge with Skydance Media, which was announced last summer. David Ellison, the founder of Skydance and son of Larry Ellison, is the chairman and CEO of Paramount.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana [White], Ari, and Mark [Shapiro]. 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,” Ellison said.
Paramount Plus, the network’s streaming service, costs $7.99 per month with ads. A premium subscription costs $12.99. According to ESPN, the previous network that aired UFC events, they cost $79.99 per event.
TRUMP SAYS HE’LL HOLD UFC FIGHT ON WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS FOR NATION’S 250TH BIRTHDAY
On its website, UFC claims to be the largest pay-per-view provider in the world. It began in 1993 as a mixed martial arts organization.
President Donald Trump has often attended UFC events, octagon-side with UFC President Dana White. By next year, Trump plans to host a UFC fight on the White House lawn to celebrate the United States’s 250th anniversary.
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