Deal ends sport’s pay-per-view model and comes days after Hollywood studio’s merger with Skydance Media
Paramount has struck a $7.7bn (£5.7bn) deal to become the exclusive US broadcaster of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, just days after its controversial merger with Skydance Media.
Under the seven-year deal with the sports group’s parent company, TKO Group, all 13 of UFC’s marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights a year will be streamed on the Paramount+ service, with a selected number also simulcast on CBS, from next year.
The agreement will mean the end of UFC’s current pay-per-view model on the Disney-owned ESPN+ service.
The deal comes a week after David Ellison took over as chair and chief executive following Skydance’s $8.4bn takeover of the Hollywood studio and broadcasting business, with the media company saying it may pursue UFC rights in other markets as they come up for renewal.
