Skydance’s Paramount has inked a seven-year streaming deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States, valued at approximately $7.7 billion US. This partnership, spearheaded by new CEO David Ellison, positions Paramount as the exclusive home of UFC content in the U.S. market. Under the agreement, Paramount+ will showcase the entire U.S. lineup of 13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights, with select numbered cards also airing on Paramount’s CBS broadcast network.
This strategic move aligns with Ellison’s vision to boost investment in premium exclusive content, a key factor he believes drives subscriber growth. The media landscape increasingly values sports content, particularly live event rights, as seen with competitors like Netflix and Disney making similar moves to enhance their offerings. Netflix, for instance, secured a $5-billion deal for WWE Raw and added NFL games to its lineup, while Disney’s ESPN extended rights with major sports leagues.
Ellison expressed excitement about adding UFC’s highly anticipated events to their platforms, emphasizing UFC’s status as a global sports powerhouse. Paramount will invest an average of $1.1 billion annually to showcase UFC events at no extra cost to subscribers, moving away from the traditional pay-per-view model. The company also hinted at potentially pursuing UFC rights in other markets during future bidding opportunities.
In Canada, Paramount+ subscriptions start at $6.99 monthly, but 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, offering coverage of Fight Nights, pay-per-view preliminaries, and shows like The Ultimate Fighter. Despite the Paramount deal, Rogers, the owner of Sportsnet, stated that there will be no changes for Canadian UFC viewers.
UFC, a major player in the sports entertainment industry, hosts approximately 40 live events annually, captivating around 100 million fans in the U.S. and nearly 950 million households worldwide. Their lineup includes flagship numbered events like UFC 300, weekly Fight Nights, and popular reality shows such as The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series.
The completion of the $8.4-billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, alongside Ellison’s appointment as CEO, marks a significant milestone after a complex deal process characterized by regulatory scrutiny and investor apprehensions.