Just as you thought the world of sports was getting more expensive, the UFC is looking to take it to the next level, aiming for more than $1 billion annually in their new TV rights deal. You might be wondering what this means for the future of sports broadcasting, and how it will affect your viewing experience. As the UFC seeks to negotiate a new deal, you can expect to see some major players in the industry vying for the rights to broadcast their events.
The reported figure of over $1 billion annually is a significant increase from their current deal with ESPN, which is set to expire at the end of the year. You can expect to see other major companies such as Netflix, Amazon, WBD, and YouTube trying to get in on the action, particularly for the pay-per-view component. As the UFC and TKO are currently in an exclusive negotiating window with ESPN until mid-April, you will have to wait and see how the negotiations play out.
The UFC is coming off a five-year, $1.5 billion contract with ESPN, which included exclusive rights to UFC PPVs via their ESPN+ platform, as well as Fight Night events, The Ultimate Fighter, and access to library content. As you consider the possibilities, you might wonder if the UFC will be able to secure a deal that meets their financial expectations. With TKO head Mark Shapiro discussing the possibility of splitting rights, you can expect to see some interesting developments in the world of sports broadcasting.
This new deal is part of a series of major TV rights financial windfalls for TKO properties, following the recent 10-year, $5 billion worldwide deal between WWE and Netflix, and a five-year, $1.4 billion domestic deal between WWE and NBC Universal. As you look to the future, you can expect to see more major deals being signed, and the world of sports broadcasting continuing to evolve. With the UFC aiming for over $1 billion annually in their new TV rights deal, you will want to stay tuned to see how it all plays out.
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