Paramount Expands Streaming Service with UFC Broadcasting

No Additional Fees for Subscribers

Global media company Paramount is expanding its streaming service by broadcasting the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's largest mixed martial arts organization.

UFC and Paramount logos Photo by AP Yonhap News

On August 11 (local time), Paramount announced that it had signed a seven-year deal with TKO Group, the owner of UFC, to acquire the U.S. broadcasting rights for UFC starting next year. The deal covers the entire annual schedule, including thirteen major UFC events and thirty Fight Night events, and is valued at $7.7 billion (10.7284 trillion won).

Starting next year, all UFC matches in the United States will be streamed through the Paramount+ streaming platform. Some events will also be simultaneously broadcast on CBS, which is owned by Paramount.

No additional fees will be charged to subscribers. Mark Shapiro, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TKO Group, stated, "The PPV model is a thing of the past," and added, "With just a $12.99 monthly subscription to Paramount+, you can watch all UFC matches."

As a result, the pay-per-view (PPV) model currently applied to some premium matches on ESPN+ will be discontinued. The five-year contract with ESPN will also end at the end of this year.

UFC events are held year-round, making them attractive for streaming services because subscribers are less likely to cancel compared to other sports.

Paramount is a global media company that owns Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, and more. Having grown its business primarily through cable TV and traditional broadcasting, Paramount has been increasing its focus on online streaming services since 2014.