Paramount CBS UFC Deal Huge for Sportsbooks
Paramount will become the new home to Ultimate Fighting Championship events across the U.S. next year, through a seven-year agreement announced with TKO Group on Monday.
The news comes just days after Skydance and Paramount officially closed their $8 billion merger
Under the deal with UFC, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC’s full lineup of its 13 marquee numbered events and 30 “Fight Nights” on its streaming platform Paramount+ — with select numbered events also set to simulcast on CBS — starting in 2026.
Fights televised on CBS, presumably free to view, would be a massive draw for sports bettors. UFC events typically rank among the most trafficked year-after-year here at Gambling911.com.
There will be a shift away from the pay-per-view model that will lead to the UFC reaching more consumers nationwide.
“Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms,” David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, said in a statement. “Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win.”
Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO, added that the deal will mean “deeper engagement for UFC’s passionate fan base” and that its athletes “will love this new stage.”
The seven-year deal between Paramount and TKO has an average annual value of $1.1 billion, the companies said Monday — marking a notable jump from the roughly $550 million that ESPN reportedly pays each year for UFC coverage today. But UFC’s new home on Paramount will simplify offerings for fans — with all content set to be available on Paramount+ (which currently costs between $7.99 and $12.99 a month), rather than various pay-per-view fees.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
