Paramount pays $7.7bn for exclusive US rights deal with UFC | US television industry

Paramount concluded an agreement of $ 7.7 billion (5.7 billion pounds sterling) to become the exclusive American broadcaster of the ultimate combat championship, just days after its controversial merger with Skydance Media.

Under the seven -year agreement with the parent company of the sports group, TKO Group, the 13 new renowned events of the UFC and 30 nights of combat per year will be broadcast on the Paramount +service, with an also selected number simultaneous on CBS, from next year.

The agreement will mean the end of the current à la carte payment model on the ESPN + service belonging to Disney.

The agreement occurs a week after David Ellison took office as president and chief executive officer after the takeover of Skydance at 8.4 billion dollars of the Hollywood studio and radio, the media company saying that it could pursue the rights of the UFC on other markets when they renovate.

“Live sports continue to be the cornerstone of our wider strategy,” said Ellison. “”[It drives] Commitment, growth of long -term subscribers and loyalty. The addition of UFC’s essential events to our platforms is a major victory. »»

Paramount pays $ 1.1 billion on average each year to the TKO group for rights and will offer all matches at no additional cost for consumers.

Mark Shapiro, president and chief of operation at TKO, said: “Paramount is a Platinum partner with a significant scope. Our new agreement unlocks powerful opportunities in TKO for years to come.”

The UFC is led by Dana White, an ally of the American president, Donald Trump, who spoke during his victory gathering in Washington DC in January. He is also a member of the Meta board of directors, owner of Facebook and Instagram.

Ellison, the 42-year-old son of Oracle’s multi-loving co-founder, Larry Ellison, works with the other co-owner of Paramount, Redbird Capital, to reduce the costs of $ 2 billion in the company.

Redbird, who is managed by Gerry Cardinale, is also going to 500 million pounds of the telegraph.

The rights agreement follows the prolonged merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, a process that has led to a regulatory and political examination and raised concerns among certain investors.

Last month, Paramount Global agreed to pay $ 16 million to settle a legal dispute with Trump on what the president claimed was in error the assembly of a pre -electoral interview on his CBS information network with the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.

While CBS initially called the “completely without merit” trial, his parent company decided to settle.

CBS also canceled the late program with Stephen Colbert a few days after the eponymous host said that the regulations of the parent company of the network were a “bridge pot”.

Paramount has assets, including MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Showtime and Channel 5 in the United Kingdom. The film studio produced Hollywood superproductions, including Top Gun: Maverick, as well as the Mission: Impossible and Star Trek franchises.