UFC executives are gearing up for a significant week as the exclusive negotiation period with ESPN concluded on Tuesday. This means other interested parties can now propose offers to secure the rights to broadcast UFC events starting in 2026.
While Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings, will lead the negotiations – as he has for previous UFC broadcast deals, even before owning the company – Dana White, the UFC president, is keenly interested in the outcome. It`s important to note that the end of the exclusive negotiation period with ESPN doesn`t prevent the Disney-owned network from reaching a new agreement with the UFC. Instead, it simply allows other networks and potential streaming platforms to participate in the bidding process.
“Now that the window is open, we will definitely start conversations with many different groups and explore all available options,” White stated at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. “As we’ve said before, there might come a time when we are broadcast across multiple networks, similar to how other major sports operate.”
“I like ESPN. I’ve mentioned it many times; we had some initial challenges, which is normal in any relationship, but we are currently in a great place with ESPN. Whether we renew our contract with them or not, I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with ESPN.”
There has been considerable speculation about the UFC possibly dividing its broadcast rights among several media outlets. Many have suggested that the UFC might partner with a major streaming service like Netflix.
Notably, Netflix recently signed a massive $5 billion, 10-year deal to broadcast WWE`s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, and WWE shares the same ownership as the UFC. Furthermore, Netflix executives have previously expressed reluctance to bid on traditional sports due to the season-long format not aligning with their programming strategy.
This isn`t an issue with the UFC, as they host events throughout the year. White assures that his organization is prepared to collaborate with any broadcast partner to meet their specific needs.
“I’m unsure about the specifics of the new deal,” White said. “It depends on what ESPN or any other potential partner is seeking. Typically, when making these agreements, you adapt to the network`s requirements. They also have existing programming and sports commitments at certain times and seasons, so it’s always subject to change. It doesn’t concern me.”
Mark Shapiro, president of TKO Group Holdings, has echoed similar sentiments when publicly discussing the UFC’s broadcast rights deal. He has indicated that the UFC is open to various possibilities with this new TV deal, including the possibility of a broadcast partner offering enough money to eliminate the need for pay-per-view events in the future.
While White couldn’t speculate on specific outcomes, especially with negotiations just beginning with other potential partners, he seemed receptive to the idea of moving away from pay-per-view.
“We will do what works best for the network, what are their objectives?” White questioned. “Do they want to simply broadcast it on their channel? Do they want to utilize pay-per-view? Do they want to put it behind a paywall? I don’t have answers to any of these questions yet. On Tuesday, the window opens, and we start talking to other networks, and we will delve deeper into these details.”
Regarding the UFC`s desired price for the new broadcast rights deal, with rumors suggesting the company is aiming for at least $1 billion annually – a significant increase from the current ESPN contract averaging $300 million per year – White simply responded, “sounds good to me!”
