Cub Swanson (right) punches Billy Quarantillo in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on Dec. 14, 2024. Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
All eyes are on Netflix as a top contender to pin down rights aimed at the UFC, as the organization begins formal discussions on its next media deal.
Why it matters: The streaming giant's increased interest in live sports and the dearth of available rights could lead to a bidding war for the combat sports league.
State of play: The UFC's negotiating window with ESPN, which has held exclusive rights since 2019, will open later this month and go until the middle of April, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. ESPN's deal is slated to expire at the end of this year.
- The sports network is considered a favorite to renew its UFC deal.
Yes, but: This time around, the UFC is open to having multiple media partners. One way it may do that is by expanding the number of fights it puts on each year.
- Enter Netflix.
The big picture: Netflix is increasingly prioritizing major sports events that it can turn into top spectacles, such as NFL games on Christmas Day.
- The streamer saw a three-day spike in sign-ups for its November boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
- It averaged 30 million viewers globally for its two NFL games on Christmas, which went off (mostly) without any tech issues.
- Last month, Netflix signed a deal with FIFA to be the U.S. home for the next two Women's World Cups starting in 2027.
What they're saying: "We'll be looking to maximize price and we'll be looking to also do what's right for the health of our brand. And if that means ... splitting up the packages or creating new packages or potentially adding fights and dates, we're willing to do all the above," Mark Shapiro, president of UFC parent company TKO Group, said during a UBS investor conference last month.
- Shapiro also told CNBC in November that he "absolutely" expects Netflix to be one of the suitors.
Between the lines: This is the first negotiation for U.S. media rights for the UFC since it was spun out from Endeavor and merged with WWE to form TKO Group.
- Netflix takes over as the TV home for WWE's longrunning "Monday Night RAW" franchise beginning Monday.
- Shapiro had previously told Axios about his desire to align WWE and UFC's global media deals, even if they remain separate in the U.S.
The intrigue: Top executives from TKO, including Shapiro and Ari Emanuel, will be in attendance alongside Netflix brass Monday night at Los Angeles' Intuit Dome, according to one of the sources.
Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify UFC's level of interest in paragraph 5, and to clarify in paragraph 13 that the negotiations will be part of its first U.S. media rights deal under the TKO Group.
