The UFC‘s opportunity to secure a new broadcast rights deal officially opens in January 2025, but discussions regarding the next contract commence even earlier.
Currently, ESPN holds the rights to all UFC content, including pay-per-view broadcasts, under a seven-year deal inked with the promotion after a stint on FOX. The collaboration between the UFC and ESPN has proven lucrative for both entities, particularly contributing to the substantial growth of ESPN+ as the primary streaming platform for the MMA organization.
Broadcast Rights Up in the Air as UFC has Major Decision to Make in 2025
Despite this, Mark Shapiro, president of TKO Group Holdings, disclosed that multiple potential bidders have already expressed interest in securing the broadcast rights for the UFC once negotiations kick off later this year.