UFC officials are gearing up for a significant week as their exclusive negotiation period with ESPN concluded on Tuesday. This opens the door for other interested parties to present offers for broadcasting rights starting in 2026.
While Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings, will lead the negotiations—as he has for previous UFC broadcast deals—UFC President Dana White is keenly interested in the outcome. The end of the ESPN exclusivity doesn`t prevent a new agreement with the network, but it allows other networks and streaming services to bid.
“Now that the window is open, we will begin discussions with many different groups and explore all available options,” White stated at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. “As we`ve said before, we might end up on several networks, like many other major sports.”
“I value ESPN. I`ve mentioned before that we had a somewhat difficult start, which is normal in any relationship, but we are now in a great position with ESPN. Whether we renew with them or not, I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with ESPN.”
There`s been much speculation about the UFC potentially dividing its broadcast rights among different media outlets. Many believe the promotion could partner with a major streaming platform like Netflix.
Netflix recently committed $5 billion over 10 years to acquire WWE`s Monday Night Raw. WWE and UFC share the same ownership. Furthermore, Netflix executives have expressed hesitation about traditional sports bidding due to the seasonal format not aligning with their programming strategy.
This isn`t an issue for the UFC, which hosts events throughout the year. White assures that the UFC will 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 seeks. Typically, these deals are tailored to the network`s requirements. They also have existing commitments to other programming and sports. It’s always variable. It doesn’t concern me.”
TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro has echoed similar sentiments regarding the UFC’s broadcast rights deal. He has indicated that the UFC is open to various possibilities, including a broadcast partner offering enough to eliminate the need for pay-per-view events in the future.
While White couldn`t speculate on the outcome, especially with negotiations just beginning, he seemed receptive to the idea of moving away from pay-per-view.
“We will align with what works for the network, what are their objectives?” White questioned. “Do they want to simply air it? Do they want to use pay-per-view? Do they want to put content behind a paywall? I don’t have those answers yet. Now that Tuesday has arrived and the window is open, we will start conversations with other networks and delve deeper into these possibilities.”
Regarding the UFC`s desired price for the new broadcast rights deal—with rumors suggesting at least $1 billion annually, a significant jump from the current $300 million ESPN contract—White simply responded, “sounds good to me!”
