UFC executives are getting ready for an enormous week after the unique negotiating window with ESPN involves an finish on Tuesday, which suggests potential suitors can begin making a pitch at touchdown the printed rights for the following TV deal beginning in 2026.
Whereas TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel goes to steer negotiations identical to he’s completed for the UFC for the previous couple of broadcast offers — relationship again earlier than he even owned the corporate — UFC boss Dana White clearly has a vested curiosity in how this all performs out. To be clear, the unique negotiating window with ESPN coming to a detailed doesn’t imply the Disney-owned community can’t strike a brand new take care of the UFC however as a substitute this simply opens up the bidding for different networks and attainable streaming companions to become involved.
“When the window opens, we’ll clearly begin speaking to plenty of totally different individuals and we’ll see what the choices are on the market,” White mentioned in the course of the UFC 314 post-fight press convention. “We’ve mentioned this each time. There might be a time once we find yourself on a number of totally different networks like all different sports activities do.
“I like ESPN. I’ve mentioned it many instances, we had a little bit of a rocky begin, which is regular in any relationship, however we’re in a terrific place with ESPN. If we re-sign with them or don’t, I’ve nothing however nice issues to say about my time at ESPN.”
Hypothesis has run rampant concerning the UFC probably splitting up the printed rights bundle amongst a number of retailers however there have been loads of educated guesses that the promotion would possibly simply find yourself on a serious streaming service like Netflix.
It’s no secret that Netflix signed a large $5 billion, 10 12 months deal to land WWE’s flagship present Monday Evening Uncooked and the skilled wrestling outfit shares the identical homeowners because the UFC. Add to that, Netflix executives have repeatedly cautioned in opposition to getting concerned within the bidding for conventional sports activities as a result of the season-long format simply doesn’t match the corporate’s programming wants.
That’s not a priority with the UFC as a result of the promotion places on playing cards 12 months spherical and White is aware of his group goes to work with any potential broadcast accomplice to provide them precisely what they want.
“I don’t know [what the new deal will entail],” White mentioned. “It is dependent upon what ESPN or wherever else we go is on the lookout for. Many of the instances whenever you do these offers, you’re catering to what the community wants. Plus they’ll produce other programming, different sports activities that they’re already dedicated to at sure instances and seasons and no matter it might be. It all the time modifications. It doesn’t matter to me.”
TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro has mentioned a lot the identical at any time when he’s addressed the UFC’s broadcast rights deal publicly. He’s additionally acknowledged that the UFC is open to any variety of prospects with this new TV deal — and that features the chance {that a} broadcast accomplice pays sufficient to get rid of the necessity for pay-per-view occasions shifting ahead.
White clearly couldn’t say what would occur, particularly with negotiations not likely beginning with different attainable companions till Monday, however he didn’t appear against the concept.
“We do what works for the community, what do they need to do?” White mentioned. “Do they need to simply put it on their air? Do they need to do pay-per-view? Do they need to put it behind a paywall? I don’t know any of these issues. Tuesday, the window opens and we begin speaking to different networks and we’ll get extra into that.”
So far as the worth that the UFC needs for the brand new broadcast rights take care of rumors swirling that the corporate is in search of at the least $1 billion per 12 months — a large improve from the present contract with ESPN averaging $300 million yearly — White may solely say “sounds good to me!”
