The UFC goes to have curiosity from quite a few networks and a number of streaming retailers for the corporate’s upcoming broadcast rights and now TNT Sports activities is expressing curiosity publicly about getting concerned within the bidding.
With the UFC’s present take care of ESPN coming to an finish on the shut of 2025, the MMA group remains to be in an unique negotiating window with the Disney-owned community via April 15. However as soon as that date passes, the UFC can start fielding gives from different potential suitors with TNT Sports activities CEO Luis Silberwasser voicing his curiosity in getting that dialog began.
TNT Sports activities, which is a part of the Warner Bros. Discovery household, only in the near past misplaced the rights to the NBA after working collectively for 34 years. The corporate might doubtlessly add the UFC to bolster its general sports activities choices, which additionally consists of a part of the NCAA March Insanity match that kicked off this week.
“We like each,” Silberwasser advised The Varsity podcast about doubtlessly working with the UFC or F1 racing. “UFC is a incredible property and has piqued our curiosity.
“Components One, as properly. Given our expertise with sports activities internationally, we all know the fervour for Components One. And we all know that on this market, it has grown and it has nice potential as properly.”
Whereas Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav downplayed the corporate investing in any new sports activities regardless of shedding the NBA rights, Silberwasser clearly nonetheless believes TNT Sports activities may gain advantage from including at the least a part of the UFC’s broadcast rights.
At present all UFC programming, together with pay-per-view occasions, air completely via the ESPN household of networks, which additionally consists of ESPN+ for streaming.
Underneath phrases of a brand new broadcast rights deal, the UFC might doubtlessly break up up the package deal to a number of retailers with an organization like TNT Sports activities presumably touchdown a number of the UFC Combat Evening occasions whereas a streaming service akin to Netflix would possibly bid completely for the larger, extra profitable pay-per-view occasions.
Whereas the UFC can’t settle for any gives till after April 15, it’s extremely unlikely a brand new deal is struck with ESPN earlier than that unique negotiating window closes.
As a lot curiosity as TNT Sports activities may need within the UFC, Netflix has emerged as the favored frontrunner to finish up with half or all the broadcast fights after the streamer already struck a large 10 12 months, $5 billion deal to land WWE’s flagship collection Monday Evening Uncooked. WWE is a part of the identical firm because the UFC beneath TKO Group Holdings.
After all, TNT Sports activities gained’t doubtless be alone in at the least making an attempt to become involved within the UFC’s broadcast rights with the promotion reportedly seeking over $1 billion per year beneath phrases of the brand new deal that kicks off in 2026.
