UFC streaming rights in the US purchased by Paramount in $7.7 billion deal

[p]The company will carry the UFC's full US slate of 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights on its Paramount+ streaming service, with select numbered events simulcast on its CBS broadcast network. The media company also said it may pursue UFC rights in other markets as they become available.[/p][p]"Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy," said David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, calling UFC a "global sports powerhouse".[/p][p]Sports content, including rights to live events, has become the anchor of media strategy as cord-cutting accelerates. Rivals including Netflix and Disney have also struck similar deals to beef up their content with offerings from the likes of WWE.[/p][p]Paramount is paying an average of $1.1 billion annually to TKO Group for the rights. It will offer all the matches at no additional cost to consumers, in a shift from the sport's pay-per-view model.[/p][p]Paramount Global and Skydance Media completed their $8.4 billion merger last week, capping a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns.[/p][p]UFC stages about 43 live events a year and says it reaches roughly 100 million fans in the US and nearly 950 million broadcast and digital households worldwide.[/p]