How does NBA's new multi-billion-dollar deal stack up against UFC-ESPN contract? Comparing numbers after Dana White's latest claim
The UFC's current broadcast deal with ESPN is nearing its end. The world's premier MMA organization (UFC) could ink a new deal and continue with ESPN that's been its broadcast partner since 2018, sign with another broadcast partner(s), or sign with ESPN and another broadcast partner(s) as well.
Speaking of which, the NBA's $76 billion streaming and television rights deal has lately set the entire sporting world abuzz. UFC CEO and president Dana White touched upon the same in a subsequent interview with CNBC. As reported by MMA Junkie, White stated:
"Our rights deal is going to be a big deal coming up here ... Who knows? We could end up like the NBA and the NFL, where we end up on multiple channels instead of just one."
Watch White's assessment below:
Dana White believes the business of sports broadcasting is changing fast. White highlighted that he could "definitely see" the UFC broadcast on multiple networks and platforms. He notably cited that the UFC has different levels of fights -- making an allusion to the UFC PPVs (pay-per-views), Fight Night events, Contender Series, and more.
Moreover, White seemed to suggest that with the UFC-ESPN deal ending in 2025, negotiations could commence soon and many have already shown interest in signing up as broadcasters for UFC content.
The 54-year-old pointed out that sports broadcasting rights "are through the roof" now and it's unclear as to which of the companies like Disney, YouTube, and Amazon, would be the major broadcasters in the coming years.
Furthermore, White explained that the UFC's next broadcasting deal would "depend how all these other rights play out." He cited the mammoth NBA broadcasting deal and signaled that it could impact how the UFC is broadcast on one or multiple platforms.
UFC broadcast deal: Comparing numbers after Dana White's comments
As reported by The Washington Post, the NBA has signed a $76-billion deal for an 11-year period, effective from the 2025-26 season to the 2025-36 season. The NBA Finals will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC, with the addition of two more broadcast partners in the form of NBC and Amazon. The NBA has parted ways with TNT, but TNT could reportedly sue the NBA in the wake of the departure.
The Disney-owned ESPN and ABC, Amazon-owned Prime Video, and NBCU-owned (NBA, Peacock, and Sky Sports) would respectively broadcast a specific number of NBA games allocated to each network, per the NBA. The Washington Post report echoed similar sentiments and further noted that the WNBA would receive $2.2 billion over an 11-year period.
The yearly payout accorded by each network to the NBA would be $2.6 billion by Disney, $1.8 billion by Amazon, and $2.5 billion by NBC.
As reported by Forbes, the UFC signed a $1.5-billion five-year deal with ESPN in 2018, with the deal going into effect from 2019. They later signed a two-year extension as well. As reported by MMA Fighting earlier this year (2024), Mark Shapiro alluded to the UFC's rich history with ESPN as its broadcast partner.
Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Tech, Media and Telecom Conference this year, Shapiro (president of $21-billion worth UFC parent company, TKO Group Holdings) suggested that the UFC would love to continue its partnership with the Disney-owned ESPN.
Nevertheless, Shapiro asserted that if a desirable deal isn't made, the UFC could sign a deal with another broadcast partner(s), adding that multiple bidders have already lined up.