UFC executives are making 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 guide negotiations similar to he’s finished 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 an in depth doesn’t imply the Disney-owned community can’t strike a brand new cope with the UFC however as a substitute this simply opens up the bidding for different networks and potential streaming companions to get entangled.
“When the window opens, we’ll clearly begin speaking to numerous completely different folks and we’ll see what the choices are on the market,” White stated through the UFC 314 post-fight press convention. “We’ve stated this each time. There could possibly be a time after we find yourself on a number of completely different networks like all different sports activities do.
“I like ESPN. I’ve stated it many occasions, we had a little bit of a rocky begin, which is regular in any relationship, however we’re in an amazing 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 in regards to the UFC doubtlessly splitting up the printed rights package deal amongst a number of shops however there have been loads of educated guesses that the promotion may simply find yourself on a serious streaming service like Netflix.
It’s no secret that Netflix signed an enormous $5 billion, 10 yr deal to land WWE’s flagship present Monday Night time Uncooked and the skilled wrestling outfit shares the identical house owners 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 yr spherical and White is aware of his group goes to work with any potential broadcast accomplice to present them precisely what they want.
“I don’t know [what the new deal will entail],” White stated. “It depends upon what ESPN or wherever else we go is on the lookout for. A lot of the occasions 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 occasions and seasons and no matter it might be. It at all times modifications. It doesn’t matter to me.”
TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro has stated a lot the identical at any time when he’s addressed the UFC’s broadcast rights deal publicly. He’s additionally said that the UFC is open to any variety of potentialities with this new TV deal — and that features the likelihood {that a} broadcast accomplice pays sufficient to get rid of the necessity for pay-per-view occasions transferring ahead.
White clearly couldn’t say what would occur, particularly with negotiations not likely beginning with different potential companions till Monday, however he didn’t appear against the concept.
“We do what works for the community, what do they wish to do?” White stated. “Do they wish to simply put it on their air? Do they wish to do pay-per-view? Do they wish 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 value that the UFC desires for the brand new broadcast rights cope with rumors swirling that the corporate is looking for no less than $1 billion per yr — an enormous enhance from the present contract with ESPN averaging $300 million yearly — White may solely say “sounds good to me!”