UFC’s New Home Ends Pay-Per-View—Streaming Takes Over in 2026

The UFC is ditching traditional pay-per-view in the U.S. under a landmark seven-year, ~$7.7 billion media-rights deal that moves the promotion to Paramount and CBS from 2026. The package folds every premium event—13 numbered cards and about 30 Fight Nights a year—into a Paramount+ subscription, with select shows simulcasting on CBS. The move ends the ESPN+ PPV era after 2025 and replaces ~$90 main-event buys with a flat monthly fee, signaling one of combat sports’ biggest distribution pivots in decades.

For fans, the upside’s obvious: simpler access and meaningful savings, plus a steadier spread of marquee matchups instead of a handful of “stacked” PPVs. There are trade-offs to watch—streaming reliability on high-traffic nights, regional blackouts, and how archival content migrates—but the day-one experience becomes far closer to bingeable leagues like the NFL’s Sunday Ticket or Formula 1’s streaming model. Expect ticket demand to stay hot as broadcast barriers fall and casual viewers sample more live cards.

Industry ripple effects could be just as sharp. TKO Group (UFC’s parent) deepens its split-rights strategy with WWE at ESPN and UFC at Paramount, while ESPN loses a tentpole and rivals like Amazon and Netflix face a new sports-streaming benchmark. Fighter economics will be closely scrutinized—subscription bundles change revenue timing and transparency—yet a broader audience can lift sponsorships and international rights over time. The ESPN deal runs through the end of 2025; the Paramount era starts with the first 2026 card.