Will The UFC Join Netflix?

The UFC’s future with ESPN+ could be over, with reports that the organization could strike a broadcast deal with Netflix. 

The UFC has been in partnership with ESPN+ since 2018. They inked a deal worth $1.5 billion, allowing the UFC to expand its global reach. The deal is set to end this year. ESPN+ has an exclusive three-month window that ends after March to agree to a new deal. If a deal is not reached, the UFC will be allowed to negotiate with other networks.

That makes sense from a business point of view, allowing the promotion to explore other opportunities and get a better deal. Reports also indicate that the UFC could be wanting over $1 billion annually for any new deal. Only a select few networks would be able to put up those numbers. There is the potential for a cross-network deal, allowing the UFC to spread its brand further. 

White On The Future

“It’s going to depend how all these other rights play out. The NBA was a big deal. Obviously, this one is playing out. ‘Who’s going to get them? Who’s not going to get them?’ It could determine where we end up. 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. … It’s all moving and changing so quickly. Yeah, I could definitely see (the UFC on multiple networks). … We have a lot of different levels of fights, whether it’s Contender Series, Fight Nights or pay-per-views. They could end up on multiple platforms,” Dana White said 

Potential

TKO Group Holdings Inc. also has more leverage to offer following their recent announcement of a new boxing league. A partnership with Netflix could make sense for various reasons. Netflix has shown that it can pull off major events. They put on Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, which became the most-streamed boxing event in history. Netflix also has a ten-year deal worth $5 billion with WWE, to air Monday Night RAW, an organization that merged with the UFC to form TKO Group Holdings Inc. 

“ESPN loves the brand and has done wonders for that brand. The price may be just too high. I think it ends up on a streamer. I’m not sure it’s Amazon. It could be Netflix. Netflix has a relationship already with TKO in their WWE [deal]. Would it be a double hit with the UFC? I don’t know if ESPN is coming up with a billion dollars,” David Levy (Horizon Sports & Experiences co-CEO)

There are also suggestions that ESPN+ is not delivering the service required. Customers complained en masse over the streaming difficulties they faced in their last event at UFC 313 between Alex Pereira and Ankalaev. ESPN+ has also shown a shift in strategy, with a focus on NBA, WNBA, NFL, and college football. MMA fans had plenty to say over the UFC’s future.