ESPN becomes UFC's exclusive cable and streaming home.

[Blubba Jenkins]

In a stunning move, ESPN will reportedly get both the UFC’s streamed and televised cards starting in 2019.

The UFC on Fox Sports era is coming to an end.

Variety reported on Tuesday night that ESPN, which already snagged rights to up to 15 live UFC events per year on its new streaming service ESPN+, has also won the television rights package, which will bring an additional 15 fight cards to the network, making for 30 per year starting in 2019.

Sources familiar with negotiations say ESPN has struck a deal for a second portion to the package currently held by Fox Sports that will bring the total cost in the neighborhood of $300 million per year for five years, totaling $1.5 billion. The new deals, which cover a total of 30 fights, kick in early 2019.​

Report: ESPN lands UFC television rights deal, reportedly worth $150 million per year

 

[Blubba Jenkins]

 

[Rambo John J]

where are there rest of the fights?...if any

didn't have fox...don't have espn

if you need a package to get espy I won't pay...If I can pay for the channel I might grab it

lots are in the same boat as me

 

[Robbie Hart]

I will continue to get these as a part of my bt sport package.......at least it didn’t go to a non bt connected network

 

[FrankieNYC]

Just getting in
So ESPN gets a total of 30 cards (it seems)

According to Variety on Tuesday, the revised deal will have the Disney-owned ESPN getting 30 UFC cards per year, pushing the valuation of the contract to $1.5 billion over that same span of time — $300 million per year. It remains unclear how many pay-per-view events the UFC will run in 2019, but the typical 12 or 13 is not expected to change.

That makes me think they might not drop PPV to 8

Hopefully it works for all

 

[member 3289]

Just getting in
So ESPN gets a total of 30 cards (it seems)

According to Variety on Tuesday, the revised deal will have the Disney-owned ESPN getting 30 UFC cards per year, pushing the valuation of the contract to $1.5 billion over that same span of time — $300 million per year. It remains unclear how many pay-per-view events the UFC will run in 2019, but the typical 12 or 13 is not expected to change.

That makes me think they might not drop PPV to 8

Hopefully it works for all

WME must be master negotiators, eh?

 

[FrankieNYC]

WME must be master negotiators, eh?

Well in the past few weeks the secured deals for UFC & WWE worth billions & billions in a down period.

I try to tell people that they might be justified in disliking their MMA decisions, but they bought the company with investors to make bank & the company will be a $6b company in 2019.

Next watch they go public (a prediction)

I have emails to two people on west coast.
If I hear anything interesting I'll share

 

[member 3289]

Well in the past few weeks the secured deals for UFC & WWE worth billions & billions in a down period.

I try to tell people that they might be justified in disliking their MMA decisions, but they bought the company with investors to make bank & the company will be a $6b company in 2019.

Next watch they go public (a prediction)

I have emails to two people on west coast.
If I hear anything interesting I'll share

I hope they go public. If they do they'll have to release their PPV info and a lot more to shareholders, right?

 

[FrankieNYC]

I hope they go public. If they do they'll have to release their PPV info and a lot more to shareholders, right?

That info comes out now, but yes they will be a lot more "see-through" if they go public
Great point

My thoughts are they will put a % public but control the company (like WWE did).
With profits being about $300m per, they will do great on the market.

WWE made about $35m in 2017 & (before the TV deals) were worth $2.5-3.0b, so imagine UFC

Going public might make everyone their investment back & then the rest is all profit.

 

[member 3289]

I hope they let Rogan make the announcement again:


View: https://youtu.be/ruxYSleOX6c

 

[FrankieNYC]

One thing I heard is that the deal is for 30 events total & not 15 on ESPN & 15 on ESPN+
I have a feeling it will be similar to FS1, where cards begin on OTT & then go to the network for main on some cards.

 

[Wild]

I hope they go public. If they do they'll have to release their PPV info and a lot more to shareholders, right?

Was thinking the exact same thing. Think the UFC has been under a microscope in the past regarding revenue split...let them go public. That shit will be amped up x1000000.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Was thinking the exact same thing. Think the UFC has been under a microscope in the past regarding revenue split...let them go public. That shit will be amped up x1000000.

Not really
WWE is public & pays 5-8%

 

[Weidman's right nut]

Ok, so this is the question I have....in 2024 when this deal is winding down and viewer numbers have continued to decline and PPV buys continue to hover between 100K and 250K will anyone (in tv/streaming land) pay for this product anymore? And if they don't, will the strategy to become a content provider rather than a MMA promotion bite them in the ass when there is no buying public willing to pay/watch it anymore?

 

[FrankieNYC]

Ok, so this is the question I have....in 2024 when this deal is winding down and viewer numbers have continued to decline and PPV buys continue to hover between 100K and 250K will anyone (in tv/streaming land) pay for this product anymore? And if they don't, will the strategy to become a content provider rather than a MMA promotion bite them in the ass when there is no buying public willing to pay/watch it anymore?

The business has changed so much in the past 3-5 years it is almost impossible to predict.
With TV, OTT consumption constantly changing, it is tough to guess.

 

[Weidman's right nut]

The business has changed so much in the past 3-5 years it is almost impossible to predict.
With TV, OTT consumption constantly changing, it is tough to guess.

For sure, I was more just thinking out loud than posing a real question.......we can't really predict months in advance let alone 5 years...lol. The skeptic in me sees this as being a bad deal LONG TERM for the UFC.....what are the chances WME sells before the end of this deal?

 

[FrankieNYC]

We are supposedly getting the official info from ESPN/UFC today

 

[FrankieNYC]

For sure, I was more just thinking out loud than posing a real question.......we can't really predict months in advance let alone 5 years...lol. The skeptic in me sees this as being a bad deal LONG TERM for the UFC.....what are the chances WME sells before the end of this deal?

WTF knows?
I think the chances of going public are big
But if someone offers enough money for the brand, I suspect the investors will take it

Remember as of 9/17, WME did not even own 50%

No idea if they can sell without a full investor agreement.

 

[Silverball]

View: https://twitter.com/erikmagraken/status/999160139830587392

 

[Judobill]

Was thinking the exact same thing. Think the UFC has been under a microscope in the past regarding revenue split...let them go public. That shit will be amped up x1000000.

I bought shares in the IFL. Fool me once.

 

[Wild]

Not really
WWE is public & pays 5-8%

Nobody cares what WWE pays their roster though. UFC revenue split has been a focal point of discussion (even with ESPN doing a story on it years ago) for years. I don’t they will get off so easy with fans & media.

 

[so long]

Just checked: "ESPN+ is not available in your country due to content rights issues." riiiiiiiight...

 

[FrankieNYC]

Just checked: "ESPN+ is not available in your country due to content rights issues." riiiiiiiight...

Overseas deals are not affected by US deals in that regard

 

[Dat Pre-HollyHolm Ronda $]

I hope they let Rogan make the announcement again:


View: https://youtu.be/ruxYSleOX6c

LOL I've never actually watched that. Seems Joe had cotton mouth plus nerves.
That look on Dana and Lorenzo's face when Joe announced them. Holly shit, I'd hate
to be in Joe's shoes then.

God damn talk about "Wanna get away?"

 

[so long]

Overseas deals are not affected by US deals in that regard

Tell me about it...
I can't watch the FOX shows, I can't watch Bellator and the best part was that I could not watch some of the UFC on Fightpass shows ON FIGHTPASS, which led me to eventually cancel my subscription.
When I visited a friend in England though they showed Bellator on TV at night. That was nice. Might even have been ESPN, I don't remember the station...