UFC Eyes Expansion Across Paramount Platforms

TKO Group president Mark Shapiro says talks with Skydance on expanding UFC programming to other Paramount networks are ongoing.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts

Empty UFC octagon under cool overhead arena lights, with dark seating tiers receding into shadow behind it. — TKO Group president Mark Shapiro said talks with Skydance about expanding UFC programming to other Paramount networks are ongoing after the Warner Bros. acquisition closed. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro said talks are ongoing with Skydance about expanding UFC programming to other Paramount platforms. The comments came as Paramount-Skydance closed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., including HBO, TBS and TNT.

Why it matters

The expansion talks signal that the UFC's media rights could spread beyond its current streaming home as the combined Paramount and Warner Bros. portfolio takes shape. For U.S. fans, it points to how live combat sports may be distributed across a larger set of television and streaming services.

The UFC's seven-year deal with Paramount is valued at $7.7 billion and began at the start of 2026. The deal eliminated pay-per-view broadcasts, with every event now airing exclusively on Paramount+.

The players

Mark Shapiro

Mark Shapiro is the president of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC, and a longtime media and sports executive.

Paramount Skydance

Paramount Skydance is the media company formed through Paramount's merger with Skydance, which has now acquired Warner Bros. and its HBO, TBS and TNT assets.

The details

Shapiro made the comments during a TKO financial call, noting that talks with Skydance are underway. Paramount-Skydance has completed its merger with Warner Bros., though full integration of the various properties is still underway.

Start of 2026: UFC's seven-year deal with Paramount began and pay-per-view broadcasts were eliminated.
Wednesday: Shapiro revealed ongoing expansion talks during a TKO financial call.

Season Trajectory

The UFC's move to Paramount+ under its seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement marked a break from its earlier pay-per-view model. Potential expansion across Paramount's combined portfolio with Warner Bros. would further shift how the promotion reaches American audiences.

Viewers who watch UFC events now need a Paramount+ subscription, since pay-per-view is no longer offered. Any future expansion to other Paramount networks could change where fans can watch fight cards.

The takeaway

Fans who follow the UFC should watch for announcements about which Paramount networks will carry future events. The consolidation of Paramount and Warner Bros. properties could make a single subscription a more central way to access live combat sports.