The
Ultimate Fighting Championship could expand its programming to
HBO and other networks as its media partner explores ways to reach
a larger audience.
TKO Group Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Mark
Shapiro said discussions are underway with Skydance about using its
expanded media portfolio to increase the UFC’s reach.
Paramount-Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros.
Discovery on Oct. 6, bringing HBO and TNT under the same corporate
umbrella as Paramount+ and CBS.
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TKO executive Mark Shapiro says discussions with Skydance
include HBO, TNT, Paramount+ and CBS
“We’re in conversation as we speak with Skydance about the best way
to maximize audience across the Skydance platform,” Shapiro said during TKO’s
earnings call Wednesday.
Shapiro identified several platforms that could play a role in the
UFC’s distribution strategy.
“We will be maximizing HBO, TNT, Paramount+, CBS, all in the name
of expanding eyeballs, expanding viewership, growing audience, and
increasing engagement,” Shapiro added. “We are fully aligned
strategically with Skydance and, frankly, they made a huge
investment in UFC, and we want to see that we help them maximize
their returns.”
The UFC’s seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. media rights agreement with
Paramount began in January 2026, replacing its partnership with
ESPN. The deal moved UFC events to Paramount+, with select numbered
events also airing on CBS, and eliminated separate pay-per-view
charges in the United States.
No specific plans or launch dates for UFC programming on HBO or TNT
have been announced.