UFC Exploring Broadcast Expansion to HBO, TNT Following Skydance Merger
TKO Group Holdings is in discussions with Skydance to expand UFC programming to networks including HBO and TNT following the corporate acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
The Ultimate Fighting Championship could soon expand its broadcast footprint to HBO and TNT as its media partners look to maximize audience reach. TKO Group Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro revealed during an earnings call on Wednesday that active discussions are underway with Skydance regarding utilizing its broader media portfolio.
The potential for wider distribution follows the completion of Paramount-Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Oct. 6.
The move brought networks like HBO and TNT under the same corporate umbrella as Paramount+ and CBS. Shapiro stated that TKO is working directly with Skydance to explore how best to leverage those combined assets, emphasizing that the focus is on expanding viewership across HBO, TNT, Paramount+, and CBS following Skydance's significant investment in the promotion.
The UFC's seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. media rights agreement with Paramount took effect in January 2026, replacing its prior partnership with ESPN. Under that deal, UFC events shifted to Paramount+, select numbered events were slated for CBS, and standalone pay-per-view fees were eliminated in the United States. Although discussions regarding additional carriage are active, no specific programming plans or launch dates for UFC content on HBO or TNT have been formally announced.
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