With the race to protect live -sport and entertainment more competitive than ever before, television networks break out the big dollar to lure the public away from box sets and social media to strengthen their monthly subscription numbers. To this end, Paramount and ESPN have inked epic deals to give a headlock on the incredibly popular programming of UFC and WWE. So, with both competitions that change channels in 2026, this is what you need to know.
UFC’s 7.7 billion deal with Paramount+
The world’s most popular MMA League will punch and kick its way to Paramount, so that the existing ends Pay-per-View structure with Disney’s ESPN+ Service, thanks to a stunning $ 7.7 billion US Rights Deal. According to the new seven -year contract, all 13 of the UFC flagship are numbered special events and 30 fighting evenings per year on the Paramount+ platform. Some of these events are also expected to be broadcast on CBS. For Vecht fans, watching UFC is just cheaper. A standard numbered pay-per-view costs $ 79.99 per event, plus the ESPN+ subscription of around $ 11.99 per month. Paramount+ is considerably cheaper. The monthly subscription costs are $ 7.99 per month with advertisements, or £ 12.99 advertising free.
“This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and outletes,” said UFC’s Chief Executive Officer Dana White. “For the first time, fans in the US have access to all UFC content without a pay-per-view mode, making it even more affordable and more accessible to view the biggest fights on a huge platform.”
Breaking News 🚨UFC only has a new home in 2026 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/fuqjempnbs
– Danawhite (@denawhite) August 11, 2025
Although Paramount and UFC can extend this deal worldwide in the future, international rights contacts mean that they are currently specific to the United States. In Canada, for example, the UFC rights are with Sportnet and TVA sports, and in the UK they stay at TNT Sports.
WWE Wrestlemania goes to ESPN
ESPN may leave the Octagon, but the sports network is now on its way to the Pro Wrestling Ring after signing a five years, $ 1.6 billion rights deal with WWE for its major events. In contrast to the Paramount+ Deal, the programming of WWE is spread over different networks. This is how things will come true when the new deal starts in 2026:
ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service will replace Peacock as the place for American fans to see Premium Live events, starting with Wrestlemania 42 in April 2026. This is followed by WWE’s calendar of special events, including Summerslam and the Royal Rumble. For many, this step comes as a surprise, because Netflix is expected to extend their current deal that broadcast the weekly shows of the Grappling League, such as such as like Monday evening raw. For those who are still confused, here is the breakdown of the most important shows of WWE and where you find them:
- Monthly Premium Live Events: ESPN of April 2026
- Monday Night Raw: Netflix
- WWE NXT: The CW
- Friday night Smackdown: USA Network
“The WWE agreement with ESPN is a crucial moment for our millions of fans in the United States: the leader in sports towers who collaborates with the largest brand in Sportmedia,” said Nick Khan, the president of WWE. “It is extremely exciting to bring WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform. We know that heaven is the limit.”
While American viewers still need several subscriptions to keep track of WWE, international fans win here insofar as it costs, because Netflix has complete rights to all WWE content in areas, including Canada and the United Kingdom, which means that one monthly subscription deals with it all. Once crashed as a lesser form of sport and entertainment by some experts in the field of television rights, the UFC and WWE break their own records for content contracts and seem to be going into force under the property of TKO.
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