Dana White Reveals All On The UFC’s Next Broadcast Deal – ‘We Do What Works’
Dana White has given fans an update on what they can expect next for the UFC’s next broadcasting deal.
The UFC has a decision to make as their deal with ESPN ends this year. The UFC signed an ESPN deal in 2018 worth $1.5 billion. During this period, the UFC solidified its position as the leading MMA brand. The pandemic increased viewership numbers, as ESPN became the home of the UFC. ESPN has an exclusive window to negotiate a new deal, which ends on April 15. After this period, the UFC can speak with other platforms. There is a potential for the UFC to seek out a deal on multiple platforms.
They could join Netflix after WWE signed a ten-year deal to air Monday Night RAW worth $5 billion. The UFC and WWE merged to form TKO Group Holdings Inc. meaning it is possible for the UFC to switch over to Netflix. Netflix also showed that they could hold record-breaking events, such as Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, which became the most-watched streaming boxing fight ever.
There are also other options, such as Amazon Prime Video. They entered into boxing with their deal with PBC, showing they have an appetite for combat sports. They also have a subscriber base that exceeds 160 million, which is just in the US. Equally, the NBA signed a multi-platform deal worth $76 billion over an 11-year period with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime. White has said the UFC will be looking to get the best deal.
White Reacts
“When the window opens, we’ll obviously start talking to lots of different people and we’ll see what the options are out there. We’ve said this every time. There could be a time when we end up on several different networks like all other sports do. I like ESPN. I’ve said it many times, we had a bit of a rocky start, which is normal in any relationship, but we’re in a great place with ESPN. If we re-sign with them or do not, I have nothing but great things to say about my time at ESPN.
“I don’t know [what the new deal will entail]. It depends on what ESPN or wherever else we go is looking for. Most of the times when you do these deals, you’re catering to what the network needs. Plus they’ll have other programming, other sports that they’re already committed to at certain times and seasons and whatever it may be. It always changes. It doesn’t matter to me.
“We do what works for the network, what do they want to do? Do they want to just put it on their air? Do they want to do pay-per-view? [And] do they want to put it behind a paywall? I don’t know any of those things. Tuesday, the window opens and we start talking to other networks and we’ll get more into that,” White said
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