UFC makes ESPN+ exclusive provider of pay-per-view events in U.S., extends ESPN deal

The UFC and ESPN have extended their deal, including an agreement to make ESPN+ the exclusive provider of UFC pay-per-views in the U.S.

The UFC and ESPN have extended their broadcast deal an extra two years, including a new agreement that makes ESPN+ the exclusive provider of UFC pay-per-views in the United States.

The fight promotion and sports cable network announced the new deal today, which extends ESPN as the home of the UFC through the end of 2025 instead of 2023 in the original agreement.

Residential fans in the U.S. now will have a single purchase point for UFC pay-per-view events – the ESPN+ streaming platform. The agreement takes effect with the promotion’s next pay-per-view, UFC 236, which takes place April 13 in Atlanta. The UFC is scheduled to put on 12 pay-per-view events this year.

The UFC retains its commercial pay-per-view business capabilities, which means restaurants and bars will continue to be able to purchase pay-per-view rights from the UFC on a per-seat basis and air events for customers, as they’ve been doing for years.

But for fans watching UFC pay-per-views from home, it now will be one-stop shopping. Events will be ordered online, then will be able to be streamed online or through connected devices like Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation 4 or Amazon Fire, for example.

Like before, prelims for UFC pay-per-view events will air on ESPN and stream on UFC Fight Pass.

“With the addition of UFC pay-per-view events, we are making ESPN+ an absolute must-have for any fan of the UFC and mixed martial arts,” stated Kevin Mayer, the chairman of The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer & international division. (Disney owns ESPN.) “In less than a year, ESPN+ has established itself as the leader in direct-to-consumer sports and this new programming agreement adds a significant business to our platform while reinforcing the value and strength of our product and our content lineup.”

The UFC and ESPN started its broadcast deal earlier at the start of the year. Prior to that, the UFC was in a seven-year broadcast deal with FOX and FOX Sports.

New ESPN+ subscribers will be able to purchase a yearlong subscription for $79.99 that includes one pay-per-view event. Current ESPN+ subscribers will be able to purchase pay-per-views for $59.99 each.

According to a news release, additional packaging options may become available in the future.

The ESPN+ base subscription package is $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year. ESPN+ will be the home for 20 UFC “Fight Night” events in 2018.

“Today’s announcement further establishes the strength of the partnership between UFC and ESPN,” UFC President Dana White stated. “Now our fans will be able to watch all UFC events exclusively on ESPN platforms, including ESPN+, which is an innovative way to deliver fights to our young fan base. I couldn’t be more excited to work with ESPN for the next seven years. Together we’re going to do amazing things to help grow this sport.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.