Michael Aldon · Athlon Sports Thu, November 5, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a year after the UFC launched its landmark broadcast partnership with Paramount+, the promotion's ownership is already discussing a much wider distribution footprint.
On Wednesday's TKO Group Holdings earnings call (h/t to BigGo Finance ), President and COO Mark Shapiro confirmed that active conversations are underway with Skydance about maximizing UFC content across a newly expanded portfolio of networks.
The discussions follow Paramount-Skydance's recent completion of its massive $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that brings HBO, TNT, and CBS under the same corporate umbrella as Paramount+ (per Reuters ).
The UFC officially moved from ESPN to Paramount+ at the start of 2026 under a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement that also eliminated the traditional pay-per-view model.
That deal was negotiated before the full scope of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger materialized. Now, with Skydance controlling assets ranging from premium cable powerhouse HBO to the broadcast reach of CBS, TKO sees an opportunity to significantly expand the UFC's visibility beyond a single streaming platform.
Shapiro was explicit about the UFC's projected scope.
"We will be maximizing HBO, TNT, Paramount+, CBS, all in the name of expanding eyeballs, expanding viewership, growing audience, and increasing engagement," Shapiro stated in the call, per MMA Fighting .
He further emphasized that TKO is "fully aligned strategically with Skydance" and wants to help the media company "maximize their returns" on its substantial investment in the UFC.
The UFC's owners are clearly not treating the Paramount deal as a final destination. Even Dana White previously stated to The Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett that he is already thinking of the UFC's next broadcast deal, and that he wants to command $10 billion from whoever wants to host UFC cards after Paramount.
When the UFC signed its deal with Paramount, the arrangement was framed as a revolutionary shift that traded pay-per-view revenue for broad streaming accessibility.
Dana White publicly celebrated the end of the pay-per-view price point, arguing that a Paramount+ subscription would make the sport more accessible than ever.
He did, however, leave the door open for the possibility of the UFC returning to pay-per-view for a one-off fight in the event that a new UFC superstar emerges.
Additionally, the media landscape shifted rapidly as consolidation accelerated, and the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger created a scenario where the UFC's exclusive streaming home could also serve as a springboard to linear and premium cable audiences.
The integration of Paramount+ and HBO Max is expected to eventually merge the two streaming services, which would immediately expand the UFC's potential subscriber base.
Shapiro's comments suggest that TKO is not content to wait passively for that integration to unfold. By publicly signaling interest in HBO and TNT, the promotion is positioning itself to capture additional revenue from advertising and carriage fees that linear networks can provide.
There is no announced timeline for when UFC programming might appear on HBO or TNT. The merger integration is still underway, and no specific programming blocks or events have been designated for the Warner Bros. Discovery networks.
The UFC is only ten months into a seven-year commitment, yet its ownership is already publicly exploring ways to distribute content across a much broader corporate ecosystem. That does not necessarily indicate dissatisfaction with Paramount+, but it does reflect the reality that the Skydance merger is an opportunity for the UFC to secure even more money than it already has.
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports
For fight fans, the implication is potentially significant.
A future with HBO combined with the streaming accessibility of the current Paramount+ arrangement may broaden the fan base and generate more interest in UFC numbered events. It also, however, could mean a return to a pay-per-view model.
Shapiro's framing—centered on "expanding eyeballs" and "growing audience"—suggests TKO views the Skydance portfolio as a tool to reach viewers who may not subscribe to Paramount+ but who already pay for HBO or watch CBS.
With the Skydance acquisition complete and integration underway, TKO is making it known that it intends to use every available screen in the corporate family.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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