Key facts
- Paramount+ will exclusively stream UFC numbered event main cards in Canada.
- The new media rights deal begins in 2027 and will last for six years.
- This agreement ends UFC's traditional pay-per-view model in Canada.
- Paramount+ has seen over 10 million households watch UFC programming in the U.S. and Latin America.
- The deal is part of Paramount's strategy to boost viewership and subscriber growth through live sports.
Paramount+ has announced an expansion of its media rights partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which will extend to Canada beginning in 2027. Under the new six-year agreement, Paramount+ will exclusively stream the main cards of UFC's numbered events in Canada. This deal is a significant step in Paramount's strategy to utilize live sports to increase viewership and subscriber growth in the competitive streaming market. The agreement builds upon the existing $7.7 billion deal secured last August for exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to all 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually. The UFC was an early focus for David Ellison after he became CEO of Paramount following its merger with Skydance Corporation. The new Canadian deal will end the traditional pay-per-view model for UFC events in Canada. Since debuting on Paramount's platforms in the U.S. and Latin America, UFC programming has garnered over 10 million households and more than 100 million hours of viewership. TKO Group Holdings owns the UFC, which produces over 40 live events annually. Specific events for the Canadian launch will be announced later in 2026. This expansion follows Paramount's preparation for its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.