ESPN Reportedly Signs UFC to $1.5 Billion TV Deal

According to Variety, following the deal with ESPN+, the mothership is doubling down and has signed the UFC to a new TV rights deal. The combined ESPN/ESPN+ deal (15 fights were added to the existing 15 fights on ESPN+, which makes for a total of 30 fights covered under the deal) is believed to be $300 million a year for five years, for a total of $1.5 billion. The new deals, which cover a total of 30 fights per year, kick in early 2019. The events covered under this deal will be split between ESPN’s linear channels and ESPN+, the new streaming service launched last month. The new deal still represents a more than doubling of what Fox paid UFC. UFC will still produce PPV and run its Fight Pass service.