Front Office Sports is reporting that Paramount is close to securing a media deal with TKO and Riyadh Season’s Zuffa Boxing.
A source told FOS that Paramount was the “front runner” although no confirmation has been reported and TKO, Paramount and Endeavor are mum on any looming deal.
On Monday, TKO announced that the UFC had signed a deal for U.S. rights of its media (sans Dana White Contender Series, TUF and Road to UFC) to Paramount for $1.1 Billion per year over the next 7.
The deal eliminates the PPV model for the UFC as the events will air on Paramount + as well as CBS.
Mark Shapiro lauds the partnership with the Saudis stating that “…TKO receives a roughly $10 million fee for serving as the managing partner and providing day-to-day operational management oversight…”
Paramount, which i s trying to gain momentum after its merger with Skydance Media is trying to make a splash in the splash and get at the seat at the proverbial table.
The first Zuffa Boxing sponsored fight will be September 13th with Canelo Alvarez facing Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
Payout Perspective:
Certainly, a deal would come out prior to the Canelo-Crawford fight and Paramount looks like the ones to pay for Zuffa Boxing. Not only does it makes sense in terms of synergy but continues its momentum. The question is what would be next after Canelo? Zuffa has lobbied for change in the Ali Act to make it easier for its boxing to be run like the UFC.
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