Paramount and ESPN reshape sports streaming rights

Paramount and ESPN reshape how UFC and WWE rights will be watched through bundles and higher price commitments.

Paramount and ESPN set course for a sports streaming shakeup

The deal landscape is changing as Paramount, backed by Skydance, signals a move to bring UFC into Paramount+ with a price structure that replaces pay-per-view with a monthly bundle. UFC would be covered by about 43 events each year, and WWE content could follow a similar path, all within a single streaming option. The plan includes a familiar price point for the audience: Paramount+ with ads at 7.99 per month or 60 per year, a change that reduces per-event costs for fans and aims to curb piracy. ESPN meanwhile is refining its strategy with a broad set of NFL arrangements and WWE premium events, while pushing a direct-to-consumer mindset that emphasizes bundles over standalone buys. Taken together, these moves mark a clear shift in who controls sports rights and how fans access them.

This shift reorders power in sports media away from isolated, event-based buys toward platform-led ecosystems. Paramount and ESPN are showing they can outspend rivals and still claim long-term relationships with viewers, not just the games themselves. The emphasis on bundles means discovery and loyalty become as important as the actual competitions, and the pricing logic shifts toward predictable, recurring revenue. For fans, the changes promise simpler access and clearer costs, but also the risk of paying for more stuff you may not want if bundles grow in scope. For the industry, the stakes are high: a new price war could compress margins or invite tighter regulatory scrutiny around bundling and competitive practices.

Highlights

The coming year will reveal whether bundles truly win fan loyalty or simply raise the price of watching sports.