For ESPN, a UFC deal would provide premium live-event content for the fledgling ESPN+ service GETTY IMAGES
ESPN and Fox Sports have "teamed up to bid for television rights" for the UFC, according to sources cited by Wallenstein & Holloway of VARIETY. Sources said that the two companies have "recently proposed to split the UFC TV package in a move that would bring as many as 15 fight events" to ESPN+. ESPN has "signaled that it would be willing to pay" $120-180M per year for UFC's rights. Fox, which currently pays $120M per year for the UFC rights, would be "willing see that number increase to a little more" than $200M. The current package "includes four Saturday-night fights per year" on Fox and a number of events on FS1 that has "increased annually under its current agreement." A joint bid with ESPN "would see Fox’s total number of events decline slightly." For ESPN, a UFC deal "would provide premium live-event content for the fledgling ESPN+ service not currently available on the company’s linear cable channels." Endeavor, which owns UFC, has "reportedly sought" $300-400M per year in a new TV package. But potential network partners have "balked at the high asking price to televise UFC." UFC has also "suffered significant ratings declines in recent years" (VARIETY.com, 4/17).
