Sources: ESPN To Carry UFC Event Coverage On ESPN+

ESPN has agreed to carry 10-15 UFC events exclusively on its direct-to-consumer ESPN+ platform, according to sources. ESPN has committed to pay $150M per year over five years as part of the deal, which is expected to be announced formally today. The deal covers rights for the UFC’s digital package. This means other digital players like Amazon, which sells UFC PPV, will not have rights to streams from UFC events that are not on PPV.

The league still is in the market to sell a broadcast package, which would have around a couple dozen events, and it has been talking to Fox Sports and NBC Sports about picking it up. A broadcast deal is not imminent, sources said. The UFC’s current deal with Fox Sports expires at the end of the year.