UFC 327 bouts to air on CBS
UFC 327 bouts to air on CBS
For the second numbered event in a row, Paramount+ and CBS will share UFC broadcasting duties.
Paramount must be getting good results from airing portions of its UFC broadcasts on the CBS broadcast channel, because the company has announced it will repeat the maneuver. On April 11, CBS will broadcast portions of UFC 327: Prochazka vs. Ulberg, while the full fight night streams simultaneously on Paramount+.
Key Details:
- Let’s share: CBS will simulcast parts of UFC 327 on April 11.
- Not the first time: Paramount opted to air segments of UFC 326 on CBS as well.
- Trouble signs?: The decision to air UFC content on CBS could be an indication that Paramount isn’t satisfied with initial viewership numbers.
Early prelims for UFC 327 are set to begin at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11, with CBS’s coverage set to kick in at 8 p.m. The channel will offer bouts from the prelims and the main card and will continue to air action from the evening through 10 p.m. After that, fans will be able to continue watching on Paramount+.
This is not the first time that Paramount has chosen to air portions of a UFC event on its broadcast channel. The company did likewise for UFC 326, and while there has been no announcement indicating that this is the plan, Paramount could be building toward offering 100% of a UFC numbered event on CBS at some point in the future.
The decision to put a second UFC event on CBS just a few months after its deal to stream all fights on Paramount+ kicked in could be an admission by Paramount that it isn’t drawing the viewers it would like for UFC nights. Putting bouts on CBS would certainly help the company in that regard, giving the fights more exposure before directing viewers to Paramount+ to see the main event.
That’s pure speculation for the moment, but it could explain Paramount’s motives. Fans can stream UFC 327 and all other UFC events in totality with a subscription to Paramount+, starting at $9 per month for the streamer’s ad-supported Essential plan.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.