Paramount nabs rights to Zuffa Boxing league
Paramount nabs rights to Zuffa Boxing league
Zuffa Boxing is the latest venture from TKO Holdings, which also controls UFC.
More combat sports are coming to Paramount outlets in the near future. On Monday, Paramount Skydance announced it had created a new distribution deal with Zuffa Boxing, the new pro boxing promotion formed by TKO Holdings and Sela, a company backed by Saudi Arabian mogul Turki Al-Sheikh.
Key Details:
- Big new year: Zuffa Boxing will join Paramount+ starting in 2026.
- Simulcast opportunities: Select Zuffa events will also air on linear channels.
- Side by side: Paramount+ will also begin offering UFC fights in 2026.
As detailed by Paramount on Monday, Zuffa Boxing will begin streaming on Paramount+ in 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. As of now, it appears that Zuffa fights will be available to stream with nothing more than a Paramount+ subscription, starting at $8 per month for an ad-supported account. Initially, there will be 12 Zuffa Boxing cards on Paramount+ each year, with more coming in the future.
Select fights will also air on the CBS broadcast channel, as well as other Paramount-owned platforms. Paramount Skydance has already touted its plans to reinvigorate its cable networks, and Zuffa Boxing bouts could be a perfect way to try and attract customers to channels like Paramount Network or SHOWTIME.
“I’m excited to bring great boxing events to a global audience,” UFC CEO Dana White said. “There are millions of boxing fans that will now be able to watch competitive fights with up-and-coming boxers as well as the biggest stars in the sport. Paramount will be the home for UFC and boxing fans to watch the greatest fights in combat sports.”
White’s UFC is also controlled by TKO Holdings, and it signed its own deal with Paramount in August. That agreement will see all UFC events stream on Paramount+ with no pay-per-views included, and the relationship between the two sides is deepening with this Zuffa pact.
“Paramount has long been a leader in sports and sports storytelling, and this partnership marks a bold new chapter – not just for us, but for the future of boxing,” Paramount executive Cindy Holland said. “It’s a partnership that advances several of our core priorities: delivering premium sports to fans, providing audiences with year-round marquee live events, and creating long-term value through a differentiated, must-watch portfolio of content. By combining TKO and Zuffa Boxing’s world-class production and promotional capabilities with our subscribers’ passion for sports, we are confident we will deliver something truly special to boxing fans throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America for years to come.”
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.