Paramount Global has indicated that UFC fights could air on TNT following the completion of its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. This move aims to expand the linear television presence of its recently signed UFC deal. The announcement came during an investor call discussing the $7.7 billion acquisition.
Paramount Global's new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with UFC, finalized just weeks ago, includes provisions for flexible content distribution across platforms. During a Monday investor call on March 2, 2026, focused on the pending Warner Bros. Discovery purchase, company executives highlighted opportunities to air UFC events on additional linear channels like TNT.
Brian Steinberg of Variety reported Paramount's statement: "Co. has flexibility with UFC to make it avail across all platforms. Can put some fights on broadcast, on TNT. We have flex in that deal to really maximize value." Currently, select UFC fights air on the CBS broadcast network, while full cards are available on Paramount+. The merger would integrate Warner Bros. Discovery's linear assets, including TNT, providing Paramount with more options to distribute UFC content.
Paramount emphasized no immediate divestitures are planned and that combining linear businesses would yield "operational efficiencies" for its sports portfolio. Airing UFC on TNT could help counter the decline in linear television by attracting higher carriage fees from distributors. For UFC, this broader exposure beyond its traditional pay-per-view model could enhance growth, especially with free access on broadcast and cable networks over the next seven years.
The strategy might extend bidirectionally, with potential for TNT's MLB or NHL postseason games to shift to CBS for greater viewership and revenue.
