UFC signs $7.7B deal with Paramount ending ESPN partnership

UFC signs $7.7B deal with Paramount ending ESPN partnership

“CBS Mornings” parent company Paramount has secured U.S. TV rights to UFC in a $7.7 billion deal. MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O’Grady reports on what the move means for the league and its fans.

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
5/5
Bias Level
4/5

Analysis Summary:

The article is highly accurate, with the core claim of UFC signing a $7.7B deal with Paramount being verified by multiple sources. The reporting appears mostly objective, with a slight positive slant towards the deal's implications. No significant biases or factual inaccuracies were detected.

Detailed Analysis:

  • Claim: UFC signs $7.7B deal with Paramount ending ESPN partnership.
  • Verification Source #1: Confirms UFC signs $7.7B deal with Paramount ending ESPN partnership.
  • Verification Source #2: Confirms Paramount signs seven-year, $7.7B rights deal with UFC.
  • Verification Source #3: Confirms UFC signs $7.7B deal with Paramount ending ESPN partnership and that Paramount is CBS News' parent company.
  • Verification Source #4: Confirms UFC signs 7-year, $7.7B deal to move all U.S. events to Paramount and that the ESPN partnership will expire at the close of 2025.
  • Verification Source #5: Confirms Paramount buys UFC rights for $7.7B and that the deal effectively doubles the UFC's current rights arrangement with ESPN.
  • Assessment: Supported
  • Claim: Paramount will become the new home to all Ultimate Fighting Championship events.
  • Verification Source #1: Confirms Paramount will become the new home to all Ultimate Fighting Championship events.
  • Verification Source #4: Confirms UFC signs 7-year, $7.7B deal to move all U.S. events to Paramount
  • Assessment: Supported
  • Claim: The contract's payment schedule is weighted more toward the back end of the deal.
  • Verification Source #2: Confirms the contract's payment schedule is weighted more toward the back end of the deal.
  • Assessment: Supported
  • Claim: ESPN was a very strong partner to the UFC over the last six years.
  • Verification Source #5: States ESPN was a very strong partner to the UFC over the last six years.
  • Assessment: Supported

Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:

  • Multiple sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) confirm the $7.7B deal between UFC and Paramount.
  • Source 4 confirms the ESPN partnership will expire at the close of 2025.
  • Source 2 confirms the payment schedule is weighted towards the back end of the deal.