Netflix held first-negotiation rights for UFC media deal under its WWE contract, court filings show
Newly unredacted court filings, surfaced by wrestling reporter Brandon Thurston, reveal that Netflix's media rights agreement with WWE included a right of first negotiation for UFC domestic rights. Despite that contractual advantage, the UFC deal ultimately went to Paramount, whose chief David Ellison outbid the competition with a pact reportedly worth more than $1 billion annually over seven years. According to TKO president Mark Shapiro, Netflix and TKO came close to an agreement but fell apart because Netflix wanted only the premium numbered UFC cards, while TKO preferred a single partner to carry all of its UFC content. The disclosure is notable given reports that Netflix is now reassessing its live-sports strategy following slipping engagement metrics and the departure of its content chief.
Netflix's media rights deal with WWE "includes a right of first negotiation for UFC domestic rights.
Why it matters
For service providers: Platforms and leagues structuring future media rights agreements can draw lessons from how Netflix's contractual leverage failed to produce a deal on terms acceptable to TKO.
For brands: TKO and UFC rights holders can see how a first-negotiation clause shaped—and ultimately did not alter—where a billion-dollar media package landed.
For media: The revelation reframes how the landmark UFC-Paramount deal came together and raises questions about how Netflix will position itself in future live-sports rights negotiations.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Netflix reportedly had first-negotiation rights for UFC as part of WWE deal
- Awful Announcing · Drew Lerner: Netflix reportedly had first-negotiation rights for UFC as part of WWE deal