The high-stakes negotiations for the next round of UFC television rights are intensifying, with at least four companies reportedly in the mix now that TKO and UFC’s exclusive negotiating window with current partner ESPN has closed. According to a report from John Ourand in his Puck Varsity newsletter, AEW’s broadcast partner, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), is considered a “wildcard in the negotiations,” a development that could have significant implications for AEW programming, particularly AEW Collision.
Ourand reports that while renewal talks with incumbent ESPN “appear to be the furthest along” for a package including linear network content and their new direct-to-consumer ESPN streaming service, a split of rights into two packages appears to be the likeliest overall outcome. However, the possibility remains that a major streaming service could bid for the entire package, though TKO’s Mark Shapiro has previously cautioned against a move that could leave the sport “underexposed.”
Both Amazon Prime and Netflix are reportedly in discussions for UFC rights. Ourand noted that Amazon Prime is “most interested in UFC’s pay-per-view business,” which is currently controlled domestically by ESPN. This interest is notable as Prime Video began offering AEW pay-per-view events to international audiences earlier this year.
WBD is actively seeking to acquire various sports rights to bolster its portfolio, especially as the NBA has officially departed its networks as of this week. According to Ourand, WBD would plan to air UFC fights on its linear channels (like TNT or TBS) in addition to its streaming platform, Max. While Ourand did not mention specific WBD interest in the UFC’s pay-per-view rights, WBD is currently building out its own pay-per-view distribution technology to offer AEW events.
Should WBD successfully acquire a significant UFC rights package, it’s assumed that AEW Collision would need to move from its current Saturday night slot on TNT. Ourand suggests that Collision could potentially go head-to-head with UFC on a different WBD station, but deems this scenario “very unlikely.” Given AEW’s occasional need to move Collision to Thursdays due to NBA/NHL playoff conflicts or to avoid WWE Premium Live Events, Ourand indicates that a permanent move to Thursdays for Collision would “appear to be the most logical for a variety of reasons.”
Such a move to Thursdays could offer tangible benefits for AEW. Scheduling Collision on a Thursday, potentially back-to-back with Wednesday’s Dynamite tapings in or near the same city, would allow AEW to significantly cut down on travel and logistical costs associated with a separate Saturday production. This consolidation could lead to considerable operational savings for the promotion.
Furthermore, a consistent Thursday night slot for AEW Collision would likely provide a boost to its television viewership. Moving away from Saturdays would mean the program no longer has to compete directly with major WWE Premium Live Events, which frequently air on Saturday nights and can draw a significant portion of the wrestling audience. This could give “Collision” a clearer field to attract and retain viewers.
The current $1.5 billion UFC rights deal with ESPN, which was signed in 2018, is set to expire at the end of 2025. According to Ourand’s sources, any closure on a new UFC rights deal is still nearly two months away, indicating that these complex negotiations will continue throughout the summer. The outcome will not only shape the future of UFC broadcasting but could also directly influence AEW’s scheduling, operational strategy, and viewership potential on Warner Bros. Discovery networks.
