ESPN renews UFC deal
The UFC has been one of the main drivers of ESPN+ subscriptions, so ESPN has prioritized renewing this deal. Other media companies kick the tires on the property, but ESPN sews this one up quickly. One scenario that could be in the offing: Disney cuts a TKO Group deal that incorporates both UFC and “WWE Raw,” which Disney would carry on its FX cable channel. That scenario would become likely if WWE is unable to find enough money from “Raw” suitors. But it looks like one media company will step up for that property.
Amazon picks up “WWE Raw” rights
Amazon gets “WWE Raw” rights and keeps the series on Monday nights. This hits an audience of young males, a demo where Amazon believes it sees growth in Prime subscriptions. Plus, it gives the company another night of live programming on Prime Video.