Starting January 2019, UFC Fight Night will be streaming live on ESPN+, according to a deal announced today between the mixed martial arts organization and the sports broadcaster.
A total of 15 live UFC events, branded UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night, will be available live to subscribers through the ESPN app. Each Fight Night will include a full card of a dozen bouts. Coverage will be available in both English and Spanish, and some UFC content will also be available on ESPN’s other platforms.
“One of our goals for ESPN+ is to bring sports fans of all genres content they love and are passionate about,” said Kevin Mayer, chairman, direct to consumer and international, of The Walt Disney Company, ESPN’s parent, in a statement. “This agreement with UFC is illustrative of exactly that.
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This deal comes as UFC looks to return to its earlier growth phase. In 2006, the median age of UFC TV audiences in the U.S. was 34, roughly a decade younger than any of the Big Four, according to a report by the Sports Business Journal. But by 2016, that statistic had aged substantially to 49, about the same as NFL and NHL audiences, and was significantly older than NBA and MLS. The ratings for UFC on FOX 27 this past January were the lowest in that series history, with only about two million viewers tuning in.
“We will now have the ability to deliver fights to our young fan base wherever they are and whenever they want it,” said Dana White, UFC president, in a statement. “This deal is a home run for ESPN and UFC.”