Hollywood Reporter: TKO Group Doubles Dividend

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Sports and entertainment company TKO Group Holdings, the firm behind the likes of UFC and WWE, said Wednesday that its board of directors has authorized a doubling of its quarterly cash dividend.

Deadline: TKO Group Posts Record Numbers At WWE & UFC In Better-Than-Expected Q2 Report

Story from Deadline:

Ari Emanuel-controlled sports conglomerate TKO Group Holdings rode the strong performance of its twin financial engines, the UFC and WWE, in the second quarter to beat analysts’ consensus expectations.

Total revenue climbed 10% over the prior April-to-June period, reaching $1.3 billion, ahead of the Street outlook for $1.27 billion. Diluted earnings per share came in at $1.17, up from 72 cents in the year-earlier quarter and better than the $1.09 target established by analysts.

Revenue at the WWE shot up 22% to $556.2 million, while UFC’s went up more modestly, ticking up 5% to $415.9 million. The major highlight for the WWE was Wrestlemania in April. The 41st edition of the annual tentpole set a number of records, including for global tune-in. Netflix, a new media partner now streaming weekly Monday Night Raw bouts, also now has select international rights for events like Wrestlemania.

Results for the prior-year period were reported on a pro-forma basis given the acquisition last February of the Professional Bull Riders, event hospitality firm On Location and management company IMG by TKO. Those assets had been part of Endeavor Group Holdings, a sister entity taken private several months ago by Silver Lake, and were bought by TKO for $3.25 billion.

The earnings news came on the same day TKO announced a significant rights deal, selling ESPN its WWE slate of 10 annual “premium live events,” a roster that includes Wrestlemania and SummerSlam. The agreement netted TKO $1.6 billion, a steep increase from the $900 million agreed to by NBCUniversal’s Peacock for the same properties in 2020 in a pandemic-influenced deal that took effect in 2021.

A similar set of rights, to the UFC’s pay-per-view schedule, will be up for grabs at the end of the year. Disney and ESPN currently control the rights.

Along with the financials, TKO said it was increasing its guidance for 2025, upping the revenue target to $4.63 billion to $4.69 billion and adjusted EBITDA to between $1.54 billion and $1.56 billion. In May, the company had guided to revenue of $4.49 billion to $4.56 billion and EBITDA of $1.49 billion to $1.53 billion.

“Our live content and experiences are proving a key differentiator for organizations and brands looking to capture audience, and our strategy is tailor-made for today’s experience economy and the white-hot sports event marketplace,” Emanuel, the company’s CEO, said in TKO’s earnings release.

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Deadline: TKO Group Taps Major League Soccer Exec Sana Shuaib As It Expands Global Partnerships Team

Story from Deadline:

UFC and WWE parent TKO Group announced two new appointments to its global partnerships team, hiring Sana Shuaib as SVP, Partnership Marketing & Digital and naming veteran executive Brit Santypal SVP, Operations.

Variety: TKO Group Taps Netflix Alum Dean Garfield to Lead Government Affairs

Story from Variety:

TKO Group, parent company of WWE and UFC, has hired Dean Garfield as senior VP of government affairs.

Variety: Vince McMahon Sells $250 Million of TKO Shares to Endeavor Group Holdings

Story from Variety:

Vince McMahon has sold a big tranche of his stock in TKO Group to Endeavor Group Holdings, the majority shareholder of the parent company of WWE and UFC.

Deadline: WWE & UFC Parent TKO Beats Q1 Forecasts And Ups Full-Year Guidance

Story from Deadline:

TKO Group Holdings, parent of the WWE and UFC, said “strength and momentum” at both subsidiaries powered first-quarter financial results.

Deadline: Ari Emanuel’s 2024 Pay As CEO Of TKO Group Drops To $18.1M From $64.9M In 2023

Story from Deadline:

Ari Emanuel‘s compensation for being CEO of TKO Group Holdings in 2024 totaled $18.1 million, a notable drop from the $64.9 million he took home in 2023.

Hollywood Reporter; Endeavor Goes Private as Silver Lake Deal Closes: New Roles for Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Patrick Whitesell

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Endeavor is private once more, as the $25 billion deal by Silver Lake closed Monday morning.

Hollywood Reporter: TKO Officially Enters Boxing Business in Deal With Saudi Arabia

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

TKO is officially in the boxing business.

Broadcast Sport: TKO completes acquisition of IMG

Story from Broadcast Sport:

TKO Group Holdings has completed its acquisition of IMG, On Location, and Professional Bull Riders from Endeavor Group Holdings.