Deadline: Dr. Phil Fails To Get Trinity Broadcasting CEO Ordered To Sit For Deposition In $500M Deal Dispute

Story from Deadline:

Dr. Phil has made a lucrative career out of getting up-close and personal with people, but he won’t get to do so with his old buddy and now legal opponent Matthew Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network, at least not next week.

Advanced Television: Warner Bros Discovery extends World Snooker Tour rights

Story from Advanced Television:

The World Snooker Tour will continue to be shown across Europe on Eurosport and HBO Max as Warner Bros Discovery extends its exclusive broadcast rights until at least the 2030-2031 season.

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: Revelation! Dr. Phil Starts Settlement Talks With Christian TV Network Over $500M Battle As Trinity Broadcasting CEO Hauled Into Case

Story from Deadline:

A year ago Dr. Phil and Trinity Broadcasting Network CEO Matthew Crouch sat together warning “the family in America is under attack” and of the ravages of “cancel culture.”

Deadline; “White House Fight Is On”: Dana White & Donald Trump Seal The Deal For UFC At America’s 250th Anniversary D.C. Bash Next July 4th

Story from Deadline:

The art of the deal met the art of the Octagon today, and the July 4, 2026, UFC match at the White House is officially on — at least according to Dana White.

Deadline: Dr. Phil Could Be In The Sanctions Hot Seat Very Soon In Legal Battle With Christian TV Network Over Scuttled $500M Deal & Chapter 11 Moves

Story from Deadline:

Trinity Broadcasting has put its cards on the pulpit and the clock is ticking on whether Dr. Phil will be facing a judge today in Dallas, possible sanctions, or be on the other side of asking questions in a deposition very soon in his legal Holy War with the Christian TV giant.

Deadline: WWE To Offer Live Events On ESPN’s Streaming Service Earlier Than Expected, Starting With Inaugural ‘Wrestlepalooza’ In September

Story from Deadline:

WWE is no longer waiting until next year to bring premium live events to ESPN‘s new direct-to-consumer streaming service and will instead kick off the recently announced partnership next month.

Paramount Global for sale latest - Hollywood Reporter: Paramount Skydance Gets Volatile Memestock Rally As David Ellison Takes Over

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Shares in newly-minted Paramount Skydance are nearing meme darling status on the heels of closing a merger between the storied Hollywood studio and David Ellison’s Skydance, and then unveiling a deal with UFC and parent TKO to make Paramount+ the new streaming home to UFC events in the U.S.

Paramount Global for sale latest - Deadline: Paramount Layoffs Will Be “Painful” But One & Done, Jeff Shell Promises; David Ellison Keeps Timeline Private For Now

Story from Deadline:

Looking to save $2 billion and having handed out more than $9 billion to UFC and the South Park guys in the last two weeks, everybody knows that David Ellison’s Paramount is going to have to make some deep cuts.

Variety: Dr. Phil Fires Back at His Bankrupt Company’s Legal Foes, Accusing TBN and PBR of ‘Inflammatory and Damaging’ Attacks Aimed at Depressing Value of Merit Street

Story from Variety:

Dr. Phil says he and his bankrupt company Merit Street Media are being smeared in “incendiary” legal filings by Christian broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network, which is a former business partner, and creditor Professional Bull Riders — and that they are trying to drive down Merit Street’s value.

Deadline: Dana White Confirms UFC To Stage July 4, 2026 Fight At White House, A First

Story from Deadline:

Dana White, UFC chief and friend of Donald Trump, confirmed that the mixed martial arts giant is planning a fight on the White House lawn next July 4.

Deadline: Paramount Sets 7-Year, $7.7 Billion UFC Rights Deal With TKO Group To Boost Paramount+

Story from Deadline:

The new Paramount has inked a major seven-year media rights agreement worth an average $1.1 billion annually with TKO Group to become the exclusive home of all UFC events in the U.S. starting in 2026.

Deadline: IMG President On A Golden Era Of Sports, Why YouTube’s NFL Game Will Be A Record-Breaker & How Netflix Became A Star Player

Story from Deadline:

“There is a golden age of sport,” says IMG President Adam Kelly.

Hollywood Reporter: WWE Just Dealt Peacock Another Big Blow

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Peacock may be going out on its back.

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.

© 2025 Deadline.

Deadline: ESPN Sets Launch Date And Price For Stand-Alone Streaming Service, Adding WWE And Locking Up More NFL

Story from Deadline:

ESPN will launch its long-awaited new streaming service on August 21 at a price of $29.99 a month, bulking it up with WWE events and expanded NFL rights.

Variety: ESPN Gets Headlock on WWE Live Events Like ‘WrestleMania’ in New U.S. Rights Deal, Content to Roll Off NBCU’s Peacock

Story from Variety:

ESPN and WWE are about to get each other in tighter holds.

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.

Advanced Television; Spain: Movistar Plus+, EuroLeague extend broadcast deal

Story from Advanced Television:

Euroleague Basketball has announced the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Movistar Plus+, securing the exclusive broadcast rights of the EuroLeague and non-exclusive rights of the BKT EuroCup in Spain through the 2030-31 season.

Variety: John Martin, Former Warner Executive, Named CEO at Professional Fighters League

Story from Variety:

The new leader of Professional Fighters League says he’s happy to be running the number-two player in the mixed-martial arts field….for now.