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; “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.

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.

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: 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: 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.

Deadline: Trump Proposes UFC Fight On White House Grounds

Story from Deadline:

For the first time in the country’s 250-year history, the White House could host a cage match, serving as the UFC‘s next venue.

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.

TKO Group looking for up to $1b per year for new UFC's America rights

Is ESPN set to lose UFC as TKO Group is being reported as wanting $1b per year (significant increase from the current $150 million per year ESPN pays, as reported in 2019).

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: Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg Strike a Deal to Get Meta in Business With UFC

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

UFC is now officially in business with the tech giant Meta Platforms Inc.

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.

Hollywood Reporter: As Endeavor Take-Private Nears, Representation Revenue Surges Past $500M in Fourth Quarter

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In what will likely be Endeavor‘s final earnings report as a public company, the owner of WME and TKO Group Holdings reported revenue of nearly $1.6 billion, a net loss of $237 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $277 million.

Hollywood Reporter: With Deals on Horizon, TKO Bets That Profitable 2024 Will Lead to a Blockbuster 2025

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In its first full year as a standalone public company, TKO Group Holdings delivered strong revenue growth and a healthy profit.

Hollywood Reporter: Ari Emanuel Officially Becomes a Billionaire

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Ari Emanuel is officially a billionaire.