Skydance-owned Paramount will become the exclusive U.S. home of Ultimate Fighting Championship under a seven-year rights deal with TKO Group Holdings, starting in 2026, that is valued at around $7.7 billion, the companies said on Monday.

Paramount shares were up 4.2 per cent in premarket trading.

The company will carry the UFC's full U.S. slate of 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights on its Paramount+ streaming service, with select numbered events simulcast on its CBS broadcast network. The media company also said it may pursue UFC rights in other markets as they become available.

"Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy," said David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, calling UFC a "global sports powerhouse".

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