It’s merger mania!
The $21.4 billion deal between Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment and the Endeavor Group-owned Ultimate Fighting Championship is poised to shake up the future of live sports entertainment.
Sports and particularly live events are seen as a key means of attracting audiences to streaming services and linear networks alike, which is prompting a scramble to secure rights, assemble assets and bolster existing programming. Though rising interest rates and an uncertain economic environment may have pressed pause on megadeals, there’s avid interest in smaller-scale dealmaking, whether that’s a merger like the UFC-WWE combination or long-term agreements with leagues.
“Sports entertainment has never been more valuable than it is today.